The plaque "Yonggu Hongji" was prominently displayed, yet it couldn't stop the declining trend of the Qing Dynasty. The Paiyun Palace, once Cixi's bedroom, was later moved to the Donggong Leshou Hall. The Dehe Garden Grand Theater was where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu watched performances. It is the largest of the three well-preserved Qing Dynasty theaters. Each level is connected by a skylight, with a water well underground, along with a winch and water-spraying dragon heads, making it very suitable for performing mythological operas involving flying and disappearing acts. During her birthday celebrations, she would sit in the center of the Paiyun Palace within the second palace gate to accept the homage of officials. The words "Wanshou Wujiang" (Boundless Longevity) were inscribed on the palace gate, clearly reflecting her desire for longevity. History has long recorded Empress Dowager Cixi's autocratic rule. It's said that during her birthday celebrations, officials below the third rank could only kneel outside the Paiyun Palace, those of the second rank inside, while Emperor Guangxu could only kneel at the second palace gate outside the hall to pay respects to the "Old Buddha".
To reach the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion, one can either climb the central stone steps or ascend via the painted corridors on both sides. The winding steps resemble upward-reaching arms, with the lofty Fragrance Buddha Pavilion against the blue sky, exuding an immense sense of sanctity and solemnity.
In today's historical and cultural scenic areas, measures to protect relics are continuously improving: not only are these bronze beasts protected, but wooden couplets in front of the halls are also covered with transparent hard plastic below the height reachable by adult hands. While protecting relics is crucial, it somewhat affects the aesthetics.
The boundless wisdom displayed by the servants and craftsmen of that time was all for the Old Buddha's pleasure... Under heaven, everything belongs to the king; only the imperial family had the capability to conduct large-scale collection and preservation of rare treasures and peculiar stones.
Empress Dowager Cixi believed in Buddhism, calling herself the "Old Buddha," and yearned for a life span of a hundred years... The grand birthday celebrations held here every year were extremely luxurious. Across from the theater stands the accompanying playhouse, displaying the car Empress Dowager Cixi once rode.
From the West Lake landscape blueprint and drawing inspiration from Suzhou gardens, the earliest version of the Summer Palace was built by Emperor Qianlong for his mother's birthday. Therefore, it's no surprise that it contains elements of southern Chinese garden styles.
Since the start of ruling behind a curtain, Empress Dowager Cixi held the highest power of the Great Qing in her hands. As the Empress Dowager of two palaces, she held an unparalleled status!
A guide explained that the structure of the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion resembles Hangzhou's Liuhe Pagoda... Indeed, it felt familiar... Originally constructed based on the West Lake landscape by Emperor Qianlong as a tribute to his mother, it naturally includes features of southern Chinese gardens.
There is still much more to explore, with additional photos stored in my space album... Inside the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion stands a Ming Wanli period copper-cast gold-clad thousand-armed Guanyin statue, benevolent and kind. Viewing the entire Kunming Lake from the platform before the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion reveals a shimmering and magnificent scene. The Nanhu Island and the seventeen-arch bridge connecting it to the eastern shore of Kunming Lake are clearly visible.
This massive rock known colloquially as the "family-ruining stone" was abandoned in the wild by a Ming official. Emperor Qianlong spent a fortune transporting it here and named it "Qingzhi Xiu." It is China's largest garden-placed stone. Many such large stone landscapes are scattered around nearby courtyards, collected from all over the country.
On either side of the Paiyun Palace windows, through the glass, one can see many rare treasures, like agate coral trees, pearl jade landscapes, etc. Due to strong sunlight and glass reflection, they aren't clear. Planning to visit the Forbidden City tomorrow, I will indulge in the treasure gallery without delay.
The Leshou Hall was Empress Dowager Cixi's bedroom. A mischievous child urinated on the steps before the railing in front of the hall, drawing enthusiastic cheers and applause from the crowd. The staff arriving upon hearing the commotion could only helplessly smile. Although I wanted to take a photo, the child was too quick, and the act was over before I could react...
After visiting Yulan Tang and Renshou Hall, these places where the emperor worked and conducted political activities, there are countless fascinating sights to behold, impossible to describe them all. Thrones, screens, warm chambers, craft displays, bronze incense burners, and imperial calligraphy seen everywhere all highlight the majesty and splendor of imperial authority.
During that era, photography, telegraphy, telephones were already present, trains reached Zhengyang Gate, and even Qing soldiers began using machine guns. Empress Dowager Cixi once rode in a German Mercedes-Benz car in the Summer Palace, but she couldn't tolerate the driver sitting in front of her, so she abandoned the car, truly ignorant! Not valuing science and industrial development sealed the fate of the Qing dynasty's precarious position.
Before the Paiyun Palace lies a golden water bridge surrounded by walkways and side halls, with the royal garden layout allowing no room for error. Iron nets cover several bronze beasts inscribed with "Guangxu Year Made," with railings around their pedestals.
Walking eastward along the corridor, passing through Qiushui Pavilion to the Paiyun Gate, this marks the beginning of the architectural cluster on the front mountain of Wanshou Mountain. Following the mountain terrain upwards from the Paiyun Gate, the palaces extend until reaching the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion seemingly floating in mid-air. Gazing up at this majestic and splendid palace complex, one feels awed by the imperial grandeur, unable to laugh or be disrespectful carelessly.
Descending the original path eastward through a palace gate leads into the imperial garden area where emperors and empresses lived and conducted administrative activities. Unlike the open layout by Kunming Lake under Wanshou Mountain, here ancient trees encircle tightly arranged courtyards and palaces, with no end in sight.
The Fragrance Buddha Pavilion is supported by eight ironwood pillars, with eight sides, three layers, and four tiers of eaves. The upper, middle, and lower parts are respectively inscribed with "Shiyan Fengjiao," "Qixiang Zhaohui," and "Yunwai Tianxiang."