Imagine emperors strolling. Imagine empresses pausing. Here before us stands the \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865.
This bridge whispers tales of the Qing Dynasty. It tells of emperors who sought respite here. The \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865 is more than stone. It is a link to a bygone era.
\u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab itself was built in 1777. Emperor Qianlong ordered its construction. This was during his reign. The palace became his place for hunting and governing. It was his escape in the southern suburbs.
The palace was grand. It boasted Jiangnan garden features. Inside its walls were eastern and western lakes. Ninety-four springs fed these lakes. Water flowed through the \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865. It then joined the protective river outside the palace. Finally, the water reached the Feng River.
Emperor Qianlong even wrote poems about this place. One line reads. “The Tuan River is originally the source of the Feng River.” This shows the importance of water to the \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab.
Access to the palace was restricted. Only those summoned could enter the main palace gate. Concubines needed permission to enter the western area. Even princes could not stay overnight inside. They had to reside outside the palace walls.
Sadly, decline came with the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Eight-Nation Alliance looted the palace in 1900. They destroyed many buildings. Later, the palace served as barracks. It suffered further damage during battles. Much of it became ruins.
Restoration efforts began in 1985. The site became a park. In 2001, it gained recognition as a protected site. Slowly, parts of the palace were repaired. Paths were laid. Trees were planted. The western lake was dredged.
The palace once had 603 rooms. It covered about 330000 square meters. Ninety springs provided abundant water. The \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865 was vital for water flow.
The layout centered on the eastern and western lakes. The western lake was larger. It measured about 219 yards around. The eastern lake was smaller. It measured about 162 yards. Pavilions and halls surrounded both lakes.
Key structures lined the eastern lake. They included Jianzhizhai Study and Qunyushanfang House. There was also Jinghong Pavilion. A wooden bridge crossed the lake connecting east and west. This bridge was near the study.
The western lake had other notable buildings. They included Yiyuexuan Pavilion and Zhuyuan Temple. There was also the Imperial Stele Pavilion.
Today, only a few ancient structures remain. Among them are the Biyun Pavilion and Imperial Stele Pavilion. Some buildings have been rebuilt. Others exist only as foundations. But the \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865 stands as a memory. It recalls emperors, poems, and flowing waters.
Consider the emperors who once crossed the \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865. Think of the gardens surrounding them. Remember the palace’s rise and fall. The \u56e2\u6cb3\u884c\u5bab\u6865 connects us to that past. It links us to their stories.