方壶胜境

Did the mythical Penglai Island truly exist? Here, at Fanghu Shengjing in the Old Summer Palace, emperors once believed they had found it. Fanghu Shengjing, also known as the “Wonderland of Fang Hu,” was not just a beautiful scenic spot. It was a tangible manifestation of a dream, a yearning for immortality that stretched back to the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. He sent Xu Fu across the East Sea, searching for the mythical Penglai Island, said to hold the elixir of life. Centuries later, that dream took root in the heart of Emperor Yong Zheng, who recreated the legendary island here, within the Old Summer Palace. Fanghu Shengjing became his personal paradise, a place where Taoist priests toiled, seeking remedies to extend his life. They blended elixirs of questionable ingredients, a mix of hope and perhaps, poison. Ironically, those very elixirs may have hastened his demise. His son, Qianlong, banished the priests but not the dream. He expanded Fanghu Shengjing, transforming it into a vibrant spectacle. Gone were the austere greys favored by his father. Qianlong embraced vibrant glazed tiles of yellow, blue, green, and violet, adorning the nine two-story buildings and three pavilions. The shan-shaped pavilions, extending over the lake, stood as testaments to the imperial pursuit of immortality. While Fanghu Shengjing mirrored the legend of Penglai, its architecture deviated from traditional imperial palaces, making it a unique gem within the Old Summer Palace. The nine buildings and pavilions, spread across 20,000 square meters, formed an intricate pattern, reflecting the grandeur of the imperial vision. As you stand here, imagine the vibrant colors, the shimmering lake, and the emperors who once sought solace and immortality in this fantastical landscape. Fanghu Shengjing remains a powerful reminder of the enduring human quest for eternal life, played out on the grand stage of imperial China.