镂月开云

Lost in time, the Jiyue Kaiyun stands serene. Jiyue Kaiyun, also known as “Misty Moon Unveiling the Clouds”, rests within the Yuanmingyuan Garden. This was once a thriving section of the larger Yuanmingyuan Park, a place favored by Qing emperors like Kangxi, Qianlong, and Xianfeng. It was a symbol of “Taiping Shengshi”, a golden age of peace and prosperity. Jiyue Kaiyun’s main building, the Jiyue Kaiyun Hall, was originally called the “Peony Terrace”. It housed hundreds of peonies, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the golden glazed tiles of the hall’s roof. Imagine young Qianlong, the future emperor, exploring this very spot. It was here, at the Peony Terrace, that he impressed his grandfather, Emperor Kangxi, with his interpretation of love poems. This encounter cemented Qianlong’s place as the heir apparent. Years later, Qianlong himself would rename the Peony Terrace to Jiyue Kaiyun, following a vivid dream. In his dream, white peonies transformed into enveloping clouds. Silken strands of cloud then wrapped around him, a sensation so real it startled him awake. This dream, coupled with an incident involving a sword named “Misty Moon”, inspired the new name. Jiyue Kaiyun stands as a testament to this imperial dream, a link to a bygone era of vibrant blooms and powerful emperors. The hall, made of fragrant rosewood, gleamed with gold and bi-colored glazed tiles, reflecting the sun’s brilliance upon the surrounding peonies and ancient pine trees. Jiyue Kaiyun, despite the ravages of time, still whispers tales of imperial dreams and a golden age.