| What makes it historical? |
Originally called the Garden of Clear Ripples, this spacious complex of gardens and palaces incorporates a technique called jièjǐng, which means “borrowing from the surroundings.” Using Kunming Lake as a starting point, the landscapers used the natural trees and hills to hide the garden boundaries in such a way that the garden appears to extend to the horizon in all directions!
The garden was burned down during the Second Opium War in the 1850s, then rebuilt by the Emperor Guangxu, who renamed it the Southern Palace and gave it to his adopted mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, a.k.a. the “Dragon Lady,” who most likely killed the emperor by poison!
Since 1924, this has been a public park, which still features dragon boat rides on Kunming Lake, and such beautifully named buildings as the Hall of Jade Ripples, the Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha, and the Hall that Dispels the Clouds! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? |
HERE’S HOW:
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
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