Close view of Cuirun
Hall |
Before the local government of
Daxing District released news of rebuilding the Tuanhe Imperial Palace, the site
appears not to be familiar to many Chinese people, let alone to foreign
tourists.
As the temporary abode for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the
palace actually shares the same fame as that of the Summer Palace.
Daxing, in southern Beijing, aims to further develop its value as a tourist
destination by rebuilding the 27-hectare palace. Though there is no detailed
information about the cost involved, experts estimate the total fee will be at
least than 100 million yuan (US$12 million).
The project is planned to be finished and open to accept visitors by 2007,
according to Wang Shiren, deputy director of Beijing Bureau for the Preservation
of Cultural and Historical Relics.
Palace history
Cuirun Hall |
Located
about 20 km south of central downtown, Tuanhe Imperial Palace was the largest
xing gong (temporary palace for emperor's use only) during the Qing Dynasty.
Chengde Summer Resort, in North China's Hebei Province, is another xing gong
built during the Qing Dynasty.
Building began in 1777, when Emperor Qianlong was in power. Artificial hills,
pine and cypress trees, pagodas, lakes, a shipping port, imperial residences and
grand halls were constructed, the layout and architecture modelled on the styles
of buildings south of the Yangtze River, such as in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province,
and Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Emperors Qianlong, Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi visited the palace
frequently.
It was not until 1900 that the palace suffered its first disaster. Eight
allied forces invaded Beijing. Pearls and jewels, gold and jade arts, Chinese
ancient paintings, rare books and porcelain works were looted and seized by the
Japanese armies and the Russian armies.
The destruction continued. In 1937, after the 'July 7 Incident' at Lugouqiao,
Nanyuan, near the Tuanhe Imperial Palace, became one of the major battlefields
with many imperial buildings being destroyed.
In 1948, the Kuomingtang army took many bricks and stones from the palace to
build barricades around a military airport near the palace. Earth from the hills
inside the palace was also taken away, eradicating any sign of the original
landscaping, and the ancient pines and cypress were cut down for military use.
In 1970, the palace suffered its last mutilation, during the "culture
revolution" (1966-76). The rest of the stones and bricks were transported away
to build a square in today's town of Daxing.
What of the palace remains?
Yubei Pavilion |
Yubei
Pavilion is one eye-catching building that escaped the repetitive disasters. A
5-metre-high stone tablet stands inside the pavilion inscribed with a detailed
description about the construction of the palace. According to the inscription,
Emperor Qianlong asked his sons and ministers not to build any more imperial
palaces outside of Beijing to relieve the government's financial burdens.
Cuirun Hall also remains virtually undisturbed, located on an artificial
island in centre of the lake. Exquisite wooden carvings can be found in the roof
beams.
The greenhouse is the only modern structure built to raise flowers to
beautify the area.
Future of the palace
Most of the ancient buildings will be rebuilt based on their original
designs.
Relics experts have found a plan of the palace drafted during the reign of
Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908), as well as several building designs from that time.
The first phase concentrates on reconstructions within the palace wall,
including halls, scenic spots, hills and lakes.
The second phase will focus on the reconstruction of the seven residences of
the Qing princes and more than 100 houses for workers who lived outside the
palace wall.
Visitors will not only be able to examine the imperial buildings and beauty
of the scenic spots, but also study the ancient architecture, clothing and food.
Getting there: Drive along Jingkai (Beijing-Kaifeng) Highway to the
Huangzhuang exit, then turn left to drive 3 km ahead; you'd better ask the
locals if you missed the way to Tuanhe.
Bus routes 901, 937, 968 get you to the town of Daxing. It takes 30 minutes.
Hire a taxi to get you to Tuanhe; it just takes 10 minutes and costs 10 yuan
(US$1.2).
