Jingxinzhai
(Heart-ease Study) is a fascinating garden located on the northern shores
of Beihai Park. The whole garden is surrounded by a gilded and painted
zigzag corridor that follows the shape of the hills.
The garden was first named Jingqingzhai (Clear Mirror Study) built wlth
fine workmanship in 1758 and was known as the "miniature garden of
Qianlong." The Qing emperors and empresses used to come here to relax
after worshipping Gods at Xiaoxitian (Little Western Sky) in Beihai. Empress
Dowager Cixi made it her favourite resort because of its quietness and
seclusion and a special narrow-gauge railway line was built from her residence
at Zhongnanhai right down to the entrance of the garden. In 1913, this
place was renovated and renamed Jingxinzhai.
The garden
combines the special feature of gardening in areas both north and south
of the Yangtze River. It is ingeniously designed, novel in style, made
up of three courtyards and consists chiefly of rockeries.
Behind the elegant north gate of the garden is a pond that takes up
one whole courtyard and has water lilies in its clear water. In the
pond stands an exquisite piece of rock from Lake Taihu and the spacious
Jingxinzhai stands right behind the pond.
East of
Jingxinzhai is a small courtyard. The main building facing south is
Baoshu Study, said to be the study of the crown princes of the
Qing Dynasty. The east wing, called Yunqinzhai (Zither Room),
faces a small lotus pond fed by water from the lake, which gives a jingle-jangling
sound like jade falling to the ground. In the south is a wall with different
shapes of cut-outs through which one can enjoy a panoramic view of Beihai.
No wonder there is a couplet in the Zither Room which reads: "A
unique place to enjoy oneself; a combination of sound and view."
Behind
the study is a rock garden where bubbling springwater flows through
crevices into the lotus pond. Right in the middle of the pond stands
Qinquanlang (Refreshing Spring Corridor) decorated with vermillion
beams and painted columns. It is a wonderful place for relaxation on
midsummer days.
Qinquanlang
is connected with the southern shores by a zigzag bridge in the east
and a marble bridge in the west. This marble bridge looks like a jade
belt which is supported at each end by two life-like unicorns bending
their backs and looking straight ahead.
Peichawu
(Tea Baking Place) is located to the southeast of the bridge. It faces
Yanhuaxuan (Room for Keeping Paintings) which is diagonally opposite
Huafengshi (Room for Painting Peaks) in the southwest of the
garden. It is so well designed that it enables visitors to enjoy views
from the room from two different angles.
The different
shaped rockeries
were said to be modeled after the works of famous landscape painters.
There are narrow paths between the rockeries. In the west of the garden
is a group of rockeries made of Taihu rocks which look like a lotus
flower in full bloom. Zhenluanting, an exquisite pavilion right in its
centre, provides a bird's eye view of the garden. The place was named
Lianduozhugong (Lotus and Pearl Palace) by Emperor Qianlong for its
unique beauty.
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