Pavilion of Precious Clouds
-Baoyunge

Pavilion of Precious Clouds, also called Baoyunge in Chinese, is located to the west of the Tower of Buddhist Incense. It has another name --Bronze Pavilion. The pavilion was made of bronze, 7.75 meters in height and 207 tons in weight. According to historical records, the pavilion had a polished surface and the bronze fillings amounted to five tons.

History

• Pavilion of Precious Clouds was cast in 1755. There used to be a stature of Buddha in it for the Qing emperors and empresses to pray to.
• In 1860 and 1900, the pavilion met with catastrophe twice, ten doors and windows, the stature of Buddha and some parts of the pavilion were taken abroad by foreign invaders.
• In 1980's a letter from a British merchant disclosed that the doors and windows were in the hands of a French collector. Later the British merchant succeeded in persuading the American International Group Company dong insurance business in China to purchase them from the French collector for us$ 530000.
• In 1993, the doors and windows that had been scattered abroad for decades were transported back to Beijing.