Garden of Virtue and Harmony

Garden of Virtue and Harmony

Garden of Virtue and Harmony is located inside the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace. It lies just north of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, on the former site of the Yichun Hall from the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795). It was rebuilt during the Guangxu reign (1875–1908), and its main structures include the Grand Theater Building, the Hall of Pleasure and Longevity, and the Hall of Joyful Benevolence—serving as the venue where Empress Dowager Cixi watched operas. The Grand Theater Building was first built in 1891 and completed in 1895. The stage is 17 meters wide and 21 meters high, with three levels above ground and a two-story backstage dressing room. The ceiling features seven "skylights," while the floor contains "trapdoors." Beneath the stage are wells and five square pools. For performances involving gods and spirits, actors could descend from above or emerge from below, or water could even be brought onto the stage.

Location

No. 19, Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing