Garden of Harmonious Interests

Garden of Harmonious Interests

The Garden of Harmonious Interests was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, modeled after the Jichang Garden at the foot of Huishan Mountain in Wuxi. Originally named Huishan Garden, after its completion, Emperor Qianlong wrote the "Eight Scenes Poem of Huishan Garden," in which he stated in the preface: “A pavilion and a path alone are enough to create wonderful charm.” During the reign of Emperor Jiaqing, the garden was renovated and renamed the "Garden of Harmonious Interests." Upon completion, Emperor Jiaqing wrote in the "Record of the Garden of Harmonious Interests": “With the tranquil charm beyond the mundane world, it harmonizes with the peace within the heart’s field, hence the name ‘Garden of Harmonious Interests,’ which also carries the essence of Jichang Garden.” What makes this small garden, spanning just a few acres, so charming? Here are a couple of highlights. Located on the eastern foothills of Longevity Hill, the Garden of Harmonious Interests is an independent area featuring a garden style from southern China. During the time of the Garden of Clear Ripples, it was called "Huishan Garden" and was built in imitation of the Jichang Garden in Wuxi. In the 16th year of Jiaqing’s reign (1811), it was renovated, and taking the meaning of “harmonizing with the peace within the heart’s field” and the lines from Emperor Qianlong’s poem “a pavilion and a path alone are enough to create wonderful charm,” it was renamed the "Garden of Harmonious Interests." The garden houses thirteen pavilions, terraces, halls, and pavilions, connected by a hundred corridors and five uniquely styled bridges. In the southeast corner of the garden, there is a stone bridge with a stone archway inscribed with the three characters “Zhiyu Bridge” (Fish-Knowing Bridge) written by Emperor Qianlong, referencing the philosophical debate between Zhuangzi and Hui Shi by the “Autumn Floods” of Hao River.

Acoustic Charm

Upon entering the Garden of Harmonious Interests, you’ll see a pond filled with gracefully standing lotus flowers. Among the green bamboo clusters in the garden, spring water from the mountain splits into several streams and flows into the lotus pond. This mountain spring originates from the eastern end of the back lake of Kunming Lake. The garden was designed with such a low-lying terrain primarily to create this mountain spring, forming a one to two-meter drop between the water level of the garden and that of the back lake. Within this one to two-meter drop, layers of rock arrangements divide the flowing water into different levels, creating a varied soundscape of gurgling water that rises and falls like the notes of a zither. No wonder a large stone lying beside the spring is inscribed with the three characters “Jade Zither Gorge.” This scene adds both sound and color to this garden-within-a-garden, representing the “Acoustic Charm” of the Garden of Harmonious Interests.

Architectural Charm

On the west side of the Jade Zither Gorge stands the Zhuxin Tower (Tower of Gazing at the New). From inside the garden, the tower appears to have two stories, but from the outside, it looks like only one. The reason is that the front gate of the Garden of Harmonious Interests is located at the lowest point of a downward slope. As you continue forward, the ground gradually rises, allowing you to directly step into the upper floor of the Zhuxin Tower. This seemingly paradoxical architectural design is known as the “Architectural Charm.”

Bridge Charm

There are five bridges in the Garden of Harmonious Interests, among which the Zhiyu Bridge is the most famous. Close to the water’s surface, it offers a great view of the fish. The name “Zhiyu Bridge” references a philosophical and witty debate between Zhuangzi and Hui Shi during the Warring States period by the “Autumn Floods” of Hao River, concerning whether one can know if a fish is happy. One said, “The fish are swimming joyfully.” The other replied, “You’re not a fish, how do you know they’re happy?” The first countered, “You’re not me, how do you know I don’t know they’re happy?” By turning the other’s logic against them, this ancient tale adds delight to visitors’ experience—this is the “Bridge Charm” of the garden.

Address: Northeast side of the Summer Palace, 19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Phone: 010-62881144

Opening hours:

Peak season (April 1 – October 31): 6:30–18:00; Off-season (November 1 – March 31 of the following year): 7:00–17:00

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the general admission ticket for the Summer Palace.