Paiyun Hall

Paiyun Hall

Paiyun Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Paiyun Hall scenic area is located in the central part of the southern foothills of Longevity Hill and is the most important core landscape architectural complex along the north-south central axis of the Summer Palace.

The Paiyun Hall architectural complex was first built during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong period, originally centered around the Yanshou Temple, and served as the venue where Empress Dowager Cixi held her birthday celebrations in the late Qing Dynasty. The entire scenic area covers approximately 8,000 square meters and centers on Paiyun Hall, consisting of Paiyun Gate, Yuhua Hall, Yunjin Hall, Ermen Gate, Fanghui Hall, Zixiao Hall, Paiyun Hall, Dehui Hall, as well as corridors and auxiliary rooms connecting the various halls. In 1860, the complex was burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces. In 1886, Cixi had it rebuilt, transforming the lower part of the Yanshou Temple into the Paiyun Hall architectural complex for holding birthday celebration ceremonies. Currently, the hall displays many birthday gifts presented to Cixi by princes and ministers during her celebrations.

Paiyun Hall is built on a high platform, featuring a hip-and-gable roof with double eaves, and consists of 21 rooms in the front and back. Inside the hall, there are thrones, folding screens, tripods, palace fans, and other items. Below the platform, four large bronze vats used for fire prevention water storage are symmetrically arranged, commonly known as "gate seas." Surrounding Paiyun Hall are corridors and auxiliary halls, with a pool or a Golden Water Bridge made of white marble in the front courtyard. The hall corners overlap intricately, and the colored glazes are vibrant. From a distance, Paiyun Hall, Paiyun Gate, the Golden Water Bridge, and Ermen Gate form a straight line that rises step by step. The Paiyun Hall architectural complex is the most spectacular building group in the Summer Palace. The name "Paiyun" comes from a line in a poem by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty: "Immortals emerge through the clouds, revealing only golden and silver terraces," symbolizing as if immortals are about to appear from the misty, celestial pavilions.

It is said that initially, Cixi wanted to use this place as her bedroom, but shortly after its completion, she fell ill. She believed it might be because the hall was too close to the Buddhist sanctuary, the "Foxiang Pavilion," making it unsuitable for long-term residence. Later, she decided to change her bedroom to the Leshou Hall, using Paiyun Hall only as the place where she would receive homage on her birthday.

Yunhui Yuyu is adjacent to Kunming Lake and marks the starting point of the central axis of the main architectural complex on the front of Longevity Hill. The structure features four pillars and seven stories, topped with yellow glazed tiles and adorned with golden dragon and imperial-seal paintings, indicating its extremely noble status. The "Yunhui Yuyu" archway signifies that the palaces here are a world where colorful clouds shine alongside magnificent architecture. On the south side of the archway, the plaque reads "Xinggong Yaoshu," informing visitors that this is a "divine land revered by stars." In front of Paiyun Gate, in addition to two vividly shaped and exquisitely cast bronze lions, there are also six Taihu rocks of different forms placed on each side, symbolizing the twelve zodiac animals. The plaques on the north and south sides of the archway express praise and glorification of the ruler, while also subtly reflecting the hierarchical order of feudal rites between sovereign and subjects.

Yuhua Hall, the bell tower of the Yanshou Temple during the Qingyi Garden period, is the east auxiliary hall of the first courtyard of Paiyun Hall. The hall is five bays wide, with a single-eave, straight-ridge, hip-and-gable roof, and was once the temporary resting place for the emperor during Cixi’s birthday celebrations.

Yunjin Hall, the drum tower of the Yanshou Temple during the Qingyi Garden period, is the west auxiliary hall of the first courtyard of Paiyun Hall. The hall is five bays wide, with a single-eave, straight-ridge, hip-and-gable roof, and was once the temporary resting place for high-ranking officials of the second rank and above during Cixi’s birthday celebrations.

Ermen Gate, the palace gate of the second courtyard of the Paiyun Hall architectural complex, is three bays wide, with a rolled shed and hip-and-gable roof. Under the eaves of the gate hangs a black-lacquered, gold-character plaque reading "Wanshou Wujang" (Long Live Without Boundaries), which was the spot where birthday congratulatory texts were read during Cixi’s birthday celebrations.

Fanghui Hall, formerly the Miaojue Hall of the Yanshou Temple during the Qingyi Garden period, is the east auxiliary hall of the second courtyard of Paiyun Hall. The hall is five bays wide, with a single-eave, straight-ridge, hip-and-gable roof. The name "Fanghui" conveys the meaning of good fortune throughout life. Zixiao Hall, formerly the Zhenru Hall of the Yanshou Temple during the Qingyi Garden period, is the west auxiliary hall of the second courtyard of Paiyun Hall. The hall is five bays wide, with a single-eave, straight-ridge, hip-and-gable roof. The name "Zixiao" also conveys the meaning of good fortune throughout life.

Dehui Hall, formerly the Duobao Hall of the Yanshou Temple during the Qingyi Garden period, is five bays wide, with a single-eave, straight-ridge, hip-and-gable roof, featuring a front corridor. Its two wings are connected to Paiyun Hall via climbing corridors, serving as a place for the emperor and empress to change clothes and rest when visiting the Foxiang Pavilion for worship. Currently, the hall displays the "Paiyun Hall Scenic Area Restoration Exhibition."