Ruins of the Qianlong Imperial Palace

Ruins of the Qianlong Imperial Palace

The Qianlong Imperial Palace ruins are a protected cultural relic site of Nanjing City.

The Qianlong Imperial Palace on Qixia Mountain is located in Nanjing’s Qixia Mountain. Construction began in 1751 and took six years to complete. It was the largest of the imperial palaces built by Emperor Qianlong during his southern tours. This royal structure was destroyed in a battle during the Xianfeng era, and only ruins remain today. In 2011, the Qixia Qianlong Imperial Palace ruins were listed as a cultural relic site under the protection of Nanjing City.

Construction of the Qianlong Imperial Palace on Qixia Mountain began in 1751 under the supervision of Yin Jishan, then Viceroy of Liangjiang, and took six years to complete, finishing in the 17th year of Qianlong’s reign (1757). It was the largest of the imperial palaces built by Emperor Qianlong during his southern tours. However, this royal building was destroyed in a battle during the Xianfeng era. Only ruins remain today, where some architectural elements such as blue bricks and column bases can still be seen.

According to the "Southern Tour Grand Ceremony" (Nanxun Shengdian), Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty held a deep affection for Qixia Mountain. Out of his six southern tours, he stayed at the Qianlong Imperial Palace five times, totaling forty-five days.