Chengde Yanyu Tower

Chengde Yanyu Tower

Introduction

Yanyu Tower is located on Qīnglián Island, north of Rúyì Peninsula in the Chengde Mountain Resort. During his southern tour, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty admired the picturesque scenery of Yanyu Tower on Nanhu Lake (also known as Yuanyang Lake) in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, so he had its design copied and then had a tower built in the resort following the original blueprint. Construction began in the 45th year of Qianlong’s reign (1780) and was completed the following year. The tower faces south to north: at the front are three rooms that serve as the gate hall, behind which stands a two-story tower with a width of five bays and a depth of two bays, surrounded by corridors. On the second floor, a plaque inscribed with the characters “Yanyu Tower” in the handwriting of Emperor Qianlong hangs in the center. To the east of the tower is the Qīngyáng Shūwū (Green Poplar Study), and to the west is the Duìshān Zhāi (Mountain-Facing Studio), both consisting of three rooms. To the northeast is an octagonal pavilion, and to the southeast is a square four-cornered pavilion. To the southwest, stones are piled to form a hill, beneath which winding caves can be explored by climbing stone steps, leading to the top where there is a hexagonal open pavilion named Yì Tíng (Wing Pavilion). This tower offers the best view over the Cheng Lake. From its railing, one can clearly see the Wan Shù Yuán (Ten Thousand Tree Garden), Rèhé Quán (Rehe Spring), and Yǒngyòu Sì (Everlasting Blessing Temple), among other sights. Especially in summer and autumn, when mist and rain shroud the area, it presents a scene like a traditional Chinese landscape painting.

Chengde City, Hebei Province