Wan Shu Yuan (Garden of Ten Thousand Trees)

Wan Shu Yuan

Introduction

Wan Shu Yuan is located in the northeastern part of the plain area of the Mountain Resort. It lies against the mountain foothills to the north and borders Cheng Lake to the south, covering an area of 870 acres. An imperial tablet inscribed with the name “Wan Shu Yuan” by Emperor Qianlong marks it as the 20th scene of the “Thirty-Six Views of Emperor Qianlong.” The area features lush green lawns and ancient, dense trees, and to this day, a stone tablet engraved with Emperor Qianlong’s poem “Eight Rhymes on the Green Carpet” remains in the southern part of the garden. No permanent structures were built in the garden. Instead, following Mongolian customs, several yurts were set up. Emperor Qianlong once received leaders of the Dörbet Mongols such as Sancheli, leaders of the Torghut Mongols including Ubashi, and the Sixth Panchen Lama from Tibet here. He also met with British envoy George Macartney as well as envoys from Myanmar, Vietnam, Korea, and Laos, hosting banquets and musical performances. Paintings such as “Banquet in Wan Shu Yuan” have been passed down through history.

Chengde, Hebei Province