Hall of Tranquility and Sincerity

Hall of Tranquility and Sincerity

Guide    The hall was built in the 49th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1710) and was entirely renovated with nanmu wood in the 19th year of the Qianlong reign (1754), hence it is also known as the Nanmu Hall. It is seven bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave, rolled-canopy, hip-and-gable roof. Inside the hall hangs an imperial plaque inscribed with the characters “澹泊敬诚” (Tranquility and Sincerity) written by Emperor Kangxi. Covering an area of 583 square meters, the windows, latticed screens, and ceiling panels are exquisitely carved with patterns such as bats, swastikas, longevity symbols, and scrolling vines. During the rainy season, the rich fragrance of nanmu wood fills the hall. Every year during the Emperors’ birthdays and major celebrations, they would receive leaders of various ethnic groups, nobles, ministers, and foreign envoys here. In the 45th year of the Qianlong reign, the Sixth Panchen Lama traveled from Tibet to offer birthday congratulations, and Emperor Qianlong received him in this hall. Introduction

The Hall of Tranquility and Sincerity is located north of the Lizheng Gate. It is the main hall of the Mountain Resort. In front of the hall are the outer and inner Meridian Gates. There are also waiting rooms and music pavilions, and behind the hall are structures such as the Studio of Four Knowledges and the imperial sleeping quarters. The inner Meridian Gate served as a site for small-scale military reviews when the Qing emperors went to the Mulan Hunting Grounds in Chengde for autumn hunts each year. An imperial plaque inscribed with the four characters “避暑山庄” (Mountain Resort) written by Emperor Kangxi is hung above the gate. On the east and west walls are stone carvings of poems entitled “Six Rhymes on the Review of Archery” composed by Emperor Qianlong.

    Chengde, Hebei Province