Empress Dowager Cixi's Imperial Garden

Located in the heart of the ancient city of Baoding, the Ancient Lotus Pond, renowned for its vibrant and abundant lotus blossoms, is a classical garden integrating a landscape garden, an imperial palace, and a traditional academy. With a history spanning nearly 800 years, it is recognized as one of China's top ten famous gardens and a national key cultural relic protection site. Initially constructed during the transition between the Jin and Yuan dynasties (1227), the Ancient Lotus Pond was originally a private garden named "Snow Fragrance Garden" by Zhang Rou, the Prince of Runan during the Yuan Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, it was designated as an official government garden. In the eleventh year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1733), the Lotus Pond Academy was established. In the tenth year of the Qianlong reign (1745), the Governor-General of Zhili Province built an imperial palace within the garden. Four years later, in 1749, pavilions, terraces, and towers were added, forming the "Twelve Scenes," earning the garden the title of "City of Penglai." It served as an imperial palace for Emperors Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Guangxu, and as the imperial garden of Empress Dowager Cixi. Emperor Qianlong visited the Ancient Lotus Pond seven times throughout his life. In October 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance forces invaded Baoding, looting the garden's precious cultural relics and reducing its pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls to ashes. Despite numerous restorations, the garden has yet to fully regain its former glory. The Ancient Lotus Pond currently occupies an area of 35,000 square meters. Its overall layout centers around a pond, with classical buildings in both northern and southern styles, such as pavilions, terraces, and towers, encircling the water. The Ancient Lotus Pond's famous "Twelve Scenes" comprise the following: Zaoyong Tower, Pianliu Cave, Hancang Pavilion, Chunwu Slope, Gaofen Pavilion, Wanjuan Tower, North Thatched Cottage, Wanhong Pavilion, He Chai, Rui Zhuang Abode, Yitang Hall, and Hanlv Xuan. The garden is renowned for its shimmering waters, ancient entwined vines, weeping willows, schools of fish, and the pervasive fragrance of lotus blossoms. The garden is dotted with numerous steles, including the renowned "Lotus Pond Academy Calligraphy Rubbings." These rubbings feature works such as Chu Suiliang's "Thousand Character Classic," Yan Zhenqing's "Thousand Blessings Stele," the "Calligraphy Sage" Huai Su's "Autobiographical Essay," Mi Fu's "Hongxian Poem," Zhao Mengfu's "Song of Mount Shu," Dong Qichang's "Inscription of the Cloud Recluse Mountain House," "Two Poems by Li Bai," and "Praise of Arhats," encompassing eight works by six calligraphers. There are also Tang Dynasty steles and Wang Yangming's poetry steles. The east and west stele corridors of the Lotus Pond house seven imperial poetry steles from the Qing Dynasty, including the calligraphy of Emperors Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang, reflecting the cultural heritage of Zhili Baoding. The Lotus Pond's fame was further amplified by its association with the Lotus Pond Academy, the highest educational institution in Zhili Province. The academy nurtured a large number of practical talents, including Liu Chunlin, the last Zhuangyuan (top scholar in the imperial examination) of China. Chairman Mao Zedong once revisited the Lotus Pond and remarked, "The Lotus Pond's fame primarily stems from the Lotus Pond Academy, which was considered the pinnacle of academies nationwide during the late Qing Dynasty." The Ancient Lotus Pond is situated in the heart of the bustling city, directly opposite the Baoding Department Store. Nearby attractions include the Zhili Governor's Office Museum, the Catholic Church, the Bell Tower, and the Great Ci'en Pavilion. To the left are the Huai Army Office Museum and the Qing River Administration Office. The popular pedestrian street, West Street, is also within walking distance, allowing for convenient combined visits.