architecture
New Summer Palace, Hall of Embracing the Universe
Beijing, China
涵虚堂 (Hánxū táng) [Chinese]
Architecture
The Hall of Embracing the Universe is located on Nanhu Island in the southern part of Kunming Lake. Originally a three-story building known as the Moon-Gazing Pavilion, this is where the Qianlong Emperor observed naval drills. It was remodelled as a single-storey structure under the Jianqing Emperor and rebuilt after its destruction by Anglo-French troops by the Guanxu Emperor. Beneath the hall there is a stone cave and a jetty.
historic names
Moon-Gazing Pavilion
望蟾阁
(Wàngchán gé)
[Chinese]
higher-level structure
Architecture: New Summer Palace
built
1751-1764
destroyed/demolished
-
destroyed by British-French troops during the Second Opium War
1900
Destruction again during the Boxer Rebellion
culture
style/period
work type
architect / constr. phase
1751-1764
Built under Emperor Qianlong as a gift for his mother's 60th birthday
1885-1895
Reconstruction under the initiative of Empress Dowager Cixi and the head of the Imperial Navy, Prince Yi Xuan
1902
Reconstruction after destruction during the Boxer Rebellion
patronage
Specifications
Specification: New Summer Palace
area
2,970,000 m²
Geography
local language location name
北京 (Běijīng), 中國 (Zhōngguó) [Chinese]
historical affiliations
1764-1912
1912-1949
UNESCO World Heritage Site
type
cultural
criteria
I,
II,
III
designation
reference
880
