Juanqinzhai

Juanqinzhai was an imperial lodge in the north end of the garden, and contains rare examples of murals painted on silk and bamboo craftsmanship.

[1] In 2002, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) began a partnership with the Palace Museum to restore the Qianlong Garden.

Even late in his reign, when the Qianlong Garden was being built, the emperor's passion for art was displayed in the beautiful decoration of the pavilions and halls there.

In 2001, after years of neglect, the World Monuments Fund began a partnership with the Palace Museum in Beijing to restore the Qianlong Garden.

Juanqinzhai's murals, which are the only large ensemble of eighteenth illusionist painting in China, were removed from their backing, and painstakingly cleaned.

[5] Though he never stayed in Juanqinzhai, the Qianlong Emperor still planned the Palace of Tranquil Longevity as his personal retreat, filled with his favorite designs and motifs.

From the eastern entrance, the emperor entered a large, two storied audience room, paneled with bamboo and silk screens.

In the center of lower level sits a formal throne, embroidered in imperial yellow and flanked by traditional Chinese couplets.

On both floors, the emperor had a set of private rooms and thrones, each filled with natural light, due to the semi-transparent silk screens, which also appear on both levels.

In this section, a small pavilion equipped with a stage is surrounded by a bamboo fence and is faced by another two-floored viewing platform, from which the emperor could watch theatrical performances.