Urban Impression

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Present-day ruins of Dashuifa and Yuanyingguan

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Yuanyingguan

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Haiyantang (Hall of National Peace)

Built in 1759, and located to the east of Fangwaiguan, the largest European-style garden in Yuanmingyuan-Haiyantang-consisted of a main building and an H-shaped water tower behind it. The two-storied main building faces west, with 11 rooms on each floor. The gate of the building was flanked by a pair of water channels with steps leading down to a large fountain. On the V-shaped platform around the pond stood 12 bronze statues with animal heads and human bodies, the animals being those representing the 12 Earthly branches. Every two hours water was sprayed out successively from each animal's mouth. Thus the fountain was also called the "Water Clock."

Behind the main building was the H-shaped reservoir flanked to the north and south by two small fountains. It fed all the fountains around this area. At its east and west ends were waterwheel houses. Below the terrace in the middle was the reservoir with tin walls and a high base, known as the "tin sea." It held over 160 cubic meters of water. In its early days, water was brought up by man-powered dragon-phoenix waterwheels designed by Michael Benoist. Three or four years later a pulley system was used to haul up water in big jars.

The ruined Haiyantang

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Base of the reservoir in the water tower

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Hanantang

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Haiantang

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Shell-like carving