Hall of Utmost Blessing (Jingfuge)

 
At the eastern part of the front Longevity Hill in the Summer Palace stands the Hall of Utmost Blessing, a single-story open viewing hall that boasts the largest scale and highest elevation among all buildings there. Despite being low with one floor, its strategic location offered expansive views on three sides, making it a prime spot on the Longevity Hill for enjoying the scenery. From within, visitors can enjoy views of the Old Summer Palace to the east and a sweeping panorama of Kunming Lake, including its long bridges, picturesque islands, and mansion boats, to the south.
 
The Hall of Utmost Blessing originated from Epiphyllum Pavilion, a Buddhist structure built between 1750 and 1754. Named after the epiphyllum, an ephemeral flower highly revered in Buddhism and symbolizes auspiciousness and magical powers, the pavilion boasts a unique hexagonal star floor plan that mimics the six petals of the flower in bloom.

In 1888, the hall was reconstructed as a single-story hall with a cruciform layout, renamed as the Hall of Utmost Blessing. After the reconstruction, Empress Dowager Cixi (1835~1908) often climb to the hall to enjoy the moonlight and her evening meals. On rainy days, Cixi and some female royals would play cards in the hall. She also came here during festivals to pray for good luck. After 1903, Cixi received and hosted foreign envoys multiple times at the hall.

On June 6, 2014, during the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Summer Palace, it was opened to visitors to display old photos of the Summer Palace. After another period of renovation, it was completed in October 2023.

Note: Only the appearance available for admiring nowadays, the hall is expected to reopen in 2026, designed as an exhibition hall themed by Beijing's peaceful liberation.
  
The East Palace Gate is the best entrance to reach the Hall of Utmost Blessing. After entering, turn right at the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, walk north to the foot of Longevity Hill, then follow the mountain path on your right. The entire walk takes about 5 minutes.

If you enter from the North Palace Gate, walk straight past Suzhou Market Street and take the mountain path on your left. This route takes around 10 minutes but is slightly steeper, so ensure you have enough energy and wear comfortable, slip-resistant shoes.
 
In mid- to late March each year, visitors flock to the Summer Palace to admire the blooming peach blossoms. Compared to the crowded West Causeway, the area around the Hall of Utmost Blessing offers equally stunning peach blossoms with fewer crowds, making it one of the best spots for spring photography.

If visiting during this season, choose a clear day and avoid the harsh midday light for the best shots. The contrast between the delicate peach blossoms and the antique Chinese architecture creates a picturesque scene. For portrait photography, wearing traditional Chinese attire like cheongsam or Hanfu will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your photos.