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Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyundian)

The Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyundian) is a ceremonial building complex of grand halls and exquisite auxiliary structures at the foot of front Longevity Hill in the Summer Palace.

Hall of Dispelling Clouds

When & why was the Dispelling Clouds Hall complex built?

This building complex originated from a group of Buddhist architecture centered on Great Temple of Gratitude and Longevity, built by Emperor Qianlong (1711~1799) in 1750 to celebrate his mother's birthday, but destroyed by Anglo-French forces in 1860. In 1886, Emperor Guangxu built the complex on the temple site.

Originally intended as Empress Dowager Cixi's bedroom, the main hall was then deemed unsuitable after she fell ill following one night's stay. It was then converted into a venue mainly for Cixi's birthday celebrations.

What to see about the complex?

Main Structure: Hall of Dispelling Clouds

The main Hall of Dispelling Clouds is in the middle of the complex. Its name is inspired by a poetic verse, connoting that immortals dispel clouds to unveil a realm of gold and silver, embodying this place as a dwelling of immortals and a land of immortality.

Dispelling Clouds Hall Interior

In front of it lies a broad platform enclosed by white marble railings, with steps on three sides. On the platform, pairs of bronze dragons, phoenixes, and tripods are displayed, while four large bronze vats for fire prevention are symmetrically arranged below.

As the core venue for Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday celebration, the interior display retains the festive ambiance.

On a raised platform sits the Dragon Throne, beautifully adorned with a carved dragon at its center and supported by three curved legs featuring cloud-dragon reliefs. Behind it, an ebony screen stands as a backdrop, its material darkened by centuries of carbonization. According to record, on Cixi's birthday, Emperor Guangxu (1871~1908) led the princes and court officials kowtowed to her as she sat on the Dragon Throne.

On either side of the throne stand table screens carved from agarwood, a precious material that naturally emits a fragrance. At its center is the God of Longevity seated under a pine tree, while the reverse side boasts a hundred unique "longevity" characters, each distinct. Supporting these screens are two celestial attendant sculptures, kneeling with hands folded in reverence, holding up the large longevity character.

Cloud-Radiant and Jade-Hall Archway

Cloud-Radiant and Jade-Hall Archway

The Cloud-Radiant and Jade-Hall Archway is the starting point of the axial architectural ensemble, facing south with a height of 3.8 meters (12.5 feet).

Empress Dowager Cixi inscribed the archway's horizontal signs herself: "Cloud-Radiant and Jade-Hall" on the north and "Stars Circling the Auspicious Pole" on the south. The former depicts a realm where magnificent structures merge with colorful clouds, while the latter symbolizes cosmic order, indicating that this is a divine place guarded by celestial bodies.

Cixi once set free animals in front of the archway.

Each spring, Empress Dowager Cixi performed an animal release ritual at the archway, demonstrating both her Buddhist piety and benevolence.

During one such ceremony, Chief Eunuch Li Lianying (1848~1911) presented her with an extraordinary siskin. The trained bird astounded Cixi by identifying cards with auspicious messages like "Abundant Harvests" and even selecting Cixi's zodiac sign (the Sheep) from among the options. This remarkable feat so pleased Cixi that she rewarded Li handsomely.

Gate of Dispelling Clouds

North of the archway stands the Gate of Dispelling Clouds, covered with yellow glazed tiles. In front of the gate, a pair of bronze lions from the Old Summer Palace guard, accompanied by 12 symmetrically arranged multihole rocks, known as the "Zodiac Rocks", each resembling an animal of the Chinese zodiac when viewed from a certain angle.

Other Auxiliary Buildings

Upon entering the gate, you will see a rectangular pond with a single-arch stone bridge. The bridge faces the Second Palace Gate, under which hangs a plaque inscribed with "Endless Longevity", where congratulatory messages were read out during Cixi's birthday celebrations.

On the east and west of the pond are the Jade Glow Hall and the Cloud Brocade Hall, once served as the resting place for the emperor and nobles during birthday celebrations. Now, visitors can admire exhibited artifacts here, mostly birthday gifts presented to Empress Dowager Cixi, including porcelain and jade carvings.

Next: Tower of Buddhist Incense