Zhongnanhai

Zhongnanhai (Sea Palaces) means Central and South Seas, and was called Taiyechi, Xiaizi or Xiyuan before Ming Dynasty. It was expanded intermittently in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and had been a temporary dwelling and play area for the feudal emperors.

Main views of Central Sea are Ziguang Pavilion, Banana Garden and Shuiyun Pavilion. The Shuiyun Pavilion is an isolated summerhouse on Shuiyunxie Island in Taiyechi (pool). A stele engraved with the inscription of "Taiye Wind" written by Emperor Qian Long of Qing Dynasty remains in the pavilion. Main view of South Sea is Yingtai Island), where a group of halls, pavilions, corridors and rockeries were built. There are also "garden-in-garden" called Fengze Garden and Quiet Valley in Zhongnanhai. The Shuiyunxie Island in Central Sea, the Yingtai Island in South Sea and the Qionghua Island in North Sea constitute the "three hills of immortal" as stated in the legend. The name of the Island of Yingtai derived from the Immortal Island of Yingzhou in the East China Sea as stated in the legend, connoting a fairyland on earth. Large-scale construction was carried out thereon during the reign of Shun Zhi and Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty, providing a nice place for emperors and empresses spending summer, angling, watching firework, feasting, etc. The structures, symmetrically arranged on the island, make up of enclosed triple courtyard. Baoyue Tower, renamed as Xinhua Gate by Yuan Shika after he usurped political power, faces the Yingtai Island across water. The main halls on the Central Island include Qinzheng Hall, which faces the Yingtai Island across water, and is a place where Empress Dowager Cixi dealt with governmental affairs. Cixi had ever laid a light railroad from here to her villa. On the west of Qinzheng Hall is Jiexiu Pavilion. Next is Fengze Garden. There are several acres of paddy field outside the garden where emperors practiced cultivation, and many functional structures in the garden. As the head offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, now, Zhongnanhai is the political centre of China.