Painted Boat Hall
Built in 1757 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), this building was inspired by the essay Painted Boat Hall by Song Dynasty writer Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072). Like a ship moored by the eastern shore of Beihai Park, it is actually an independent architectural complex, comprised of a front hall, a pond at the center, and the main building to the north; the exquisite eastern and western courtyards are named Guketing and Xiaolinglong, respectively. Circled by brightly painted corridors, this hall was frequented by the Qing imperial family, including Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi, for recreational events or short stays.
