[2024 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Nanhu Island (Updated Sep)
Islands/Peninsulas
Address:
Inside Summer Palace, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
Recommended sightseeing time:
1 hour
Phone:
010-62881144
Nanhu: Summer Palace Germ in A Grit of Dragon
#chinatrip
Nanhu Island is located southeast of Kunming Lake opposite Longevity Hill. When the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) expanded Kunming Lake, he ordered workers to preserve the temples and buildings, but excavate the land around them, thus creating Nanhu Island. Together with two other islands on Kunming Lake, Nanhu Island symbolizes the legendary "three fabulous islands in the ocean". The Chinese have long believed that there are several fabulous islands floating in the ocean with heavenly halls like paradise. Covering an area of about 1 hectare (2.47 acres), it is the largest island of the Summer Palace.
Kunming Lake was usually divided into South Lake and West Lake. Nanhu Island was named "South Lake Island" because of its location in the south of Kunming Lake. The island is decorated with carved stone stripes and is surrounded by blue and white stones. The southeastern shore of the island is connected to the Eastern Dam of Kunming Lake by a seventeen-arch bridge. Ferries also run from the island to the southeastern and northwestern shores of the lake. Rockeries and trees make up the northern part of the island, while the southern part is mainly highlighted by buildings. On the island there are the Hansu (Modesty) Hall, the Wangyan Pavilion (Looking from the ledge), the temple of the Dragon King and other structures. They combine into a single architecture, which is considered the best attraction on Kunming Lake. From afar, they echo the hill of Longevity.
It is said that Nanhu Island looks like a large turtle crawling on Kunming Lake. Looking down at the Summer Palace, you may be surprised to find that the round island looks like a turtle shell. The stairs leading to the surface of the lake are very similar to the legs of a turtle. The seventeen-arch bridge looks like an elongated neck. The Kuoru Pavilion at the eastern end of the bridge looks like a turtle's head. The realistic shape makes you wonder if this is a coincidence.