The rear hill and back lake feature more natural and fresh scenes, when compared with the splendid front hill and lake. It seems that after enjoying delicacies of every kind of the grand feast of Manchu and Han Nationality at the southern slope of Wanshou Hill and the Kunming Lake, we would go to the rear hill and have a taste of the delic-ate snack food of the watery area at the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The scenery of the rear hill and back lake indeed displays distinct characteristics of the watery area at the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The architectures could parallel well with those of the front hill consid-ering its large number and grand size in the period of Qingyi Garden. Unfortunately, only a desolate scene of broken walls remained here after the wars of 1860 and 1900. The 1600-meter-long expanse of water at the foot of the hill was also called Suzhou River, starting from Xing Bridge and reaching the Xiequ (Harmonious Interest) Garden. Varied in width at different sections, the river zigzags its way among the hills like a green ribbon.

The continuous renovation done in recent years here gradually restored the architectures of the rear hill to the original state. Right in the middle are the Pine Hall, Hall of Xunmi Lingjing, Sida Buzhou (the Temple of Four Buddhist States), the three - arch stone bridge and the north palace gate. And architectures scatter at the eastern and western sides, including the Shanxian Temple, Yunhui Temple, Huacheng Pavilion and Huifang Hall.

In addition, there is a commercial street along the banks of the rear lake, with the Long Bridge at the center. A dozen of featured stores here served for the entertainment of the emperor and empress.

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