Consisting of the grand theatre and the Yiyue Hall,the Dehe Garden was first built in 1891 and completed four years later. As one of the large renovation projects of the Summer Palace, it was second only to Foxiang Pavilion in terms of the cost, using over700,000 liang of silver. Dehe Garden is the best preserved and largest ancient theatre in China, one of the three theatres of Qing Dynasty. The other two are the Belvedere of Flowing Music in the Forbidden City and the Qingyin Pavilion in the Summer Resort of Chengde.

Upon the entrance into the garden, we will see the original dressing room and resting-place of actors and actresses. What's now exhibited are the costume, props, sedan chairs and automobiles used by Cixi, some cloisonne and the huge oil portrait of Cixi drawn by an American Dutch painter. This portait was Cixi' favorite as she looked like a middle-aged noblewoman at the age of 71.

Then, let's come to the grand theatre. The 21-meter-high and 17-meter-wide theatre comprises three floors: the stage Fu (blessing) , stage Lu (emolument) and stage Shou (Longevity). The small platform on the stage Shou served for the accompaniment of band, with an underground well and five ponds to reinforce the resonance of sound. There are also seven openings on the ceiling so that the "immortals" could land from heaven and " devils" may appear from underground. Grand show of water could land from heaven and "devils" may appear from under-ground. Grand show of water could also be played. Ignorant of thes devices, the American painter was drenched all over by the water poured from the dragon mouth.

The main hall of the Yiyue Hall right opposed to the grand theatre was for the exclusive use of Cixi, accom-panying officials could only sit on the floor of the corridors at the two sides of the theatre. There is an enamel throne inside the main hall, beside which is bird cage and mechanic birds that will twitter if wound up, both gifts from foreigners. In addition, there installed a set of finely-made jade screen with pictures of birds and flowers of the four seasons, including peony, lotus, chrysanthemum and plum blossom.

Peking Opera is the Empress Dowager Cixi's favorited entertainment. Operas would be on show every time she came to the Summer Palace. On occasion of her birthday, opears would usually be played for eight day in succession .Many well- known artists of Peking Opera, such as Tan Xinpei and Yang Xiaolou, were invited to play for her trequently. At present, what are on display in the two wing rooms are some clothes, articles of her daily use ,works of art imported from western countries, such as glass-ware. Delicately made, the large number of cultural relics can be counted best of the best.

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