Loacted to the east of the 17- Arch Bridge, the Kuoru Pavilion is a huge double-eaved octagonal pavilon. It is not only the largest on among the over 40 pavilions but the largest among the extant ancient architectures in China, Covering an area of more than 130 sq meters, the pavilion was upheld by 24 round pillars and 16 square ones. The purlin was adorned with colored paintings all over. The whole structure looks grand and sublime.

When there was no wall built on the eastern dike. Kuoru Pavilion presented a wide vision: the rippling Kunming Lake to its north and thousand hectares of rice paddies to its east and south. Therefore, it was then named Kuoru (vastness) Pavilion.

Why was the pavilion built here? On the one hand, it was because of the Chinese proclivity for symmetry. The harmony would be damaged without a huge pavilion setting off the Nanhu Islet to the west of the 17-ArchBridge, when people look far at the bridge.On the other hand, its appearance in the palace was out of the special preference of the emperor's for army and hunting life.

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