Inside the Gate of Benevolent Longevity, lush green pines and five huge Taihu stones will come into sight. Stone plays an indispensable role in the ancient chinese garden. Grotesque Taihu stones scatter around the Summer Palace, forming an interesting view. The stones here demonstrate the climax of the Chinese stone art. The five Taihu stones in the ball represent the famed Wulao Hill in Jiangxi, looking like five elders. The biggest one in the middle, which was transferred from the garden of marquis Rui, displays the four distinct features of Taihu stone. (The garden of marquis Rui is now in the Peking University, orginally the Shao Garden of MiWanzhong, official of the Ming Dynasty.)

Right in the middle of the courtyard sits a fierce bronze beast. With a dragon head, lion tail, deer horn and a hoof, it was the legendary animal Sibuxiang. It was the legendary animal Sibuxiang. It was also removed from the ruins of the Yuanming Park. Originally, there were a couple of the bronze beasts, the other one of which was ruined by the invasion army. And there are even scars on the front leg of the present one.

Behind the beast is the 7-room-wide Hall of Benevolent Longevity. And there install a couple of bronze phoenix, dragon and bronze vat in symmetry on the terrace outside the hall with inscriptions made during the reign of Emperor Guangxu. The chased bronze phoenixes and dragons served as incense burners in ceremonieslldder to indicate her superiority to the emperor, Cixi had the phoenxi placed in the middle, unlike the traditional placemen -t of dragon in the middle.

Originally named Qinzheng Hall, the Hall of Benevolent Longevity was built in 1750, burnt down by the Allied Force of Britain and France in 1860 and restored in the Emperor Guangxu's reign. It used to be where Cixi and Emperor Guangxu summoned the officials and held court meetings. Renshou dervied from the Analects of Confuc -ius, sharing the same meaning with the stele hung high in the hall. It meant that only benevolent ruler can live long. Cixi tribed to demonstrate herself as a benevolent ruler with the various ornaments inside, all related with longevity.

Right in the middle of the hall is a tall platform on which is the nine-dragon throne symbolizing the imperial power. The table for the emperor to handle court affairs and place for memorials to the throne are installed in front of the throne. Behind the throne is a couple of fan made of feathers of peacock and glass screen inscribed with 226 varied characters of Shou (longevity) . Also, there are tripod-shaped incense burners, incense pot with dragon inscriptions and luduan, all cloisonne. On occasion of court meetings, incense wreathing the throne and the ornaments displayed an air of mystery and stateliness, demonstrating the holiness of imperial power. Besides ,there are four gilt bronze stoves, used to contain the burning charcoal in winter.

There are warmth chambers on both sides of the hall, served as resting-places for Cixi and Emperor Guangxu at court. Sometimes, they also met officials here. Ahuge handwriting of Shou (longevity) is hung high on the wall of the warmth chambers, surrounded by pictures of 100 bats and colored clouds. Since the Chinese equivalent to bat has the same pronunciation of that of auspices, the ancient Chinese often use bats in various auspicious pictures. The pictures here was used for the auspices and longevity of Cixi.

To the north of the Hall of Benevolent Longevity is the Well of Prolonging Longevity. Once the heastroke Cixi was saved by the water of the well, hence, it was named so. And it was said that Cixi even came to drink the water of the well expressly before she escaped to Xi'an in 1900. The water of the well was said to be rather fresh and sweet. But it was abandoned after the death of Cixi. It was not restored to the present state till the renovation in 1984.

In comparison with the living area and other scenic areas, the administrative area is only a small part of the whole palace, though having played an important role in history. Walking along the Well of Prolonging Longevity, we now com to the grand Dehe Theatre for the exclusive use of Cixi. We will discuss it later in the introducation of the imperial living area.

The route from the grand theatre, passingthe narrow passage to the left of Dehe Garden, to Yulan Palace, the mail hall of the living area, will save much of the tourists's time. But if we go directly to the Yulan Palace from the south of the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, a totally different sight will catch us. Though the two earth mounds in the front of the passage block the way, the Kunming Lake, Wanshou Hill and the pagoda on the Yuquan Hill in the distance will surprisingly greet us the moment we walk out of the passage. This was one of the great techniq -ues of Chinese architectural art, just as the ancient poem described: the hills and streams have no end, there seem to be no road beyond; but dim with windows, bright with flowers,another village appears. Turning right along the lake, we can see an elegant courtyard, from where we enter the imperial living area.

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