Through such a great courtyard, then, we passed on to an oblong entrance-hall, and from that into the enormous courtyard, in which, I believe, audiences are at times held. There you see where the chief mandarins have their places. There is a glitter as of gold from the many gorgeous, sun-lit, yellow-tiled roofs, with their ridges decorated by symbolic monsters, which take curious forms in the light and shadow of the blazing sun, and the curved gable ends of the roofs rising in fantastic shapes. Away beyond this is the great audience-hall, which only the great ones are ever allowed to enter.
But what lavish architecture is seen here I the splendid painted and decorated woodwork, showing, as all this sort of decorative ornament in China does show, the predominance of the dragon, with the peacock's tail, blue and green. I was rather amused to see a dis tinctly modern touch in this decoration—done, of course, since the Dowager Empress's return. On some of the beams were painted buildings and streets, with electric lamps, sea-pieces, modern war-vessels, &c.
In the courtyards are wonderful works in bronze— stags, and long-legged cranes, white marble lanterns higher than a man, gilded basins with gold-fish. It is lavish, but withal a restraint, which only adds to beauty.
The Chinese fully appreciate that if a beautiful and intricate piece of workmanship, either art or craft, is to be shown to full advantage, it should be by itself ; it must have a space round it, so that one can see the full effect.
I passed on with others ; but I felt as though I were in dreamland,, so real it seemed. I had read of such a place, but it was hard to realise that I was actually seeing it. We were rowed across the Lotus Lake, in which are some tracts of clear water for the boats ; the rest seems one solid mass of plants. We sailed near the island on which was the prison-house of the Emperor—a pretty prison, its pavilions and summer houses in quaint little gardens, but a prison none the less. Here is that wonderful marble bridge now once more sacred to the use of the ruler, but ill-used like all else here by the ruthless invader and righteous revenger a few years ago. Near by is a gorgeous green-and
yellow pailau, and behind this the matchless dragon screen, which is of considerable size and wonderfully decorated with dragons in high relief ; its glorious colour is beyond description. We saw, towering above, the Dagoba—the Mohammedan temple, built for the wife of an emperor who was of that religion. Who shall say the Chinese are not tolerant ? All religions exist and even flourish in their midst. We climbed this hill by tortuous steps and winding paths, to find more beautiful marble and bronzes ; then a long straight staircase, and the top is reached—and spread out before us is the Imperial Palace, the For bidden City, the Lotus Lake, Coal Hill, and all the wonders I had heard of. There they all lay at our feet, glittering in the sunlight, whilst away beyond were the Tartar city walls and gateways, and the faint outline of the western hills.
Amongst the most beautiful and peaceful places per haps in this fairy palace is the Emperor's garden, shaded by trees and spotted by sunlight, the stone paved walks bordered by sculptured marble and master pieces of bronze ; it is an ideal place for meditation, but we had no time to see even a tithe of the wonders.
We were shown some private rooms, but not allowed to enter. These had glazed windows, and through them we could see rooms very beautifully fitted and furnished, and fine porcelain vases on carved wood stands.
I longed to be able to sketch in this wonderland. I knew this was hopeless, not only because of the refusal I had already received, but because we were told the Court would shortly return here from the Summer Palace.
Once more we entered the boats, and were slowly rowed back across the lake, some members of the party pulling lotus flowers as mementoes of their visit. Rick shas again, and the famous Winter Palace of Peking became once more a dream.