Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshou Dian)

The Summer Palace

First built in Emperor Qianlong's reign (1750) during the Qing Dynasty, this building was named the Hall of Industrious Government when the whole Summer Palace area was called the Garden of Clear Ripples.   In the Emperor Guangxu's reign, the Hall was rebuilt (1886) where it had been before the Anglo-French Allied Forces burned it down in 1860.   Citing the saying: "One who is benevolent enjoys longevity" from the Analects of Confucius, it was renamed the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity.   This was where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu handed court affairs, accepted laudations and received foreign diplomats during their stay in the Summer Palace.   As such, it was the Summer Palace's main government building.