After the Gate of Dispelling Clouds, in a courtyard with a stone arch bridge, which crosses a rectangular basin, you will find the Hall of Dispelling Clouds.
This building complex was originally a temple that Emperor Qianlong had given to his mother as a birthday gift, but it was burnt down in 1860 and rebuilt as a throne room during the reign of Emperor Guangxu.
As the residence of a Son of Heaven, the building is raised on a terrace with marble balustrades, preceded by pairs of dragons and phoenixes, three-footed vases and four bronze fountains.
Inside, you can see the Nine Dragon Throne and the marvelous furnishings used to celebrate the birthday of Empress Cixi, among the finest to be found anywhere in the Summer Palace.
An interesting fact: the Empress Dowager Cixi intended to make the Hall of Dispelling Clouds her bedroom, but when she entered, she felt ill and attributed this to the Tower of Buddhist Incense; for fear it would bring bad luck, she instead decided to live in the Hall of Joyful Longevity, and only celebrated her birthday here.
