Purple Cloud Gate Tower
This gate tower was built during Emperor Qianlong's reign (1736-1795). The inscription on the stele to the south means "Purple Cloud from the East," a phrase from a story about ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi trying to get through a major military pass. The inscription on the stele to the north means "Rise of Rosy Clouds in Chicheng Mountain," a famous line written by Sun Chuo (314-271), a writer of the Jin Dynasty, in his verse "An Ode to Tiantai Mountain." The gate tower was a scenic location as well as a pass for defense withing the garden.
