Behind the Union Hall is the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong), a yin (earthly, feminine) analogue of the yang (heavenly, masculine) Palace of Heaven of Purity. In Minga, this hall was the sleeping quarters of the empresses. He continued to wear this name during the Qing, although in fact the impressions did not remain here. In the Qing Dynasty, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility was rebuilt so that its entrance stood at the eastern end of the south side of the hall, and not in the center, as was the general rule in the Forbidden City. This feature, as well as the presence of heated beds (kan) inside, can be explained by the fact that during the Qing dynasty, the palace was used as a shrine for private Manchurian shamanic practices. There was a daily ritual sacrifice for about 15 gods, including Sakyamuni Buddha and a number of Mongolian deities. Every day, four pigs were offered as sacrifices, and in large rituals in the spring and autumn the emperor and empress were personally present, 39 pigs were rising in the smoke. Several emperors and empresses of Qing settled in the eastern "heated room" adjacent to this hall on their three-day honeymoon. The imperial medical clinic and pharmacy were located in the buildings behind the house to the north.
In the northeastern corner of the courtyard, behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, there is a small display of European and Chinese toys from the 18th and 19th centuries. It should not be missed.
Passing to the north through the Gates of Earthly Peace (Kunming Men), we arrive at the Imperial Garden (Yuhua Yuan), parts of which belong to Ming. This garden was just one of many retreats that emperors had at their disposal in Beijing, but, despite his proxy, they usually spent less time than on the vast territories of the gardens in Zhongnanhai, the western suburbs (in Yuanmin Yuan, Yihe Yuan and Yu Quan Shan) and Chengde (formerly Yehol or Reh, where mountainous retreats lived to prevent the heat). In this palace garden, many small architectural elements are filled with a small space, but it still gives the impression of spaciousness compared to the more claustrophobic neighboring residential courtyards.
The paths are decorated with charming mosaic patterns of auspicious plants and animals. The rocky hill in the northern part of the garden dates back to the Min Wanley period. The emperor and his wife during the year climbed to the top of this man-made mountain: when the paths of the constellations were called Gray Boy and Weaving Girl, they crossed paths in heaven for their annual assignment; at the Mid-Autumn Festival to get a great view of the full moon; and on the ninth day of the ninth month, the Double Ninth Festival, when it was decided to climb a high place (denggao). These cases are also noted by the population. Reginald Johnston, Pouilly's English teacher, lived for some time in an apartment in the southwestern part of this garden, now in a small shop.
