Zodiac Fountain

The Zodiac Fountain, also known as the Yuanmingyuan Zodiac Fountain, is a unique hydraulic clock built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The fountain is located in front of the Haiyan Hall in Yuanmingyuan, designed by the Italian Giuseppe Castiglione, supervised by the Frenchman Jean-Denis Attiret, and made by court craftsmen. The fountain is themed around the twelve zodiac signs, each of which is a fountain mechanism representing the twelve hours of the day. These bronze statues are arranged in a "figure-eight" shape on the stone platforms on both sides of the fountain, with each zodiac sign's body being a stone sculpture wearing a cheongsam, and the head being a realistic red copper cast statue. The casting is exquisite, with a deep color that has not rusted after a hundred years. At each hour, the corresponding zodiac sign's mouth will spray water for two hours, with the water forming a parabolic shape into the pool. At noon, all the zodiac signs spray water simultaneously, creating a spectacular scene. The design of the Zodiac Fountain cleverly combines Chinese and Western cultures, reflecting both traditional Chinese folk culture and Western fountain art. However, in 1860, during the invasion of China by the Anglo-French Allied Forces, the Yuanmingyuan was set on fire, and these precious bronze statues began to be lost overseas. Currently, only a few statues have been recovered, with most still scattered around the world. The Zodiac Fountain is not only a beautiful work of art but also an important carrier of Chinese history and culture, bearing people's deep memories of that period of history. The Zodiac Fountain in the New Changchun Garden in Hengdian is a breathtaking sight. The fountain is designed with the Chinese zodiac as its design element, with each zodiac animal vividly carved into the fountain's water outlet. They not only serve as decorations but also cleverly take on the function of telling time, earning the nickname "hydraulic clock." In the New Changchun Garden in Hengdian, a royal garden that combines Chinese and Western styles, the Zodiac Fountain is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive attractions. Its unique charm attracts countless tourists to stop and admire it. ⏳Duration: Tickets are required for admission, priced at CNY 180, with a visit duration of 2–3 hours.