I have finally arrived at the other side of the Anywhere Door, Fontainebleau, the spring, palace, and forest described by Zhu Ziqing

I have been to Paris many times, and this trip in 2019 was mainly to take a friend on a tour, but I also added a new destination that I had not visited before—Fontainebleau. After landing at Orly Airport and renting a car, we headed straight for Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau is located 80 kilometers southeast of the city center. Its French name 'Fontainebleau' means 'beautiful fountain'. In 1934, the essayist Zhu Ziqing translated it as 'Fontainebleau' in his 'Notes on Travels in Europe', which is undoubtedly a model of faithful, expressive, and elegant translation. The Palace of Fontainebleau is situated within a forest of 170 square kilometers. With its beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, and clear springs, it's no wonder that Louis VI built a castle by the spring in the 12th century as a hunting lodge. The glory of Fontainebleau, however, is attributed to the French King Francis I of the 16th century, who undertook a massive expansion of the palace. A large number of Italian artists and designers were involved, ingeniously blending the Renaissance style with traditional French art, making Fontainebleau one of the masterpieces of French classical architecture. The architectural complex of Fontainebleau, consisting of the castle, palace, courtyards, and gardens, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1981. Fontainebleau Palace also witnessed the history of France; Napoleon once imprisoned the Pope here, and later, dramatically, he was forced to abdicate at this location. Today, it has become a famous museum. In addition to its rich collections and architectural treasures, the gardens of the Fontainebleau Castle are also worth a leisurely stroll, with lush pines and cypresses and winding paths. The Fontainebleau Forest, once used for royal hunting, saw the birth of the famous 'Barbizon School of Painting', and today it is a favorite weekend getaway for Parisians. Public transportation: You can take the train from Gare de Lyon towards Montargis Sens or Montereau, get off at Fontainebleau - Avon, then transfer to Veolia BUS line 1 towards les lilas, and get off at Chateau; a one-way ticket costs 8.75 euros, and the Paris public transport weekly pass can be used. Opening hours: April to September 9:30-18:00 (entry stops at 17:15); October to March 9:30-17:00 (entry stops at 16:15); closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, and December 25; the ballroom closes at 16:00 from October to March and at 17:00 from April to September; the Chinese Museum and the Pope's Suite are closed from 11:30 to 14:30 (except weekends and school holidays) Ticket price: The full price for the main exhibition area is 14 euros, but visiting the gardens is free.