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This vista was located on a hill on the western
side of the lake containing the Fenglin Islet. According to
legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (reigning 140-87 BC)
longed for an eternal life. When he heard that swallowing
jade powder mixed with heavenly dew could help him attain
his desire, he ordered the making of a bronze immortal holding
a plate at the Jianzhang Temple in Xi'an. A bronze statue
of the same kind was erected at Qichunyuan during Emperor
Jiaqing['s reign, which disappeared when the garden was destroyed.
Today, standing in its place is a sculpture of black marble
carved in 1989, its size and style designed in accordance
with a picture preserved by the Qing court.
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