古(gu)蓮花池位于歷史文化名城保定市區中心,是(shi)我(wo)國北方著名的(de)古(gu)典園(yuan)林之(zhi)一,它歷經私人、官府(fu)、書院、行宮和公共園(yuan)林的(de)歷史變(bian)遷,為全國重點文物保護單(dan)位,中國最美的(de)十大園(yuan)林之(zhi)一。
它始建(jian)于(yu)金(jin)(jin)元(yuan)之交的(de)(de)(de)(de)公元(yuan)1227年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),原名雪香園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),距(ju)今已有近800年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史,為(wei)(wei)元(yuan)代(dai)汝南(nan)(nan)王張柔元(yuan)帥創(chuang)建(jian)。金(jin)(jin)末元(yuan)初,為(wei)(wei)張柔的(de)(de)(de)(de)副帥千戶侯世(shi)親(qin)喬維(wei)忠的(de)(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)地。明代(dai),為(wei)(wei)官府(fu)占據,成為(wei)(wei)達官貴人(ren)飲宴聚(ju)會的(de)(de)(de)(de)樂園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),曾以(yi)“水鑒公署”的(de)(de)(de)(de)雅(ya)號(hao)盛稱于(yu)世(shi)。因湖(hu)中荷花歷(li)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)不(bu)(bu)衰(shuai),故明代(dai)以(yi)后(hou)稱為(wei)(wei) “古蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)花池(chi)(chi)(chi)”。 清雍(yong)正十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),直隸(li)總督(du)李衛在此(ci)修建(jian)了(le)聞名遐邇的(de)(de)(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)書院(yuan)(yuan)。乾(qian)隆(long)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1745年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),古蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)花池(chi)(chi)(chi)辟為(wei)(wei)皇帝(di)行(xing)(xing)宮。乾(qian)隆(long)十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1749年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始,在直隸(li)總督(du)方觀承的(de)(de)(de)(de)主持下,古蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)花池(chi)(chi)(chi)做了(le)大(da)(da)規模的(de)(de)(de)(de)改建(jian)新(xin)建(jian),形成了(le)巧奪天工、規模宏(hong)偉的(de)(de)(de)(de)“蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)十二景”,即春午坡、花南(nan)(nan)研北(bei)草堂、萬卷樓、高芬(fen)閣、宛虹亭(ting)、鶴柴、蕊幢精(jing)舍、繹堂、藻泳樓、寒綠軒、篇留(liu)洞、含滄亭(ting)。除此(ci)之外,還有直隸(li)圖書館、牌(pai)樓、太(tai)保(bao)峰(feng)、灑然亭(ting)、聽琴樓、響(xiang)琴榭、君(jun)子長生(sheng)館、昆閬院(yuan)(yuan)、綠野梯橋、駐景樓、枚(mei)廊等(deng)。它融會了(le)我國(guo)古代(dai)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)造園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)藝術的(de)(de)(de)(de)精(jing)華和風格,被(bei)譽為(wei)(wei)“城市蓬(peng)萊”。乾(qian)隆(long)皇帝(di)一(yi)生(sheng)七次(ci)巡幸蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)行(xing)(xing)宮,后(hou)為(wei)(wei)嘉慶、光緒皇帝(di)的(de)(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)宮和慈禧太(tai)后(hou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)宮御苑(yuan)。1900年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋,英、法、德(de)、意(yi)四國(guo)聯(lian)軍侵(qin)入(ru)保(bao)定(ding),園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)林(lin)內(nei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑被(bei)焚燒殆盡,珍寶(bao)、文物被(bei)洗劫一(yi)空(kong)。1903年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),直隸(li)總督(du)袁世(shi)凱對園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)林(lin)進行(xing)(xing)了(le)恢復(fu)(fu),但由于(yu)國(guo)庫不(bu)(bu)撥(bo)銀兩,地方財力不(bu)(bu)足,只恢復(fu)(fu)了(le)部分景觀。新(xin)中國(guo)成立后(hou),古蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)花池(chi)(chi)(chi)得到了(le)全面保(bao)護(hu)和維(wei)修。從2002年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)至2009年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),市政府(fu)分兩期投(tou)入(ru)資(zi)金(jin)(jin)1600萬元(yuan),歷(li)時八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),對古蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)進行(xing)(xing)大(da)(da)規模的(de)(de)(de)(de)修繕,使古老(lao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)林(lin)煥發出一(yi)片生(sheng)機(ji)。