古(gu)蓮花池位于歷(li)史(shi)文(wen)化名城保定市(shi)區(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)心,是我國(guo)(guo)北方著(zhu)名的古(gu)典(dian)園(yuan)林之一(yi),它(ta)歷(li)經私人、官府、書院、行宮和(he)公共園(yuan)林的歷(li)史(shi)變遷,為全(quan)國(guo)(guo)重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護單位,中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)最美的十大園(yuan)林之一(yi)。
它(ta)(ta)始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)金元(yuan)之(zhi)交的(de)(de)(de)公元(yuan)1227年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),原名雪香園(yuan),距(ju)今已(yi)有近(jin)800年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史,為(wei)(wei)元(yuan)代汝南王張柔元(yuan)帥創建(jian)(jian)。金末元(yuan)初,為(wei)(wei)張柔的(de)(de)(de)副(fu)帥千戶侯世(shi)親喬維(wei)忠(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)地。明代,為(wei)(wei)官府(fu)占據,成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)達官貴人飲宴聚會(hui)的(de)(de)(de)樂(le)園(yuan),曾(ceng)以(yi)“水鑒公署(shu)”的(de)(de)(de)雅號盛稱于(yu)(yu)世(shi)。因湖中(zhong)(zhong)荷(he)花(hua)(hua)(hua)歷(li)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)不(bu)衰,故明代以(yi)后稱為(wei)(wei) “古(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)(hua)(hua)池”。 清(qing)雍正十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),直(zhi)隸總(zong)督李衛在(zai)此(ci)修建(jian)(jian)了(le)(le)聞(wen)名遐邇的(de)(de)(de)蓮(lian)池書(shu)院(yuan)。乾(qian)隆(long)(long)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1745年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),古(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)(hua)(hua)池辟為(wei)(wei)皇帝(di)行(xing)(xing)宮。乾(qian)隆(long)(long)十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1749年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始,在(zai)直(zhi)隸總(zong)督方觀承的(de)(de)(de)主持下,古(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)(hua)(hua)池做(zuo)了(le)(le)大規(gui)模(mo)的(de)(de)(de)改建(jian)(jian)新建(jian)(jian),形成(cheng)了(le)(le)巧奪天工、規(gui)模(mo)宏偉的(de)(de)(de)“蓮(lian)池十二景(jing)”,即春午坡、花(hua)(hua)(hua)南研北草堂(tang)、萬卷樓、高芬閣、宛虹(hong)亭、鶴(he)柴、蕊幢(chuang)精(jing)舍、繹(yi)堂(tang)、藻泳樓、寒綠(lv)軒、篇(pian)留洞、含滄亭。除(chu)此(ci)之(zhi)外,還有直(zhi)隸圖書(shu)館(guan)、牌樓、太保(bao)峰、灑然(ran)亭、聽琴(qin)樓、響琴(qin)榭、君(jun)子長生館(guan)、昆閬院(yuan)、綠(lv)野梯橋、駐景(jing)樓、枚(mei)廊等(deng)。它(ta)(ta)融會(hui)了(le)(le)我國(guo)(guo)古(gu)(gu)代南北造(zao)園(yuan)藝術的(de)(de)(de)精(jing)華和(he)風格(ge),被譽為(wei)(wei)“城市蓬萊”。乾(qian)隆(long)(long)皇帝(di)一生七次巡(xun)幸蓮(lian)池行(xing)(xing)宮,后為(wei)(wei)嘉慶、光緒皇帝(di)的(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)宮和(he)慈禧太后的(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)宮御苑。1900年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋,英、法、德、意四國(guo)(guo)聯軍侵入保(bao)定,園(yuan)林內的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)被焚燒殆(dai)盡,珍(zhen)寶、文(wen)物(wu)被洗劫一空。1903年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),直(zhi)隸總(zong)督袁世(shi)凱(kai)對園(yuan)林進行(xing)(xing)了(le)(le)恢復,但(dan)由(you)于(yu)(yu)國(guo)(guo)庫不(bu)撥銀兩(liang),地方財力(li)不(bu)足,只恢復了(le)(le)部分(fen)景(jing)觀。新中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立后,古(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)(hua)(hua)池得到了(le)(le)全面(mian)保(bao)護和(he)維(wei)修。從(cong)2002年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)至2009年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),市政府(fu)分(fen)兩(liang)期投入資金1600萬元(yuan),歷(li)時(shi)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),對古(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)池進行(xing)(xing)大規(gui)模(mo)的(de)(de)(de)修繕,使(shi)古(gu)(gu)老的(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)林煥(huan)發出(chu)一片生機。