Since we have visited the place where the Emperors worked and now we'll pay a visit to the place where empress 
and concubines lived. Here is the Phoenix Tower. It served as an entrance to the rear chambers and also the entertainment area of Huangtaiji and his concubines, and some gatherings or banquets were held occasionally. The tower was built on a terrace 3.8 meters tall. It was the tallest building in Shenyang at that time .It is amazing watching sunrise in the morning on the tower and Phoenix Sunrise is one of the famous Eight fascinating Scenes in Shenyang. Look upward, we will see a board hanging up on Phoenix Tower ,on which Emperor Qianlong inscribed "Ziqidonglai", which meant the Qing Dynasty in Beijing immigrated from Shengjing, the old name for Shenyang to the east .There are 24staircases leading to Phoenix Tower representing 24 seasonal divisions points in Chinese lunar calendar.
In Shenyang Imperial palace chambers are higher than halls, which is contrary to the architectural style in Forbidden city in Beijing. Walking through the tower are the rear chambers. The one on the north in the middle was called Purity and Tranquility Hall, which was prepared for emperor and empress. The other four lying on both sides were for concubines .Purity and Tranquility Hall has five rooms and the First from the east was where Huangraiji passed away here at the age of 52 without any disease. His throne passed to his ninth son, Fulin. In early Qing Dynasty, the construction style was summed up like this: bag-like house, zigzag bed and chimney sitting on the ground. The main buildings here were different from other buildings with a door was opened in the wall of the east room and the other rooms were connected together like a bag. The zigzag beds, made of mud and brick and with fire and smoke tunnels were called "kang" in Chinese. In order to get heat and keep room warm in winter, tunnels was made under the ground of Purity and Tranquility Hall to put fire and smoke through .Now notice the pole standing on the ground for smoke through.