The western suburbs of Luoyang contained the even larger imperial garden, the Western Garden, spanning over two hundred li in circumference. It featured a vast artificial lake in which three mythical islands—Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou—were built, each over a hundred feet high, adorned with pavilions and towers. The garden was crisscrossed by the Dragon Scale Canal, which meandered into the lake. Along the canal, luxurious palaces were constructed. In autumn and winter, colorful silk was used to create various flowers and leaves, which were then embellished on the trees, making the palaces appear as if in springtime. These decorations were frequently changed to ensure a constant stream of new ideas. The ice in the lake was also removed and replaced with silk lotus flowers and green le
