Cup-floating waterway

The cup-floating waterway (liubei qu) originates from the ancient custom of "floating wine cups along winding waterways", a tradition of banquets and entertainment. It is a stone construction commonly found in garden architecture like pavilions.

The waterway can be carved out from either a large or a small stone slab, or be constructed using small stone blocks, with a zigzag shape.

The cup-floating waterway in the Pavilion of Deep Autumn within Prince Kung's Palace Museum resembles shui (Chinese character for water) when viewed from east to west, and shou (Chinese character for longevity) when viewed from south to north, symbolizing the wish for "continuous flow of water and long-lasting life".