The Nanhu Island with an area of over one hectare (2.5 acres) is the largest one among the three islands in the Kunming Lake. The island situated in the southeast of the lake, is connected with the east bank by the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The whole island is edged by laid huge stones and enclosed with carved stone fence. Seen from the distance, the island together with the Seventeen-Arch Bridge looks like a tortoise stretching his neck. As tortoise is a symbol of longevity in Chinese culture, the similarity in shape justly satisfied Emperor Qianlong, who built this garden in the name of celebrating his mother's sixtieth birthday.

The main structures on the island are the Hanxu Hall and the Dragon King Temple. The pavilion-style Hanxu Hall is the shelter where Empress Dowager Cixi inspected the navy drill. The Dragon King Temple is said to have been built on the bank in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Its surrounding land was deliberately retained when the lake was excavated and enlarged afterwards, thus the isolated island emerged. In ancient times, Dragon King was deemed as a mythical divine master of the rain. Every time Cixi came to the Summer Palace by waterway, she made a stop-over for the set purpose of worshiping at the temple.

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