This short seven-character verse poem was written by Emperor Xianfeng who was inspired by a view of a sunset over Fu Hai, located in the Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan.

The fourth son of Daoguang, Xianfeng spent much of his time in the Summer Palace leaving state affairs to his ministers. Xianfeng's reign was plagued by the Taiping rebellion, and after the sacking of the Yuamingyuan by Anglo-French troops the Emperor Xianfeng remained in the imperial summer resort in Jehol where he died in 1861. He was succeeded by his son Zaichun, who became Emperor Tongzhi. Tongzhi's reign was ruled under a regency council which included his mother, the Dowager Empress Cixi.