Celestial Kingdom

The Celestial Kingdom is the ethereal, heavenly realm where the ruling class of the Immortals live: Xingyin describes it as “the mightiest of the eight immortal lands, nestled like a precious teardrop at the heart of the realm. Its emperor and empress lived in a palace that floated upon a bank of clouds” (10-11).

Pure Light Palace

The Pure Light Palace is Xingyin and Chang’e’s home on the moon, in which they’ve been imprisoned by the Celestial royals. Xingyin describes it as “a palace built from shining white stone, with columns of mother-of-pearl and a sweeping roof of pure silver” (1). It is surrounded by an osmanthus forest. Xingyin begins and ends the novel here, in her home. Each night, Chang’e lights lanterns throughout the palace, which illuminates the moon in the night sky each night. From the balcony of the Pure Light Palace...