in the courtyard of the Hall of Benevolence a Kylin keeps watch against fire
the Long Corridor is 728 meters long and sports beautyfull paintings
this fiercefull dragon, representing the emperor was used as incense burner
the 17 Arch Bridge leads to Nanhu Island in the middle of Kunming Lake
the infamous Marble Boat on which Empress Dowager Cixi spend money intended for the real navy
a nice tower along the west Long Corridor
this bronze lion, together with his sibling on the other side is meant for protection
the tower of Buddhist incense sits on a 20 meters high foundation
The Summer Palace project was started in 1150 by emperor
Wanyan Liang who had his predecessor Xizong murdered to mount the imperial Jin throne himself.
Only 11 years later he would
meet the same bloody fate and the new emperor posthumously demoted poor Liang to the level of commoner.
Kunming Lake was
constructed during the Yuan dynasty and Ming rulers added lavish palaces, pavillions, corridors and temples along the lake.
In
the
Qing period the place saw major reconstructions and extensions.
In 1860 British and French soldiers looted the place and burned
down a palace.
Since 1924 the Summer Palace is open to the public as an attraction park and in
We first visited the Summer Palace on a rainy day in May 1991 and returned on a sunny day in May 2004.
a google earth view of Kunming Lake with Longivity Hill to the north and the 17 arch bridge to South Lake island
we enter by the East Palace Gate, the plaque above the gate was supposedly inscribed by emperor Guangxu
a view of Longivity Hill
the boats for a trip on the lake are made in fashion with the environment
the Yunhuiyuyu Archway
