The Summer Palace - Beijing

Another clear day with warm weather saw us heading for the infamous Summer Palace.  This location, on a huge parkland of over 300 hectares (over 740 acres).  The Kunming Lake covers most of the area but this Royal Park is spectacular in beauty, bridges, and buildings.  Construction started in 1750 and continued.  It became a summer retreat for the royal members and continued through the reign of the Empress Dowager Cixi.  It is a World Heritage Site, designated as such by UNESCO in 1998.

This was inside the East Gate that we went through.  Just over the threshold and down a little path, you come to the edge of Kunming Lake - a huge man made lake that dominates the park.

People go to the park daily and enjoy walking along the edge of the lake, and riding in the various pleasure boats there.

    

At first I thought this might be the famous Marble Boat, commissioned by the Empress Dowager Cixi, but soon found out that that boat is located on the other side of the park - about 1 1/2 hour walk, away!  Sadly, we did not get to see it.

This is the Seventeen Arch bridge, built in the mid 1700's.  It links the shore to Nanhu Island.  There are 544 distinctive lions on the columns of the bridge making it truly beautiful and auspicious.  There are 17 arches 9 from either end of the bridge.  The number 9 was believed to be the biggest "yang" number and special to the emperors.

 

These are two more stunning views of the lake and buildings on it.  The pagoda in the far distance simply shone in the sunlight.  I liked this second arched bridge.

This was the main Summer Palace building we'd come to see.  One can just imagine emperors of earlier days, passing the time in this serene spot - much cooler than the compartments in the Forbidden City.

 

We crossed this footbridge to a tiny island where people rested and enjoyed the views across the lake.  This park is especially popular to seniors who live in the area.  They are granted full passes, to come here any time, and enjoy the outdoors.  One can appreciate this, as people retire so early in China (50 and 55) and have little to do and have tiny houses, which they are quite happy to leave during the day to enjoy the many parks.

  This is the building called Longevity Hall.  It was a place for the Empress Dowager to go and work.

  Note the ornate eaves, with many layers of decoration, carving, and features.

 

These are the dragon and phoenix outside the Hall of Longevity.  Signs of the Yin and Yang of power.

Just loved this floral phoenix outside the gate.  We had a group picture here.  Hard to believe all the flowers in bloom in October!