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The Summer Palace (YiHeYuan) |
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The Summer Palace (YiHeYuan) |
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 Introduction MapHistorySuZhou
Market StreetTibetan
Style Temple (1)Tibetan
Style Temple (2)DuoBao
Glazed PagodaTop
of Longevity HillThrough
a Picture ScrollThe
Long CorridorKunMing
LakeTower
of Buddhist Fragrance (1)Tower
of Buddhist Fragrance (2)The
Marble BoatDragon
BoatsHeading
WestThe
Naval AcademyWonderful
BridgesBeautiful
Scenery (1)Beautiful
Scenery (2)The
Jade Belt BridgeThe
Grand PavilionThe
17 Arch BridgeEmperor's
Administration AreaThe
Chinese Opera
TheatreGarden
of Harmonious InterestsRelaxing
at the Summer PalaceSunset
at the Summer Palace (1)Sunset
at the Summer Palace (2)Other
Places of Interest
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KunMing LakeThe Summer Palace covers an area of nearly 300 hectares (2.9 square km) and includes more than 3,000 buildings, such as temples, halls, pavilions and towers. Three quarters of the Summer Palace is open water.
The main features are Longevity Hill in the north (which can be divided into Front Hill and Rear Hill) and KunMing Lake. A natural lake at the site has a history of more than 3,500 years though the present large lakes are primarily man-made. The earth and rocks removed to form the lakes was used to create Longevity Hill which is about 60m high.
Kumming Lake is available for boat rides during much of the year, and ice skating can be performed during the frozen winter months (and look out for ice sculptures too if you are there in January).
The garden can be historically divided into three parts, namely : administration, residence and scenery browsing area. The administration area, taking in the Halls of Benevolence and Longevity as its principal part, is the place where the Qing dynasty's dowager empress CiXi dealt with state affairs and received officials. The residence area mainly consists of the Hall of Jade Billows, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, and the Hall of Joyful Longevity. Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill form the scenery browsing area. After the Great Wall and Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is the next 'must see' place to visit for any tourist. Indeed, the author has been there over 100 times and every visit has been special. Because of its size and the desire to linger in each place, a whole day is recommended for your visit. For a small fee plus deposit you can take your own small boat out onto the lake - to relax and enjoy a different view of these wonderful gardens.
The 'Back Lake' Wandering behind Longevity
Hill, the water of KunMing Lake forms the 'Back Lake'
(HouHu). Visitors can get there either by passing the
Marble Boat towards the (north) east, or by heading west
from the north gate. With fewer buildings north of the
Summer Palace, the landscape surrounding Back Lake is
secluded and elegant. Exuberantly green forests and
twisting paths provide a unique natural beauty, rather
like a valley. |
