| |
BEIJING - CHINA -
SUMMER PALACE
|
|
| |
The Old Summer Palace (YuanmingYuan) grounds
include 290 hectares (10 square miles) , most of it the Kunming Lake. On the
north side of the lake is the Longevity Hill. The palace was originally called
garden of Clear Ripples (Qingyi Yuan) when constructed by Emperor Qianlong in
1750. The designs followed contemporary European styles brought bh Jesuite
missionary Guiseppe Castiglione was a favorate retreat location for emperors
and empresses. It was burned by British- French troops in 1860 during the
Second Opium War. The Qing dynasty government of Empress Cixi then began
reconstruction and named the new palace the the Summer Palace. It was again
attacked by European troops in 1900. There are many pavilons and palaces
scattered around the lake and on islands. But the guided tour visits only a
small part of the whole.
|
|
 |
A side entrance into the Summer Palace
grounds - with the Wanchang tower in background.
|
|
|
Close-up of the upper part of the Wanchang
Tower
|
|
|
The main, east, gate into the Summer palace -
on a Sunday the Chinese flock to see this and other museums
|
|
|
A lion guards the entrance gate - as one sees
at so many Chinese establishments - including restaurants and banks.
|
|
|
A relief detachment of sharp-looking Chinese
troops preparing to take up their posts at the Summer palace gate.
|
|
|
The view through the entrance gate as we
approach - In the background is the second gate.
|
|
|
Telephoto view of the second gate at Summer
palace entrance
|
|
|
Inner gate of the Summer palace with typical
rock behind.
|
|
|
A dragon guards the inner court at the Summer
palace.
|
|
|
A charcoal burner
|
|
|
Ruth standing by the charcoal burner
|
|
|
View from the south side of Lake Kunming
across toward a pagoda - the walk toward the eastern part of the palace grounds
is on the right.
|
|
|
View from the south side of Lake Kunming -
just to the right of the previous photo - showing the Tower of Fragrence of
Buddha and the Realm of Popular Fragrence hall above it. One can rent the boats
in the foreground for cruises on the lake.
|
|
|
Telephoto view of the Tower of the Fragrence
of Buddha and the Hall of the Realm of the Popular Fragrence above it.
|
|
|
Telephoto view of the Tower of the Fragrence
of Buddha and the Hall of the Realm of the Popular Fragrence above it. In
foreground is roof of a boat landing - note the people walking along the
covered pavilon at the right.
|
|
|
The Wanchang Tower
|
|
|
Gate into hall of jade.
|
|
|
Detail of entrance gate
|
|
|
Another view of the Tower of the Fragrance of
Buddha and the Hall of the Realm of Popular Fragrance with the covered walkway
along the shore.
|
|
|
Walkway along the shore with hall of natural
Affinity of Water and Trees
|
|
|
Another hall next to the walkway along the
shore of Kunming Lake
|
|
|
Close-up of detail of roof of Hall of
Happiness and Longevity
|
|
|
Entrance to Hall of Happiness and Longevity
|
|
|
Another gate and hall
|
|
|
Doorway into yet another hall
|
|
|
The Chinese love to place huge rocks in their
formal gardens.
|
|
|
View under the eves of a hall
|
|
|
Exhibit of furniture and porcelain
|
|
|
Upper part of several entrance ways.
|
|
|
Entrance to the long pavilon that skirts the
shore of Kunming lake
|
|
|
Detail of the upper section above the
entrance to the long pavilon
|
|
|
Roof - ceiling of the long pavilon
|
|
|
Detail of one of the decorations on the
ceiling of the pavilon
|
|
|
View of the long pavilon crowded with weekend
local and international tourists - several of our travel group are visible.
|
|
|
Detail of part of the ceiling of the long
pavilon.
|
|
|
One of the round pagodas that are located at
intervals along the long pavilon
|
|
|
Detail of ceiling in one of the small
'pagodas' located along the long corridor.
|
|
|
Another detail from the ceiling of the long
pavilon
|
|
|
Detail of ceiling in long pavilon
|
|
|
Another view of the Tower of the Fragrance of
Buddha
|
|
|
Another view of the Tower of the Fragrance of
Buddha and the Hall of the Realm of Popular Fragrance from the long pavilon
below.
|
|
|
Ruth and some of our group taking a break
during the walk along the long pavilon
|
|
|
The Tower of the Fragrence of Buddha rises
above the entrance pavilon
|
|
|
The Tower of the Fragrence of Buddha rises
above the entrance pavilon
|
|
|
Detail of upper portion over the entrance to
the lower pavilon below the Tower of the Fragrence of Buddha
|
|
|
The Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha seen
through the entrance gate.
|
|
|
Another pavilon in the Summer Palace grounds
|
|
|
Another section of ceiling of the long
pavilon
|
|
|
Hall of the Listening to Orioles
|
|
|
The marble boat - The Clear and Peaceful boat
- an extravagant pleasure salon on which the last dowager empress squandered
the funds designated for the Chinese navy.
|
|
|
Pleasure boats that can be rented for cruises
on Kunming lake.
|
|
|
Pleasure boats that can be rented for cruises
on Kunming lake.
|
|
|
Hall of the Listening to Orioles
|
|
|
Another view of the Clear and Peaceful Boat
|
|
|
Bridge of Banana Plant
|
|
|
More pleasure boats for cruises on the lake
|
|
|
Upper part of the covered roof over the
Bridge of Banana Plant
|
|
|
The Bridge of Banana Plant
|
|
|
The Bridge of Bridge of Banana Plant
|
|
|
Tower of the Cloud retaining eaves
|
|
|
Boathouses and one pleasure boat.
|
|
|
Boathouses and one pleasure boat.
|
|
|
Tower of the Cloud Retaining Eaves - at the
northern edge of the Summer Palace grounds
|
|
|
The "Arch" Bridge near the
northeast entrance to the Summer Palace grounds
|
|
|
The "Stone Bridge" near the
north-eastern boundary of the Summer Palace
|
|
|
A restaurant on the grounds of the Summer
Palace near the northeast gate
|
|
|
The restaurant menu on a board near the door
- with reflections
|
|
