Summer Palace

PEKDec08 413.jpg	Entering through the New Palace Gate (SE) to the grounds of the Summer Palace, Beijing	Bronze Ox (1755) overlooking the frozen lake during a winter visit to the Summer Palace, Beijing	Frozen Kunming Lake and the Seventeen Arch Bridge
Kuoru Octagonal Pavilion, Summer Palace	Kuoru Octagonal Pavilion, Summer Palace	Kuoru Octagonal Pavilion, Summer Palace	Practicing for the Ramie Cloth dance, Summer Palace
Practicing for the Ramie Cloth dance, Summer Palace	Seventeen Arch Bridge to Nanhu (South Lake) Island, Kunming Lake	Stone lion, Seventeen Arch Bridge, Summer Palace	There are supposedly 544 stone lions decorating the 17-Arch Bridge
Stone lion, Seventeen Arch Bridge, Summer Palace	Stone lion, Seventeen Arch Bridge	Stone lions lining the 150m long Seventeen Arch Bridge	Misty image of a man walking across the ice of Kunming Lake
Gateway to Nanhu Island at the end of the Seventeen Arch Bridge	Green ceramic roof tiles and chimney, Nanhu Island	Entrance to the Temple of Timely Rains and Extensive Moisture (Guangrun Lingyu Ci) Nanhu Island	Hanxu Tang - Hall of Embracing the Universe, Nanhu Island
Hanxu Tang - Hall of Embracing the Universe, Nanhu Island	Sidewalk around Nanhu Island	Willow over the frozen lake, Nanhu Island	The main complex of the Summer Palace across Kunming Lake
Kunlun Stone inscribed with the Poem of the Western Dike by Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799)	Nanhu (South Lake) Island and Kunming Lake in winter seen from the eastern shore	Summer Palace, Beijing	The edge of the lake has melted
Boat pier, Kunming Lake, Summer Palace	Walking north along the east shore of Kunming Lake	Wenchang Tower (1750) destroyed by Anglo-French forces in 1860	Zichun Pavilion, Kunming Lake, Summer Palace
Zichun Ting (Heralding Spring Pavilion) Kunming Lake, Summer Palace	Islet behind the Zichun Pavilion	View of the Summer Palace on the north shore of Kunming Lake from near Zichun Pavilion	View of the Summer Palace (Tower for Incense to Buddha) from near Zichun Pavilion
Closed building NE of Wenchang Tower	Wenchang Compound housing the Treasure Gallery of the Summer Palace	Bronze Chinese guardian lion (male) Wenchang Compound	Bronze Chinese guardian lion - Wenchang Compound
Bronze Chinese guardian lion (female) Wenchang Compound	Bronze Chinese guardian lion, Summer Palace	Courtyard of the Wenchang Compound, Beijing-Summer Palace	Wenchang Gallery, Summer Palace, Beijing
Painting over the arcade surrounding the Wenchang Gallery	Chinese tile roof, Wenchang Compound, Summer Palace	Wenchang Compound, Summer Palace	Bronze vessel, Wenchang Compound
Imperial Study, Wenchang Compound	Wenchang Compound now houses the Summer Palace Gallery of Treasure	Enamel spherical bottle with nine-dragon veins, Guangxu Reign (1875-1908)	Agalloch eaglewood carving of the God of Longevity, Qing Dynasty
Clock in the shape of a ship, gift of France to the Qing Dynasty	Clock in the shape of a locomotive, gift of France to the Qing Dynasty	Bronze wine container in the shape of a bird laced with gold, Warring States Period (475-221 BC)	Three bronze vessels, Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Ming Dynasty (1280-1644)
Jadeite table plaque, late Qing Dynasty	Blue jade Ruyi, token of good luck and love	Green jade Guanyin, Buddhist goddess of mercy, late Ming Dynasty	Famille-rose enamel bottle with animal-shape ears and passion flower veins on yellow glazing
Famille-rose enamel vase decorated with melon and butterfly veins, Qianlong Reign (1736-1795)	Detail of a famille-rose enamel vase with human figures, Tongzhi Reign (1862-1874)	East Gate to the Summer Palace	South side of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Imperial Living Area, Summer Palace
Renshou Dian - Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the main government building of the Summer Palace	Summer Palace Throne Room - Hall of Benevolence and Longevity	Bronze Kirin (Qilin) 麒麟 - mythological hoofed Oriental chimera	Bronze Chinese Dragon in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Summer Palace
Bronze Dragon, Courtyard of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity	Detail of the bronze Dragon, Summer Palace-Beijing	Bronze lantern in the Imperial Living Area, Summer Palace-Beijing	Imperial Living Quarters compound, Summer Palace
Yulan Tang - Hall of Jade Rippels, Emperor's living quarters at the Summer Palace	Gateway to the Yiyun Hall, Summer Palace	Yiyun Hall, Summer Palace collection of books	Back side of the Grand Theater in the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Summer Palace, Beijing
Grand Theater of the Summer Palace from the rear, Garden of Virtue and Harmony	Grand Theater of the Summer Palace from behind	Grand Theater of the Summer Palace, Garden of Virtue and Harmony	Grand Theater of the Summer Palace from behind
Grand Theatre, Summer Palace	Grand Theater of the Summer Palace (1893)	Main stage of the Grand Theater of the Summer Palace	Arcade around the Garden of Virtue and Harmony
In a side building of the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Summer Palace	Hall of Happiness and Longevity	Hall of Happiness and Longevity - Leshou Tang	Bronze water vessel (fire hydrant?) next to the Hall of Happiness and Longevity
PEKDec08 195.jpg	Old telephone, Summer Palace	Northeast corner of Kunming Lake with the roofs of the Imperial Living Area	Pagoda on the Long Corridor, Summer Palace
Pagoda on the Long Corridor, Summer Palace	The Long Corridor	Painting of a bridge with three pavilions on the Long Corridor, Summer Palace	Painting of a monkey warrior, Long Corridor, Summer Palace
Painting of a Chinese tournament (joust) Long Corridor, Summer Palace	Painting of a battle scene, Long Corridor, Summer Palace	Hall of Listening to Orioles (Tingli Guan)	Hall of Listening to Orioles, now a restaurant
LOOKOUTKNOCKHEAD	Poster at the Summer Palace with the Official Mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games	The Marble Boat of the Summer Palace partially engulfed in ice, Kunming Lake	The Marble Boat, first built in 1755, was rebuilt in 1893 using money intended for the Imperial Navy
Marble Boat (Boat of Purity and Ease)	Marble Boat (Boat of Purity and Ease) a pavilion on Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, Beijing	Bridge of Banana Plant, Summer Palace	Bridge of Banana Plant, Summer Palace
Decorated archway at the end of the Bridge of Banana-Plant	Stone lion on the Bridge of Banana Plant, Summer Palace	Gate Tower of Cloud-Retaining Eaves (Beique)	Tourist boat in front of the Gate Tower of Cloud-Retaining Eaves
Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	Octagonal tower 36m tall on a 20m stone foundation, the largest building of the Summer Palace	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha, Summer Palace-Beijing
Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	First Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Lion guarding the First Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Lion guarding the First Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds
Inscribed pillar, First Gate of the Cloud Dispelling Hall	First Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds with name written in Chinese and Hudum Mongolian script	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha, Summer Palace-Beijing	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha
Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	Second Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Second Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Second Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds
PEKDec08 253.jpg	Ceiling of the Second Gate of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyun Dian) Summer Palace - Beijing	In front of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds with the top of the main tower
Small bronze lion, courtyard of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Summer Palace	Small bronze of a mythological beast, courtyard of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds	Cloud Dispelling Hall, Summer Palace	East wing off the Hall of Dispelling Clouds
Still a long way to climb...	Stairs leading behind the Hall of Dispelling Clouds up to the Tower of the Fragrence of Buddha	Painting of a warrior by the stairs around the Cloud Dispelling Hall	Painting of a woman by the stairs around the Cloud Dispelling Hall
Painting of an archer by the stairs around the Cloud Dispelling Hall	Painting of men debating over tea, arcade around the Cloud Dispelling Hall	Painting of Two Cranes, arcade around the Cloud Dispelling Hall	Painting of a fire breathing lion on a beam above the stairs leading up behind the Cloud Dispelling Hall
Two warriors on horseback on a beam above the stairs leading up behind the Cloud Dispelling Hall	Hall of Virtuous Glories at the top of the stairs leading up from the Cloud Dispelling Hall, Summer Palace	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha (Tower of Buddhist Incense) Foxiang Ge	Hall of Virtuous Glories (1886) Summer Palace-Beijing
Imperial roof charms - glazed ceramic figures of mythical beasts	Climbing the stairs leading from the Hall of Virtuous Glories to the Hall of Virtuous Spendor (Dehui Dian) Summer Palace	Stairs above the Hall of Virtous Glories	Beam painting of a man playing a musical instrument as an army approaches
Climbing the stairs gives close up views of the ceramic figures on the tile roof of west wing off the Hall of Virtuous Glories	Painting of an old warrior with a bow leading a horse	Bell tower next to the Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	Silhouette of the Bell Tower with a view of Kunming Lake
Zhuanlun Zang (Revolving Archives)	Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha	Finally having reached the Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha (Tower of Buddhist Incense)	5m Thousand-Hand Guanyin (1575) inside the main tower
Inscription on a pillar of the Tower of Buddhist Incense	Marble wall screen (1754) Summer Palace	Marble Screen Wall with Murals (1754) Summer Palace	Detail of Emperor Qianlong's 1754 Marble Screen Wall, Summer Palace
Tower of Buddhist Incense with the green tile roof of the Pavilion of Five Locations	Green glazed ceramic roof charm of a dragon, Summer Palace	Baoyun Bronze Pavilion, built in 1755, survived the Anglo-French burning of the Summer Palace in 1860 (Second Opium War)	Baoyun Bronze Pavilion (1755) Summer Palace, Beijing
Baoyun Bronze Pavilion with the Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha	Damaged Buddhist stone carving, Summer Palace	Archway of the Realm of Popular Fragrance in front of the Sea of Wisdom Temple at the top of Wanshou Shan (Longevity Hill)	Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha from near the Sea of Wisdom Temple
Seventeen Arch Bridge across frozen Kunming Lake seen from the top of Wanshou Shan	Tiny figure walking across the ice of Kunming Lake	View of modern apartment blocks to the north of the Summer Palace	Part of the tile covered Sea of Wisdom Temple
Sea of Wisdom Temple at the high point of Wanshou Shan (Longevity Hill), Summer Palace	Sea of Wisdom Temple survived the Second Opium War	Sea of Wisdom Temple, Summer Palace	Round doorway leading to a walled compound next to the Sea of Wisdom Temple
PEKDec08 405.jpg	PEKDec08 403.jpg	Ceramic roof charms - always a man riding a phoenix followed by an odd number of mythical creatures followed by a dragon	Returning to the Sea of Wisdom Temple
One of 1100 ceramic Buddhas of Infinite Longevity on the Sea of Wisdom Temple	Another of 1100 ceramic Buddhas of Infinite Longevity on the Sea of Wisdom Temple	Glazed ceramic dragons, Sea of Wisdom Temple , Summer Palace	18th C. statue of Dharmapala inside the Sea of Wisdom Temple
Statue inside the Sea of Wisdom Temple	Temple of the Four Buddhist States, Summer Palace	Temple of the Four Buddhist States, Summer Palace	Temple of the Four Buddhist States (Sidabuzhou) restored in 1980
Temple of the Four Buddhist States, Summer Palace	Stupa - Four Great Regions, Summer Palace	Stupa - Four Great Regions, Summer Palace	Stupa - Four Great Regions, Summer Palace
Tibetan-style buildings of the Four Great Regions, Summer Palace	Lion at the base of the north side of Wanshou Shan with the Temple of the Four Buddhist States (Sida Buzhou) restored in 1980	Lion at the base of the north side of Wanshou Shan with the Temple of the Four Buddhist States (Sida Buzhou) restored in 1980	Suzhou River, Summer Palace
Suzhou Street (Merchants Street) Summer Palace	This is where the Empress could go shopping like a "normal person"	Bridge over the Suzhou River, Summer Palace	Shops of Suzhou Street on a not very busy winter day
Suzhou River, Summer Palace	Suzhou Street (Merchants Street) Summer Palace	Suzhou Street	Suzhou Street
Suzhou Street	Foot bridge, Suzhou Street	Frozen river at Suzhou Street	Shuzou Street during a previous trip to the Summer Palace (October)
Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Shuzou Street, Summer Palace
Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Young Caligrapher, Shuzou Street, Summer Palace, Beijing	Old Caligapher, Shuzou Street, Summer Palace
Old Caligrapher, Shuzou Street, Summer Palace, Beijing	Shuzou Street, Summer Palace	Summer Palace, Beijing	Marble Boat, Summer Palace, Beijing
Marble Boat, Summer Palace, Beijing	An earlier visit to the Summer Palace in October, Beijing	Cruise on Kunming Lake (October) Summer Palace, Beijing