Posted by mke1963
Rising up from the lake, halfway along the lakefront is a series of buildings stepping up the hillside to the Sea of Wisdom Temple, and is really a separate palace complex, entered, from he lake, by a ceremonial archway. Contrary to some descriptions, the archway does not have a specific name. On the lakeside is inscribed the phrase "Gorgeous Clouds and Jade Eaves" and on the land side "Stars Surrounding the Jade Centre". Behind it is the main entrance hallway, the Paiyunmen, or Gate that Dispels the Clouds, opening onto a small courtyard with a pool. It is vaguely reminiscent of the entrance to the Forbidden City, with an imperial marble bridge crossing the pool. Then behind the pool are steps leading up to the Longevity Gate. At the back of the terrace is the Paiyundian, the Hall that Dispels the Clouds, where Cixi would conduct much of her work on just a single day of the year - her birthday. For the rest of the year, this 21-bay spectacular, lavishly furnished building was closed. Many of the gifts bestowed on the emperors and on Cixi, were presented here, while the ruler was seated on the Nine-Dragon Throne. At the end of her long, tiring birthday, she would hold banquets for her ever-faithful eunuch officials in the Fanghui hall and Zixiao hall either side of the main hall. Otherwise, these two building also lay dormant for 364 days each year.
Posted by jumpingnorman
I was already tired of all the palaces and gardens I was seeing, but my guide was adamant that I had to see the Summer Palace. And so I did, and thank God I did!
Located on the Western edge of Beijing, this Summer Palace was a residential retreat for imperial rulers living at the time in the Forbidden City. It is a favourite tourist spot and for good reason. This is where I got my famous VT Emperor picture and also other pictures that I love that I took from my trip in China. Very photogenic place – it does seem to have some magic about it.
The Summer Palace or Yihe yuan literally means "Gardens of Nurtured Harmony" and it does have gardens with a poetic statement made out of plants, ponds, pavilions and cobbled paths. Three quarters of this 2.9 sq km complex is water (just like the planet), and the most prominent lake is called the Kunming Lake. There is also a boat ride that you can ride on this lake- a must!
Look for the Longevity Hill which dominates the palace and marvel at the magnificent architectural structures from Imperial China.
UNESCO declared the palace a World heritage Site in 1986 when it declared the landscape of the palace as a Cinese “masterpiece”.