Summer Palace, Beijing

Kunming Lake in the center of the park takes up three quarters of the whole garden and is dotted with several small islands. These small islands also host some halls and pavilions.

Kunming Lake is a manmade lake which had been used as sources of water both for the city and irrigation of fields over a period of 3,500 years.

Kunming Lake is designed to represent the traditional Chinese gardening practice of "one pond, three hills", and were intended to represent three islands of the immortals mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas: Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang.

The water source of Kunming Lake mainly comes from the recharge of springs downstream of Yuquan Mountain and groundwater. The springs within a few dozen miles northwest of Yuquan Mountain were channeled through the Baifuweng Mountain River in the Yuan Dynasty. However, the water source was obviously insufficient in 1949. In 1965, the Jingmi Diversion Canal Project was completed, opening up Kunming Lake as a new water source

Hanxu Tang (Hall of Embracing the Universe).

Originally a 3 story building named "hall for Watching the Moon Toad" completed in Emperor Qianlong's reign (1736-1795). The Hall was rebuilt with just one floor during the right of Emperor Jiaquing. It became a wonderful place for Emperors and empresses to enjoy the moonlight during summer and autumn evenings. From here Emperor Qianlong watched naval maneuvers of the Tough and Sharp regiment of the Fragrant Hills. Burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860, the hall was rebuilt during Emperor Guagzu's reigh (1875-1908). Empress Dowager Cixi also sat here to watch Naval Academy maneuvers.

More pavilions next to the Hanxu Tang Hall

Pathway leading to the main bridge

Enormous gate facing the lake.

We are now at the Temple of Timely Rains and Extensive Moisture.

This temple, built on the east bank of the West Lake, used to be known as the Dragon God Temple but was popularly referred to as the Dragon King Temple.

When the lake was expanded during Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1736-1795), the temple and its surrounding land were spared to form a new island, which was named the “South Lake Island”. The Dragon God Temple was reconstructed as a place to pray for rain, and renamed Temple of Extensive Moisture.

Kunming Lake view from the shore.

Seventeen-Arch Bridge was built in 1750 during Emperor Qianlong's reign. It is the longest bridge in any Chinese imperial garden and was named for its seventeen arches.

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge has a total length of 492 ft. and a width of 26 ft. It is composed of 17 holes with different heights and widths. The holes on both sides are symmetrical, making the bridge body like a long rainbow and presenting a curved arch bridge. There are 62 pairs of pillars on the bridge railing, and 544 small stone lions with different expressions are decorated on the head of the pillars

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge links the East bank and Sour Lake Island.

There are over 500 stone lions in different poses were carved on the posts of the bridge.

View of the lake from the bridge

Crossing the bridge

Boats on the lake

Spacious Pavilion, covering an area of over 1,400 square ft., this is the most spacious pavilion of its type. When the Summer Palace was named the Garden of Clear Ripples, there was no wall on the east bank, so one could see far and wide from all four sides of the pavilion. Thus, it was named the “Spacious Pavilion” and built in an octahedral style with double eaves, it was also called the “Pavilion of Eight Dimensions”. Emperor Qianlong’s poems and classical writings are inscribed on a board hanging inside the pavilion.

We are now done with our visit and we are heading back by crossing the bridge.

Last view of the lake before leaving the Summer palace.

We are now reaching the exit.

LUNCH

We asked David to take us to a good local Chinese restaurant and he took us to Fortune Long Beijing Bean Sauce Noodles.

The restaurant is under the Michelin guide recommendation and David told us that this restaurant is also very popular with locals.

The front of the restaurant.

Michelin plaques since 2020

The interior of the restaurant.

David asked us what we like and he ordered a bunch of dishes for us. On the left is a local noodle dish with cabbage and on the right is an assortment of stir fried vegetables.