Our last day in Beijing started with a tour of Summer Palace which quickly became my #2 favorite stop of the week.... of course, behind the Great Wall!
I could have spent the whole day meandering these grounds.
I could have spent the whole day meandering these grounds.
A bronze Qilin standing at the gate.
It was fascinating to watch people practicing their thousands of written characters with a long handled brush and water.
I'm sure the water lilies would be gorgeous in bloom!!
The rooftop tile ends are fascinating.
A look down the "Long Corridor"...
When the "Dragon Lady" lived at the Summer Palace, she would go to the Temple on the hillside three times a day to worship.... although, she never walked there..... she made her servants carry her.....
Obviously, the Summer Palace is very much
a tourist group stop!!
Looking at the arch to the lake.
A pavilion along the Long Corridor.
The marble boat is now used as a tea house (in season).
Dragon boats in the background.
Built in 1750, the Summer Palace is four times bigger than Forbidden City. The man-made lake, Kunming Lake, takes up about three-quarters of the space. They used what they dug up to create Longevity Hill on which the temple sits.
The weeping willow trees were completely unexpected, but simply gorgeous!
This is the post I was waiting for! I can't wait to go. Now I just need to work out who will carry me around like the Dragon Lady...
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A few more to come in the next post!! LOVED this place!!!! :0)
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