The "Summer Palace" is an idyllic lakeside complex built by the Emperors and Empresses of the Qing dynasty for use as a summer villa. Each spring the Chinese Ruler--accompanied by a vast number of servants, ministers, officials, concubines, and other personnel--would journey to this lavish garden. Here the Emperor would reside until the following fall. What a glorious procession it must have been as thousands of marchers made their way from the Forbidden City to the Emperor's seasonal quarters!
The Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860 by a British-French army. Subsequently, in 1888, it was rebuilt by the Empress Dowager Ci Xi. The buildings and gardens are wonderfully named: "The Hall of Joy and Longevity;" "The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity;" "The Garden of Virtue and Peace;" and so on.
We spent an afternoon at the Summer Palace. The lake has paddle boats for rent; there are attractive gardens and walkways; and a snack shop offers refreshments. Many residents of Beijing visit the grounds for what might be called an "afternoon in the park". Some visitors bring pet birds, perched on handheld sticks, for an outing along the lake.
But always, there is a sense of imperial opulence reflected by grand buildings and ornate structures. Here's the principal edifice in the Summer Palace complex: