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Administrative Area
Right inside the East Palace Gate and northeast of Kunming
Lake is the administrative area where Empress Dowager
Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials and handled
state affairs. After entering the East Palace Gate, a few minutes walk
west leads to the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity,
the main building in the administrative area.
Residential Area
Further west, past the Administration Area is a complex of courtyard buildings
that served as the residences of the Empress Dowager Cixi and
Emperor Guangxu. The main buildings in this area are
Hall of Jade Billows, the residence of Emperor
Guangxu; Garden of Virtue and Harmony, where
Empress Dowager Cixi watched opera performances; and Hall of Joyful
Longevity, the residence of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Scenic Area
This area is the essence of the Summer Palace. Upon entering the East
Palace Gate, if you turn to left, you will see the vastness of
Kunming Lake with an area of 220 hectares, which comprises
about two thirds of the total area of the park. The waters are still;
in China, rulers think still waters are a sign of the longevity and the
stability of the nation. The lake is divided into three parts: the main
Kunming Lake, the West Lake and the Back Lake.
Lakes are separated by dams and causeways and connected by different bridges.
In the southeast part of the lake is an Island which
is connected to the eastern bank by the Seventeen Arch Bridge.
This part is modeled after West Lake in Hangzhou. It was said that in
the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi used to train
their navy in the lake. The lake is decorated with bridges, corridors
and pavilions. Main attractions include Long Gallery,
Back Lake, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Bronze
Ox, Marble Boat and the Island.
Located on the northern bank of Kunming Lake is Longevity Hill
dotted with many examples of garden architecture. This area is the highlight
part of the Summer Palace. Magnificent buildings such as Gate of Dispelling
Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Brilliance,
Tower of Buddhist Incense and Sea of Wisdom form a north-south
axis in this part. To the north of the Sea of Wisdom, at the back of the
hill, scenes turn from the magnificent elegance of buildings to the tranquil
simplicity of nature. Suzhou Market Street lined with
shops in traditional buildings zigzags along the Back Lake
and provides tourists with a scene of water towns in south China.
Garden of Harmonious Interests at the northeastern end
borrows the garden architecture style of Wuxi with a presence of elegant
private gardens.
Now the Summer Palace becomes an ideal place for Beijing locals to escape
the hot summer in Beijing.
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