The Summer Palace

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April 11th 2019

Published: September 1st 2020

When I first visited China many, many years ago, one of the places I really enjoyed in Beijing was the Summer Palace. It was definitely somewhere I wanted to revisit and finally the opportunity arose. I took the subway to Beigongmen Station. That was a bit of a novelty as when I'd visited previously there had been no subway and we'd been at the mercy of taxi drivers, who weren't exactly legit. I h... Read Full Entry

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2nd September 2020

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Cixi & The Marble Boat
I have only ever seen the Marble Boat in winter from the shore and also standing on frozen Lake Kunming and on each occasion it has had an aura that confounds. Your pics as if it is floating on the lake are so realistic yet due to its weight there is no chance of that!!! I also love the story that Cixi had it built from funds that had been set aside for (was it the Chinese Navy?) and she was derided for being responsible for their defeat by the Anglo/French & others in the Opium Wars. It was probably my first visit to the Summer Palace that resulted in me reading the book "Dragon Lady, The Life & legend of the Last Empress of China." A fabulous read.

2nd September 2020

Zephyr
Nenene

Empress Dowager Cixi
Thank you for the additional information. I would like to revisit in winter. Walking on the frozen lake would be awesome. I shall have to look up the book and add it to my ever expanding reading list. I was also recommended 'Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China' by a friend.

2nd September 2020

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

the Bridge of Knowing the Fish
This blog brings back such fabulous memories...walking across Lake Kunming and sliding through powder snow on my first visit, with the ice cracking under our feet with sounds like stockwhips cracking on my second...and entering by a back gate with a friend on my third who used to visit it at night with his mates when he was a child...avoiding guard dogs that often caused them to flee. So many sights...different each time...just like your latest visit you describe so well. And thanks for the details of the sites, bridges, temples & hall names...each conjuring ethereal images of the Emperors at business and leisure. Great blog.

2nd September 2020

Zephyr
Nenene

Poetic Names
Your visit sounds really good. Your friend's experiences sound like great childhood memories to have. I love the beauty of the names in Chinese, they really sum up each place well. If only time travel were a thing, I would love to be able to observe the Emperors going about their lives there.

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