Imperial Beijing - The Summer Palace The Summer Palace was an imperial retreat for the Qing Dynasty during the stifling summer confines of the Forbidden city. In earlier dynasties it existed as an imperial park but it was during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736 - 1795) that it assumed its current layout. Empress Dowager Cixi had the palace rebuilt twice: following its destruction by the French and English in 1860 and again in 1902 after it was plundered during the Boxer Rebellion. Today some of its buildings are used by the Communist government officials as summer retreats and thus off limits to the public. As a whole, however, the government has opened a lot of the Imperial grounds to the people as parks (Forbidden City, etc.) At least (not yet) the land was not sold off to private investors to build exclusive condominiums. The marble boat in the lake of the Garden of Cultivated Harmony was built by Empress Cixi with funds meant for the modernization of the Imperial Navy. The boat's superstructure is made of wood painted to look like marble. Empress Dowager Cixi was one of China's most powerful women. Originally a concubine of the thrid rank, Cixi placed herself on the Dragon Throne after the death of the emperor and ruled in an unscrupulous and self-centered way for 50 years, initially in the name of her young child. By deploying young women and other distractions she kept him away from matters of governm,ent until his death at the age of 18. Then then installed her young nephew as emperor and governed from "behind the throne" until he was of age. She kept her son a virtual prisoner in the Summer Palace and prevented state reforms. Her alliance with the Boxer Rebellion paved the way for the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. As I am sorting through the thousand, or so, pictures I have taken in China I noticed an unintended theme: Decorative roof lines. You may have noted them in the photographs of the Forbidden City. There are many more fascinating and colorful photos in this section. Ancient Chinese architecture is mostly constructed of wood and quite unique which deserves special attention.                                                                                                                                     The Long Corridor Changiang, The Long Corridor, is a covered wooden structure with every beam, post and railing decorated with scenic paintings. The corridor is 2,388 feet long and decorated with over 14,000 scenes. It was described as having "more paintings than the Louve."                                                                                                       Index to all China 2007 Advantures: Imperial Beijing - Tian'an Men Square Imperial Beijing - The Forbidden City Imperial Beijing - The Great Wall of China Imperial Beijing - the Summer Palace Imperial Beijing Today - City of Bikes Imperial Beijing Today - Artists and Craftsmen Imperial Beijing Today - The Hutung, a Neighbood Enclave Imperial Beijing Today - The Lama Temple Imperial China - Xi'an, The First Capital of China Imperial China - The Terra Cotta Warriors Xi'an Today - A Country School and Peasant Village Overland Across China by Train and Bus Chingdu & the Panda Preserve The Three Gorges Dam The Minor Three Gorges of the Yangzte River The following pages are still under construction so be patient and come back to watch its growth. The Yangzte River Cruise Tibet - an Ancient & Exotic Land Hong Kong Imperial Beijing Today - Olympics 2008 [Back to the Top] This page was created by Bob "Belli" Frazee Belli at the Grand Titons, June 2015 Return to Belli's Home Page If you have any questions, or corrections, just write to Belli. Since March 2008, you are visitor number