颐和园

颐和园 The Summer Palace
One of the lions guarding the entrance into the summer palace. Behind is one of many flower sculptures in the grounds of the palace.
Entrance into the Summer Palace.
A QILIN statue. This was a legendary animal with a dragon's head, lion's tail, ox's hooves, deer antlers, and scales all over its body. It was supposed to have the power to punish the evil and repel the wicked.
More statues of legendary animals in front of one of many buildings used by the QiXi Empress Dowager.
View of the room.
The Opera House in the Summer Palace grounds.
Musical instruments.
Flowers.. :)
Close-up of flowers.
More statues placed in front of the numerous buildings within the grounds.


More water lilies and willow trees.
Longevity Hill - The central Kunming Lake covering 2.2 square kilometers was entirely man made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill.
A _LONG_ covered corridor lined the bottom of the Longevity Hill. It is decorated with paintings depicting well-known chinese stories.
Now, to head UP the hill.
The beginning of the climb up.
Steps...
And more steps....
The temple at the top of the hill.
View of the Lake from the Longecity Hill.
Another building on the hill.
The more scenic footpath down.
Still going down. Quite a lot of steps down again..
The Marble Boat (which is stationary) which was commissioned by the empress dowager.
Ferry ticket to the other end of the lake.
One of the many ferries plying the lake.
View of the Longevity Hill.
Destination of my ferry ride.
A seventeen-arch bridge.
haha.. say cheese!
Wispy willow trees line the lake.
Sun setting.
Statue of Ox.
Lots of photographers waiting to take the setting sun.