Today, Yang Liangliang was nice enough to squire me around the old Summer Palace, which, like everything else I've seen here, is beautiful. It is situated on a very high hill that overlooks a big lake. I was astonished when Yang Liangliang told me that both the lake and the hill are man-made, but I suppose when you're the emperor, you can have whatever you want.
The first place we stopped inside the palace grounds is this river-street that's a bit like an ancient Chinese Venice. He told me that this area is used in films a lot. There are shops and things down there, but they charge you extra to check it out, so we just hung out on the bridge and looked for a while. I like that the river was still partially frozen over.
The ornament on the roof represents a spirit that is supposed to protect the building from lightening, which could set the whole palace on fire.
It was a very, very windy day, and as we climbed up to the top of the hill, we could hear the temple bells chime.
The view from the top of the hill was spectacular, and would have taken my breath away if the climb itself hadn't already left me breathless.
This building's facade was covered in small alcoves, within which rested figures of the Buddha. Originally, each of the figures had a unique head, but over time the building has been vandalized and people have smashed the heads off to take as souvenirs. Recently, conservation efforts have been made to restore the temple facade, and replacement heads have been given to the headless Buddhas. Unfortunately, they are mass-produced and all identical. The alcoves that are highest on the building and inaccessible to looters have retained their unique heads.
Mass-produced replacement head.
Desecrated Buddha.
I love round portals. They remind me of Hobbits.
It was a very cold day, despite being so sunny.
In the center of the lake is an island, which houses several temples and from which the powerful Dowager Empress Cixi would observe the imperial Navy practicing.
The Imperial Promenade runs along the entire bank of the lake, because being Emperor means never having to walk in the sun if you don't want to.
The ceiling of the promenade is painted with scenes from Chinese lore. This one depicts the heroes of the epic Journey To The West;
The Monkey King, Sun Wukong
The Tang-Dynasy Monk, Xuan Zang
A Pig Spirit, Zhu Baijie
The Revered Buddhist Monk, Sha Wujing
A stone riverboat with stained-glass windows.
A protecting dragon(Yang Liangliang gave me a funny look when I called it a Fu Dog, it is a dragon). They hurl fireballs at you. If you deserve it.
The statue behind me is of a Qinlin, sometimes referred to as a Chinese unicorn. It is a vegetarian creature that punishes the wicked through fire. I want one.
A statue in celebration of the Year of the Ox.
Each Dragon on this bridge is unique and individually crafted.
Outside of the temple of the Dragon Emperor on the island. It was locked up, but I peeked through the window, and inside is an eight-foot statue of a fearsome dragons dressed in the robes of an emperor.
Another building on the island has become a museum full of pictures and artifacts belonging to the Dowager Empress Cixi and her family, including the last emperor of China.
A blustery day, but unforgettable.
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