Peter's Nostalgia Site


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The Summer Palace

The Peking Summer Palace was largely constructed by Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century.  Kunming Lake is  totally artificial as is Longevity Hill on which the palace complex is sited. The hill is actually the spoil heap of diggings from the forming of the lake.

Back in the 1970's I bought this 19th century print of the Summer Palace and Kunming Lake and assumed that the magic and beauty of the scene was either because it was purely an imaginary place or that there had been a large amount of artist's licence. Two decades later I was able to spend a day exploring the palace and its surroundings and discovered that the print was an accurate depiction in all accounts.

South Lake Island is accessed by an impressive 17 arch bridge.

To the west a distant pagoda adds to the atmosphere