The Summer Palace
Last time I visited the Summer Palace I entered from the south via water. This time I entered from the north gate which is more elevated and hilly than the lakeside entrance.

I walked down the hill until I reached the Tower of Buddhist Incense, an impressive building overlooking the lake and rebuilt around 130 years ago after being destroyed by foreign soldiers. It is a major religious site within the garden. It contains a Ming Dyansty thousand arm Buddha cast in bronze and gilded.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense from above.

A pagoda above it.

One of the distant pagodas and the mythical creatures atop a temple.

Beijing skyline and part of the garden.

The temple complex beside the Tower of Buddhist Incense which was not open to the public.

Industry amidst the hills to the west of Beijing.

Bronze Pavillion built in the 1700s and located high  on the hill.

One of the buildings lower down the hill.

Painting near the rafters

Rich decoration on walls and ceiling of a corridor.

Some of the bronze statues were covered in mesh.

Purple Heaven Hall

The only garden in the palace resembling a western domestic garden.

Male lion statue outside a gate guarding the building.

The lakeside level was full of  tourists and tour groups.  Hordes of them.  The palace must have been on the afternoon itinerary.  It was hard to take a photo without them being in the way.

This is where Cixi the Dowager Empress lived.

This is where Dowager Empress Cixi put the emperor under house arrest in 1889.  A brick wall is visible through the doorway.

The theatre built forDowager Empress Cixi’s enjoyment.  Some of the emperor’s vehicles are found inside including a very old car. The buildings around it are part of the theatre complex.

Bronze dragon outside the hall where Emperor Guangxu and Dowager Empress Cixi attended to government business.

Locking up for the day.  Some staff was in period garb including hand muffs.

One of the small palace buildings was used to display items from the time that telephone was introduced to the palace.  This photo was one of the exhibits.  

Dried lotus seed pods on the lake.

A dragon pot on a snack and drink stall.

Sunset on Kunming Lake