Summer Palace

Qing Dynasty, 19th-20th century
Beijing

The Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan, "Garden of Health and Harmony") on the north shore of Kunming Lake was built by Empress-Dowager Cixi, shortly after the British incursions of 1860. It is located just a few miles north of Beijing, in a spot that served as the pleasure-retreat of emperors for most of the Qing Dynasty.