北京导游词

thetourwilltake4-6hours.therouteisasfollows:

outsidetheeastgate-sidetheeastgate–infrontofthehallofbenevolenceandlongevity-infrontofgardenofvirtuousharmony-infrontofthegrandtheaterbuilding-alakesidewalkfromthegardenofvirtuousharmonytothehallojaderipples-infrontoftheojaderipples-infrontoftheyiyunguan(chamberofmortalbeing)-hallofhappinessandlongevity-infrontoftheyaoyue(chamberofmortalbeings)-hallofhappinessandlongevity-infrontoftheyaoyue(invitingthemoon)gateofthelongcorridor-strollingalongthelongcorridor-visitinganexhibitionofculturalrelics-infrontofthehallofdispellingclouds-insidethehallofdispellingclouds-atopthetowerofbuddhistincense-onahilltopleadingfromthebackdoorofthetowerofbuddhistincense-onahilltopleadingfromthebackdoorofthetowerofbuddhistincense-insidethegardenofharmoniousinterest–outsidethesouthgatetosuzhoushoppingstreet-atopthestonebridgeinsidethesuzhoushoppingstreet–ontheroadfromthesouthgateofsuzhoushoppingstreet-ontheroadformthesouthgateofsuzhoushoppingstreettothemarbleboat-infrontoftheruinsofthegardenofcompletespring–alongthelakesidebythemarbleboat-boatingonthekunminglake-leavingoutthroughtheeastgate.

(outsidetheeastgate)

ladiesandgentlemen:welcometothesummerpalace.(aftertheself-introductionoftheguide-interpreter)ihopethiswillbeaninterestingandenjoyabledayforyou.

duringourtour,youwillbeintroducedtotimehonoredhistoricalandculturaltraditions,aswellaspicturesqueviewsandlandscapes.

theconstructionofthesummerpalacefirststartedin1750.atthattime,theqingdynastywasinitsheydayandchinawasapowerfulasiancountrywithvastterritories.themonarchinpowerthenwasemperorqianlong.withsupremepowerandlargesumsofmoney,hesummonedskillfulandingeniousartisansfromalloverthecountrytocarryoutthisconstructionworkinhonorofhismother`sbirthday.after15yearsandoneseventhofthenation`sannualrevenuespent,thegardenofclearrippleswascompletedandservedasatestimonytochina`sscientificandtechnologicalachievements.in1860,thisvastroyalgardenwasburntdownalongwiththeyuanmingyuan(gardenofperfectionandbrightness)byangol-frenchalliedforces.in1888,empressdowagercixireconstructedthegardenonthesamesiteandrenameditthegardenofnurturedharmony(summerpalace).characterizedbyitsvastscopeandrichculturalembodiments,thesummerpalacehasbecomeoneofthemostfamoustouristsitesintheworld.thisisthemainentrancetothesummerpalace-theeastgateontopoftheeavesofthedoorthereisaplaquebearingachineseinscriptionwhichmeans“gardenofnurturedharmony”,whosecalligrapherwasemperorguangxu.thegatethatyouarenowenteringwasusedexclusivelybytheemperor,theempressandthequeermother.allothersusedthesidedoors.

(insidetheeastgate)

thesummerpalacecanbedividedintotwoparts:longevityhillandkunminglake.thewholegardencoversanareaof290hectares,ofwhihthree-fourthsconsistsofalakeandrivers.thisimperialgardenfeatures3,000room-unitsandcoversanexpanseof70,000squaremeterswithmorethan100picturesquespotsofinterest.thelayoutofthesummerpalaceincludesthreegroupsofarchitectures:palaceswheretheemperorattendedtostateaffairs,restingpalacesoftheemperorandempress,andsightseeingareas.enteringtheeastgatewewillcomethetheofficequarters.enteringtheeastgatewewillcometotheofficequarters.theannexhallsonbothsideswereusedforofficialsonduty.thisisthegateofbenevolenceandlongevity.abovethedoorthereisaplaquebearingthesamenameinbothchineseandmanchuriancharacters.thegiganticrockintheforegroundisknownastaihurock,orerodedlimestone,quarriedinjiangsuprovinceandplacedheretodecoratedthegarden.onthemarbleterracesitsabronzemythicalbeast,knownasqilinorxuanni.itwassaidtotheoneoftheninesonsofdragonking.apointofpeculiarinterestisthatithastheheadofadragon,antlersofadeer,thetailofalionandhoovesofaox,andiscoveredwithauniqueskin.itwasconsideredanauspiciouscreaturethatbroughtpeaceandprosperity.thisgrandhallisthehallofbenevolenceandlongevity.itwasbuiltin1750,andwasknownasthehallofindustriousgovernment.emperorqianlongruledthatthehallswheremonarchsattendedtostateaffairswouldbenamedafterthem.aftertherebuildingofthesummerpalace,thehallwasrenamed,suggestingthatbenevolentrulerswouldenjoylonglives.thearrangementofthehallhasbeenleftuntouched.inthemiddleofthehallstandsathronemadeofsandalwoodandcarvedwithbeautifuldesigns.inthebackgroundthereisascreencarvedwithninefrolickingdragons.oneithersideofthethronetherearetwobigfansmadeofpeacockfeathers,twocolumn-shapedincenseburners,crane-shapedlanternsandanincenseburnerassumingtheformofluduan,amythologicalanimalwhichwassupposetohavethepowertopreventfire.thesmallchambersoneightsidewerewheretheemperorqianlongandempressdowagercixirestedandmetofficialsonformaloccasions.ontheverandahintheforegroundofthehalltherearebronzestatuesofdragonandphoenixeswhichservedasincenseburnersonmajoroccasions.theyarehollowandsmokecomesthroughholesontheirbacks.alsoontheverandaaretaiping(peace)bronzewatervatsmadeduringthereignofemperorqianlong.asaprecautionincaseoffire,afirewaslitunderneaththevatsinthewintertokeepthewaterinthemfromfreezing.

(attheentranceofgardenofvirtuousharmony)

wearenowvisitingthegardenofvirtuousharmony,whereemperorqianlongandempressdowagercixiwereentertainedwithbeijingoperaperformances.itmainlyconsistsofthedressinghouse,thegrandtheaterbuildingandthehallofpleasuresmiles.thegrandtheaterbuildingknownasthe“cradleofbeijingopera”wasuniquelylaidoutandmagnificentlydecorated.onseptember10,1984,thegardenofvirtuousharmonyopeneditsdoorstovisitors.therearealso7exhibitionhallswitharticlesofdailyuseondisplayhere.thestaffhereputupcourtdressesofqingdynastyinordertogivethevisitoramorevividimpression.

(infrontofthegrandtheaterbuilding)

thisbuildingis21metersinheightand17metersinwidthandfeaturesthreetiersoftiltedeavesandstages.allofthestagesareconnectedtoaraise,andawinchisinstalledatthetop.awelland5pondsweresunkunderthegroundstage.therearetrapdoorsintheceilingforfairiestodescend,aswellasonthefloorfordemonstosurface.theundergroundpassagesalsoservedasameansofimprovingresonanceandmakingtheperformers`voicesmoreaudible.ofthethreemaintheaterbuildingoftheqingdynasty,thegrandtheaterbuildingisthetallestandthelargest.theothertwoarechangyin(fluentvoice)pavilioninchengde,animperialsummerresort.thebuildingplayedamajorpartinfosteringthebirthanddevelopmentofbeijingopera:sincethecompletionofthegrandtheaterbuilding,manyperformanceswereheldinitinhonoroftheempressdowagercixi.

(alakesidewalkfromthegardenofvirtuousharmonytothehallofjaderipples)

wearenowstandinginthemiddleofarockerybehindthehallofbenevolentandlongevity.itappearsthatthere`snothingspecialahead.however,afterwecleartherockery,wewillreachkunminglake.thisisaapplicationofaspecificstyleofchinesegardening.notfarawayinthelakethereisaislet.itisfilledwithpeachandweepingwillowtreesandservesasaidealplacetoappreciatethescenery.thepavilionontheisletiscalledzhichun(understandingspring)pavilionandischardcterizedbyfour-edged,multipleeavedroofs.

(infrontofthehallofjaderipples)

thisgroupofspecialandquietcourtyarddwellingisthehallofjaderipples.itwasfirstusedbyemperorqianlongtoattendtostateaffairs.itwasalsowhereemperorguangxuofthelateqingdynastywaskeptunderhousearrest.thishallisahallmarkofthereformmovementof1898,emperorguanxuwasempressdowagercixi`snephew.afteremperortongzhidied,empressdowagerciximadehernephew,whowasatthattimefouryearsoldasuccessorinordertocontinueherwieldingofpowerbehindthescenes.whenemperorguanxuwas19yearsold,empressdowagercixirelinquishedpowertohimbutcontinuedtoexertconsiderableinfluence.in1898,thereformmovementtookplacewiththeaimofsustainingthecornprinciplesoftheqingdynastywhilereformingoutdatedlaws.themovementlastedfor103daysuntilitwassuppressedbyempressdowagercixi.theemperor`ssixearnestreformistswerebeheadedandemperorguangxuwasplacedunderhousearrestwhichlastedfor10years.allthebackdoorsweresealedandabrickwaswasputupbehindthewoodenpartitiononeachsideofthetwoannexesofthecourtyard.emperorguangxuwascloselywatchedbyeunuchs.thewallremainsintactfortouriststosee..dynastywhilereformingoutdatedlaws.themovementlastedfor103daysuntilitwassuppressedbyempressdowagercixi.theemperor`ssixearnestreformistswerebeheadedandemperorguangxuwasplacedunderhousearrestwhichlastedfor10years.allthebackdoorsweresealedandabrickwaswasputupbehindthewoodenpartitiononeachsideofthetwoannexesofthecourtyard.emperorguangxuwascloselywatchedbyeunuchs.thewallremainsintactfortouriststosee.(infrontofyiyunguan(chamberofmortalbeings)thiswaswhereempressandempressdowagerofchina`sfeudalsystem.however,emperorguanxuwasnotthelastemperoroftheqingdynasty.thelastinthelinewasemperorpuyi,whoascendedthethronein1908attheageofthree,tooyoungtobemarried.in1912,hewasforcedtoabdicate.duringtheshortreignofemperorpuyi.empresslongyuhandledstateaffairsonhisbehalfinthenameofempressdowager.in1911,arevolutionledbydr.sunyat-sunsucceeded,andtheyearafter,empresslongyuannouncedtheabdicationofthelastemperorofchina.

(inthehallofhappinessandlongevity)

theagedempressdowagercixiwassofondofthesummerpalacethatshedecidedtoliveherefromaprilthroughoctoberofeveryyear.thisgroupofbuildingsservedasherresidence.thisgroupofcourtyarddwellingsconsistsofaforecourtandabackyardwithannexcourtsoneachside.thewholecompoundwasbasicallymadeofwood,whichisidealforventilationandlighting.withitsquietandtastefullayout,thehallofhappinessandlongevitymadelifeveryeasyandconvenient.nowonderoneofempressdowagercixi`spleasureboat.onthepierthereisatalllanternpost.flankingthestaircaseleadingtothemainentranceofthehall,therearebronzecranes,deerandvases,symbolizinguniversalpeace.theinteriorlayoutisthesameastheimperialcourt,withthrone,alargetableandincenseburnersplacedinthemiddle.atmealtime,eunuchs-in–waitingwouldmakeagigantictableoutofthistableandempressdowagercixiwoulddineon128courses.becauseofthismorethan1,800talesofsilverwouldbespenteachmonthonmeals.ontheeastsideofthelivingroomisthecloakroom.thebedroominonitswest.infrontoftheyaoyue(invitingthemoon)gateofthelongcorridorthefamedlongcorridorisahead.facingkunminglakeandintheforegroundoflongevityhill,thelongcorridorstretchesfromyaoyue(invitingthemoon)gatetoshizhang(stonyoldman)pavilion.itis728metersinlengthandconsistof273sectionsandconnectsfouroctagonalpavilions.in1990,itwaslistedinguinnessbookofworldrecords.

(strollingalongthelongcorridor)

thelongcorridorisoneofthemajorstructuresofthesummerpalace.sincethecorridorwasdesignedtofollowthephysicalfeaturesofthesouthernslopeoflongevityhill,fourmultiple-eaved,octagonalpavilions(beauty-retainingpavilion,enjoy-theripplespavilion,autumnwaterpavilionandclaritydistancepavilion)wereplacedatbendsandundulation.thussightseerswillhardlynoticetheriseandfalloftheterrain.asamajorpartofthearchitecturalstyleofthesummerpalace,thelongcorridorservesasaningeniousconnectorbetweenthelakeandthehill.scatteredbuildingsonthesouthernslopewerelinkedtocreataunifiedcomplex.thiscorridorcanalsobecalleda“corridorofpaintings”:therearemorethan14,000paintingsonitsbeams.someofthemareofbirds,flowersandlandscapesofthewestlakeinhangzhou,zhejianprovince.otherspresentscenesfromliteraryclassics.themajorityofthelandscapepaintingweredoneundertheorderofemperorqianlong,whopreperredthesceneryofsouthchina.

(bythedoorleadingtotheexhibitionofculturalrelics)

thisgroupoftemple-shapedstructuresareknownasqinghua(clarifiedchina)hall,alsoknownasarhathallduringthereignofemperorqianlong.theoriginalhallburneddownin1860.afteritwasreconstructed,itwasrenamed.qinghuahallisnowusedasaexhibitionhalldisplayingrareculturalrelicscollectedinthesummerpalace.thehallconsistsof6exhibitionroomswithtensofthousandsofarticlesoftreasureondisplayinturn.amongtheexhibitstherearebronzeware,porcelain,jadeassemblagesfromthemingandqingdynasties,andrareandpaintings.thereisalsoagiganticstoneslab,whichismorethan3metersinheightandwidth.itbearsthehandwritteninscriptionsofemperorqianlongiscommemorationofthesuppressionofarebellioninthexinjiangregion.onlythisslabsurvivedwhentheangle-frenchalliedforcessetfiretothesummerpalace.

(infrontofthegateofdispellingclouds)

nowweareapproachingthecentralpartofthestructuresonthelakesideslope,thetowerofbuddhistincensewithinthehallofdispellingclouds.thehallofdispellingcloudswaswherenumerouspalatineskowtowedtoempressdowagercixi.itwassurroundedbygalleriesandflankedbyannexhalls.intheforecourtthereisapoolandmarblebridges.startingfromthelakeside,thereliesinsuccessionamemorialarchway,thegateofdispellingclouds,thehallofdispellingcloudsandthetowerofbuddhistincense.allofthesestructuresarebuiltonacentralaxisandeachistallerthanitspredecessor.thiswasdesignedtogiveprominencetothelaststructure,thetowerofbuddhistincense,whichwasasymbolofimperialpower.thelayoutofthisgroupofarchitectureswasbasedonscenesdescribedinbuddhistsutras.thisgroupofstructureareamongthemostmagnificentlyconstructedhereinthesummerpalace.

insidethehallofdispellingclouds)

theoriginalbuildingsonthissitewereburneddownbytheanglo-frenchalliedforcesin1860.anewsetofstructureswasbuiltduringthereignofemperorguanxu,andwascalledthehallofdispellingclouds,suggestingthatitwasafairyland.thehallwasbuiltonahighterrace,andhas21room.insidethehallareathrone,screens,tripodsandmandarinfans.onaplatformyouwillseebronzedragons,phoenixesandtripods.atthefootoftheplatformtherearefourbronzewatervats,theancientformoffireextinguishers.the10thdayoflunaroctoberwas,empressdowagercixi`sbirthday.onthatday,shesatonthethroneheretoreceivecongratulationsandgifts.nowwearegoingtopayavisittothehighlightofthesummerpalace-thetowerofbuddhistincense.whatwearenowstandingonisastoneterracewhichis20metersinheight.ithasasemihousedstairwayof100steps,youwilllivefor100years.so,let`sgo!

(inthefrontofthetowerofbuddhistincense)

anoctagonalstructurewiththreestoreysandquadrupleeaves,thetowerofbuddhistincenseistheverycenterofthesummerpalace,andisoneofthemasterpiecesofancientchinesearchitecture.thetoweris41metersinheight,andisbuttressedby8solidpillarsmadeoflignumvitaelogs.withitscomplexstructure,ingeniouslayout,toweringterraceandconvincinggrandeur,thetowerofbuddhistincensewasartfullysetoutbytheimperialgardensandbeautifulscenerysurroundingit.thetoweroverlookskunminglakeandotherpicturesquespotswithinanareaoftensofkilometers.onthewestsideofthetowerstandsbaoyunge(preciouscloudpavilion).itismadeofbronzeandis7.5metersinheightand270tonsinweight.itresemblesitswoodencounterpartsineverydetail.itisoneofthelargestandmostexquisitebronzepavilionsstillonexistenceinchina.lamasprayedhereduringthereignofemperorqianlonginhonorofthemonarchsandtheirfamilies.attheturnofthecentury10bronzewindowswerespiritedabroad.in1992anamericancompanyboughtthewindowsandreturnedthemintacttochina.

(onahilltopleadingfromthebackdooroftowerofbuddhistincense)

nowwecanseethelongandsnakingwesterncausewayandashorterdikethatdivideskunminglakeintothreeareasthatcontainsouthlakeisland,seaweed-viewingislandandcirclecityisland.thethreeislandrepresentthreemountaininancientchinesemythology,i.e.penglai,fangzhangandyingzhou.thispeculiarmethodofincorporatingalakeathreemountainswithinasinglegardenwasabrainchildofemperorwudiofthehandynastymorethan2,000yearsago,bearingtestimonytofeudalmonarchs`slongingforlongevity.asthelegendgoesmanyheavenlyelixirsgrewonthethreemythicalislands.usingartificialbuildingtechniques,theancientchinesebuiltthismasterpiecebasedonthemythtomakethemythicalonappeartobeaccessibletohumans.

(insidethegardenofharmoniousinterest)

settingagardenwithinalargergardenhasbeenoneofchinatraditionalarchitecturalstyles.thegardenofharmoniousinterestservesasafineexampleofthis.thisgardenwasbuiltundertheorderofemperorqianlongandmodeledafterthejichanggarden(gardenofeaseofmind)atthefootofmounthuishan,jiansuprovince.itwasrenamedbyhissonemperorjiaqingin1811.theexistinggardenwasrebuiltbyemperororguangxu.empressdowagercixiusedtogofishinghere.thegardenfeatures10waterfrontplatforms,pavilionsandhallsaswellashundredsofgallerieswithallofitsstructuresfacingthelakeandpools,thegardenofharmoniousinterestisbasicallyagardenofwaterscape.spanningthevastexpanseofthelakeandpoolsarefivebridges,eachquitedifferentfromtheothers.themostfamousofthemisthebridgeknownas“knowing–thefishing-bridge.”itissaidthatmorethan2,500yearsagoduringthewarringstatesperiod,twophilosopherenamedzhuangzihadaninterestingargumentbythesideofapond.zhangsaid,”fishswimtoandfrointhewater.whathappyfish!”huiasked,”youarenotafish.howdoyouknowtheyarehappy?”zhuangreplied,“youarenotme.howdoyouknowidon’tknow?”huisigned,“iamnotyou,therefore,idon’tknowyou.andyouarenotafish,sohowdoyouknowthatfisharehappy?”zhangsaid,“youaskmehowiknowfisharehappy,whydoyoukeepingmethesamequestion?”althoughthegardenofharmoniousinterestwasdesignedafterjichanggarden,itnotonlyabsorbedtheoriginaldesigns,butexceededit.

(outsidethesouthentrancetosuzhoushoppingstreet)

nowletshavealookatlongevityhill.onthebackslopeofthehillstandsagroupofarchitectures.thecenterpieceofstructuresthereareknownasthefourcontinentsandarededicatedtobuddhism.thisgroupwaslaidoutandarrangedinaccordancewithbuddhistcosmology.asidefromamainshrineandstructuresembodyingthefourcontinents,thereareeighttowersrepresentingminorcontinents.theshrineissurroundedbyfourlamaistpagodasandbetweenthemajorandminorcontinents,theretwoplatformsrepresentingthesunandthemoon.theqingauthorityattachedgreatimportancetobuddhism.tofurtherstrengthentieswiththeethnicminoritieswhopracticedbuddhism,themonarchsincorporatedbothhanandtibetanstylesofarchitectureintothisgroupoftemples.furthernorthatthefootofthefourmajorcontinentliesthesuzhoushoppingstreet.builtalongthebacklakeofthesummerpalace,thisstreetstretchesabout300metersandfeaturesmorethan60stores.itincludesrestaurants,teahouses,pawnshopsbanks,drugstoresdyehousesandpublishinghouses.inordertorecreatetheatmosphereofancienttimes,visitorswillhavethechancetoexchangetheirmoneytoancientstylechinesecoinsforusehere.storefrontsaretrimmedwithtraditionalsignboardsandornaments.thecommercialcultureofthemid-18thcenturyhasthusbeenrecreated.

(atopthestonebridgeinsidethesuzhoushoppingstreet)

visitorsmaybesurprisetoseethatthisshoppingstreetisalmostthesameasthatinsouthchina.asamatteroffact,thisstreetwasdesignedaftertheshopsalongthecanalsinsuhzhou.originallyknownasemperor`sshoppingstreet,itwasbuiltduringthereignofemperorqianlong.aftermakingseveralinspectiontourstosouthchinaandbeingdulyimpressedbyitscommercialprosperity,emperorqianlongorderedtheconstructionofthisstreet.theimperialshoppingstreetwasburntdownbyanglo-frenchalliedforcesin1860.thesiteremaineddesolateduntil1987,whenreconstructionbegan.itwasopenedtothepublicinseptember1990.withcommercialcultureasitshallmark,thesuzhoushoppingstreetisavividrepresentationofchina`straditionalcultures.

(ontheroadfromthesouthfateofthesuzhoushoppingstreettothemarbleboat)

thisisthehallofpines.fromittothewestwecanwalktothemarbleboat.thepathweareetakingstretchesbetweenlongevityhillandbacklake.monarchsandtheircohortsusedtostrollalongit.henceitwasnamedcentralimperialpath.alongthispathyouwillseelilacsallaround.hence,thisroadisalsoknownasthepathoflilac.

(infrontoftheruinsofthegardenofcompletespring)

quiteafewuniquestructureswereburntdownduringthereignofemperorqianlong,amongwhichthegardenofcompletespringwasoneofthemostfamous.theruinedanddesolatecourtyardbytheroadsidewasitsoriginalsite,itremainstoberestored.thisgroupofstructurescoveranareaof4,000squaremetersandfeaturesanumberofhallsbuiltonthreedifferentlevels.allofthestructureswereconnectedwithgalleriesandstonestaircases.withitsnaturalandingeniouscombinationofpavilions,ahall,galleriesandrooms,thegardenofcompletespringservesasafinemodelforothergardens.emperorqianlongfrequentlyvisitedthiscompound.

(alongthelakesidebythemarbleboat

nowwehavereturnedfromthebackoflongevityhilltothefront.thereisthefamousmarbleboat.thisstructureis36metersinlengthanditsbodywasmadeofmarble.ontopofitisatwostoreyedstructure.thefloorwaspavedwithcoloredbricks.allofthewindowsareinlaidwithmulti-coloredglassandtheceilingwasdecoratedwithcarvedbricks.thedrainagesystemchannelsrainwaterdownthroughfourhollowconcretepillarsandintothelakethroughthemouthofdragonheads.accordingtoabookwrittenbyemperorqianlong,theboatwasusedforenjoyingthesceneryandwassupposedtobesymbolicofthestabilityoftheqingdynasty.halfwayuptheslopetherestandsthehallforlisteningtoorioles.theancientchineselikenthewarbleofanorioletobeautifulsongsandmelodies,hencethenameofthehallwhichusedtobeatheater.nowthehallisoneofthemostfamousrestaurantsinchina,featuringimperialdishesanddesserts.itisamustformanyforeignvisitorstohavelunchherewhenthencometobeijing.morethanonehundredheadsofstateworldwidehavedinedhereandthelatepremierzhouenlaihasheldbanquetshereinhonorofstateguests.(sightseerswhowanttotrytherestaurantcangoboatingaftertheyeat.thosewhodonotcangoabroadrightaway.thosewhodonotfeelliketakingtheboatcanstollalongthelongcorridortotheoutsideoftheeastgate).(boatingonkunminlake)wearenowgoingtoenjoythelakesidesceneryfromapleasureboat.asamainpartofthesummerpalace,kunminglakecoversanareaof220hectares,orthreefourthsofthecombinedspaceofthissummerresort.thisnaturallakeismorethan3500yearsold.thislakewasoriginallycalledwengshanlake.in1749emperorqianlongorderedtheconstructionofqingyigarden,thepredecessorofthesummerpalace.involvingnearly10,000laborers,thelakewasexpandedandturnedintoapeach-shapedreservoir,thefirstofitskindforbeijing.from1990to1991,thebeijingmunicipalgovernmentorderedthefirstdredgingofthelakein240years.involving200,000menandhundredsofdredgersandothertools,atotalof625,600cubicmetersofsludgewasdredgedand205bombsdroppedbythejapaneseduringtheanti-japanesewarwereremoved.thesummerpalacesetaprecedentforsightseeingbyboat.thereusedtobealargeimperialflotilla,ofwhichthe“kunmingmerrydragon”wasthemostfamous.itwasdestroyedbytheanglo-frenchalliedforcesin1860.tomakethetourofthesummerpalaceamorepleasantone,alargepleasureboat“taihe”(supremeharmony)wasbuilt.thisdouble–deckedboatis37.09meterslong,8,59meterswideand10.49metershigh.itcantravelataspeedof9kilometerperhour.smallpleasureboatsarealsoavailabletotourist.anothermajorspotofinterestonthewesterncausewayisjingming(brightview)hall.bothitsfrontandrearfacethelake.thisstructurealsofeaturesthreetwo-storeyedhallsofvaryingheights.ourtourisdrawingtoacloseasweapproachtheshore.todayweonlyvisitedthemajorscenicareasofthesummerpalace.ihaveleftotherspotofinterestforyournextvisit.iwillshowyououtthroughtheeastgate.ihopeyouenjoyedtoday`stour.thankyou.good-byeandgoodluck.