Special Feature
Destination: The Great Wall of China
by Jeff Davies
We
arrive at the Summer Palace about 30 minutes later.
It is a collection of traditional buildings set around a large
lake and surrounded by forest. It occupies about 700 acres.
It was originally built between 1750 and 1765 by Emperor
Qinglong as a gift to his Mother on her birthday.
It was destroyed by invading armies (Western, of course..!) in 1860.
Many of the buildings have been renovated over the last 100
years. This example outside the entrance is one of the more
ornate...
Originally named Qingyi Yuan (Garden of Clear Ripples) it has
been named the Summer Palace since it became a public park.
There are some
impressive bronze statues with the obligatory lions on either
side of the entrance.
(I learned from Bob Daelemans of Luxilon that the male lion has
his foot on the world to signify his dominance of it. The female
lion has her foot on a young lion to signify her control of the
future....)
There are several
men with water brushes writing traditional poems on the stone
pathways.
This one has a brush in each hand and writes with each
simultaneously.
The
most obvious feature of the Summer Palace is the crowds of
people.
Tickets come in various flavors. I am glad that we have bought
the 'all areas' pass for 50 RMB (about $6) as it allows us to
escape into the less-well traveled - and, as it turns out, much
more interesting areas.
Some
of the gardens hidden away just off the main routes around the
lake are attractive and quiet.
One
of my objectives of the day is to find some of the locals who
visit the city's parks for the traditional morning exercises.
I am not disappointed as we find this group of women in a quiet
spot.
Traditional music is playing, birds are singing and the
atmosphere and tranquility alone is worth the trip.
Sometimes the simple aspects of life are more impressive and
enjoyable than the biggest this or greatest that....
I
watch, fascinated by the fluid grace of the women, until Tina
finally drags me away.
Roaming through tranquil
woods...
...we finally
arrive at the foot of a sequence of staircases and pathways
that lead up to the Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha (Foxiang
Ge)
The
architecture is ornate and the roof edges in particular are covered with intricate carvings and
details.
In the tower
itself is the statue of the thousand-handed Buddha, weighing 5
tons and gilded in gold.
Several
worshippers gather around.
One
man is overcome - but we are not sure if from being in the presence
of the Buddha or from the very long climb to reach it.
