Kunming Lake, Beijing

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Kunming Lake is the largest lake or the main scene of the entire Summer Palace. It covers three quarter of the landscape in Summer Palace, that is 2.2 square Kilometers land. You can get a great view of the lake from Tower of Buddhist Incense. You can cruise around the lake to reach different parts of the garden. For example, you can take a boat from Glowing Clouds and Holyland Archway to South Lake Island. I prefer to walk around the lake and walked across the Seventeen-arch Bridge to South Lake Island. This is how you can enjoy the garden and lake views from different angles. From South Lake Island, you can look over to the Longevity Hill.

In Chinese: 昆明湖 (Kun Ming Hu)

Inside the Palace there is also a large lake. Its name is Kunming Lake

Monuments and beautiful buildings surround it from every side.

The lake was partially iced for low temperature. At least I saw it in an unusual shape.

Northside of the lake, called Kunming Lake, there is an amazing passageway called "The Long Gallery".

It is 700 meters long and covered with paintings telling stories of battles and mythological events.

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Covering three quarters of the area of the Summer Palace, Kunming Lake is the most attractive water area in Beijing. It was originally a natural lake formed by a number of springs before Emperor Qianlong expanded it and took the soil to build Longevity Hill. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), people grew lotus flowers in the lake and planted rice around its edge. The main features on the lake include the Seventeen arch bridge, South Lake Island and Jade Belt Bridge. You can cross the lake from the Seventeen arch bridge and the island to the Longevity Hill.

Behind the halls of residence is the northern shore of Kunming Lake, which lends a special air to the Summer Palace. Most visitors continue along the northern shore toward the West Gate, but there are also less-frequented sights around the lake, such as South Lake Isle and various bridges on the south shore of the lake.

You can hire a paddle boat and enjoy the vast lake if you have time. Alternatively, speed boats or ferries can take you to other spots along the shore.

Kunming is the enormous lake that dominates the grounds of the Summer Palace. In the winter it freezes over and despite the numerous signposted warnings saying 'do not walk on the ice' everybody does and it's great fun. You can also skate and there were a few people playing hockey. In the summer there's a ferry service but in winter you can just walk straight across the middle.

Another shot of the long gallery, with our guide (on the left) watching me patiently while I was taking the 1000th picture.

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tha artificial lake made which was originally a reservoir of water for Beijing and converted into a lake for the pleasure of the Qin emperors

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We took a boat ride across the lake .It gives a good vantage point to see the willow draped banks and the amazing opulent palaces on the hill tops.