The Summer Palace 'Yiheyuan'

The 'Yiheyuan' Summer Palace in Beijing is located in the Haidian District, 15 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing. Originally, it was the imperial palace and flower garden of Emperor Kublai Khan. In 1153 AD, it was expanded during the Ming and Qing dynasties, especially from the reign of Emperor Kangxi to Emperor Qianlong, taking 60 years to complete in 1750. The Qing dynasty kings used it as a summer retreat to escape the heat from the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is widely recognized as the most beautiful imperial garden in China. The Marble Boat is another astonishing structure, appearing from a distance as a graceful two-story boat that seems to float on water. In reality, it is a massive marble block built according to the wishes of Empress Dowager Cixi, serving only for her to sit and enjoy tea while admiring the scenery.