Brief introduction of Kunming Lake in Summer Palace

Kunming Lake is located in the Summer Palace in Beijing, and its area is about three-quarters of the total area of the Summer Palace. Originally, it was a natural lake where many springs gathered in the northwest suburb of Beijing. It was once named Qililong and Dabao Lake. The predecessor of Kunming Lake was Wengshanpo, which was named after Wanshou Mountain. Wengshan Park is located in the western suburbs of Beijing, also known as the West Lake.

Kunming Lake is the main lake of the Summer Palace, accounting for three-quarters of the total park area, about 220 hectares. Qianhu District in the south is rippling with blue waves and vast smoke waves, with ups and downs in the west and pavilions in the north. There is a western dike in the lake, and there are peaches and willows on it. This 17 span bridge spans the lake, and three islands in the lake also have different forms of classical architecture. ?

Kunming Lake is the largest lake in the royal gardens of Qing Dynasty. There is a long dike in the lake-Xidi, which winds from northwest to south. The west levee and its branches divide the lake into three waters of different sizes, and there is an island in the middle of the lake in each water area. These three islands stand on the lake, symbolizing the three sacred mountains in the East China Sea-Penglai, the abbot and Yingzhou in the ancient legend of China. Due to the separation of islands and dikes, the lake is layered, avoiding monotony. The west dike and the six bridges on the dike consciously imitate the "Su Causeway Six Bridges" of Su Causeway and Hangzhou West Lake, making Kunming Lake more and more like the West Lake. The natural scenery around Xidi is broad, with blue waves and weeping willows. The beautiful mountain shape of Yuquan Mountain and the shadow of Yufeng Tower at the top of the park are part of the landscape. Looking from Kunming Lake and lakeside to the west, the scenery outside the park is integrated with the lakes and mountains in the park, which is an outstanding example of the application of borrowing scenery in China gardens. The buildings in the lake area are mainly concentrated on three islands. The green trees on the lakeshore and lake embankment are dense, hiding water and light, showing a natural beauty near the lake and distant mountains, with the flavor of Jiangnan.

The Summer Palace is the largest and most magnificent classical garden in China. It is mainly composed of Kunming Lake and Wanshou Mountain. The Summer Palace is located at the northwest of Beijing 10 km, and Kunming Lake is located at the south foot of Wanshou Mountain. Wanshou Mountain is the remnant vein of Xishan Mountain in Beijing, extending eastward, with a relative height of more than 60 meters, forming a trend around the lake. To the west of the lake, the western mountain peak stands towering. The southeast of the lake is adjacent to the Beijing Plain, and this lake is just in the transition zone between alluvial fans and alluvial plains at the foot of the Western Hills.

Kunming Lake has a total area of 3,000 mu, about 2 square kilometers, which is larger than the five North Seas in Beijing. The lake is mainly developed to the east and west, and part of the land on the original shore is planted in the lake in a planned way, becoming the west dike and the three islands in the lake. The excavated soil was moved and piled up on Wanshou Mountain, which greatly increased the original low hills. On the lakeside of Kunming and Wanshou Mountain. Qingyi Garden in Wanshou Mountain, Jingming Garden in Yuquan Mountain, Jingyi Garden in Xiangshan Mountain, Changchun Garden and Yuanmingyuan Garden were all large-scale gardens built with Xishan as a barrier at that time, collectively referred to as "three mountains and five gardens". Qingyi Garden was finally completed in 1764, which cost more than 4.8 million yuan of silver. 1860, British and French allied forces attacked Beijing, and Qingyi Garden was burned down. 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi used naval funds to rebuild the park and renamed it the Summer Palace. Before liberation, this ancient garden experienced changes and became depressed. After liberation, the park was vigorously repaired, and Kunming Lake was dredged, taking on a new look.

The famous 17 span bridge in Kunming Lake spans between Nanhu Island and the east coast. The bridge is150m long, just like a rainbow on the sparkling blue waves. It is an imitation of the famous Lugou Bridge. The top of each stone pillar on the bridge is carved with stone lions of different shapes, which looks exquisite, majestic and beautiful. On the east bank of the 17-hole bridge stands the largest octagonal pavilion in China. Nearby lay a beautifully cast bronze bull, as big as a real bull, with its head held high and its ears pricked up. If it hears something, it looks surprised and looks back. It's very beautiful and vivid. It was originally designed to save water from a magical cow, but now it is a precious cultural relic. From Tongniu to the north, there is Zhichun Pavilion on the east bank of the lake. Every year after the lake ice melts, spring comes here first, and the pavilion is pink.