SUMMER PALACE, Hall Of Benevolence And Longevity

The Eastern Palace Gate, the main entrance into the Summer Palace, is a large building with a double-pitched roof, with two side entrances for the members of the royal family and the court officials, and three large gates at the center exclusively for the use of the emperor, the empress and the empress dowager.

Take a look at the delicate paintings on the architraves and the plaque on the gate with three ideograms written by Emperor Guangxu, meaning “Yiheyuan”, the Chinese name of the Summer Palace.

The stone carvings on the steps leading up to the entrance, featuring two dragons in relief, were transferred here from the ruins of the old Summer Palace in 1937. At the sides, the two bronze lions, crouching on marble pedestals, are imperial symbols.

Now press pause and press play again as soon as you enter the building....