Marble Boat 石舫 at Kunming Lake
One of the more intriguing structures at the Summer Palace is the presence of a Marble Boat. Actually, it just looks like a boat and it doesn’t move or anything. It is a pavillion built during the time of Emperor Qianlong. The Marble Boat has a solid stone foundation but the rest of the structure is made of wood. The pavillion was done in a traditional Chinese design. However, like much of the Summer Palace, this boat was likewise burned down but foreign troops.
Close Up of the Marble Boat 石舫
Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the reconstruction of the Marble Boat but included western elements in to the new structure. Interestingly, the funds for the pavillion’s reconstruction came from the navy modernization fund, since she was empress she was able to get away with it. Her successor Guangxu merely looked the other way. Naturally, the boat is one of the more popular attractions at the Summer Palace, my visit was no different with tourists jostling their way to get a look at the boat. Fortunately, the pavillion was off limits to visitors, which is a good thing, since I don’t think the boat will be able to take so much punishment.
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