Monday, January 3, 2011

O data in viata, China ep.21 Palatul de vara / Once in a Lifetime, China 21st ep. Summer Palace, Beijing

Included into UNESCO heritage in 1998, the Summer Palace it's a "must see" objective for every tourist in Beijing. Basically, it is an imperial garden constructed on a surface of 304 ha. Over 100 buildings, halls, pavilions, bridges and temples may be visited near Kunming Lake, at the foot of the Longevity Hill. A nice pagoda, named Yu Feng, on the slopes of the hill and a beautiful marble bridge with 17 arches are highlights of the garden. Peonies and different trees in bloom in the period we visited the place (May 2009) made this trip a real delight. The Long Gallery with 8000 paintings on the wood structure, representing flowers, birds, landscapes and historical or mythical themes is very interesting for a photographer. A lot of tourists, mainly Chinese, enjoyed the place. The garden is adorned with 12 Taihu stones, representing the 12 zodiacal signs. Taihu stones are limestones, perforated by the water. The focal point of the garden is The Marble Boat of the Empress Cixi. It is said she spent all the money allocated to rebuilt the navy force of China, defeated by Japanese army.

Palatul de Vara sau Yi HeYuan, cum a fost denumita aceasta frumoasa gradina imperiala in secolul al XII-lea, la construirea ei, era gandita ca un loc de recreere pentru familia imperiala si curtea care o slujea. De-a lungul timpului ea a fost distrusa si apoi reconstruita, in forma sa actuala, in 1750.

Palatul de Vara este un obiectiv important pentru turistul care viziteaza Beijingul. Aflat la cca. 12 km de centrul orasului, se poate ajunge acolo cu taxiul (cam 50 RMB, adica sub 6 euro) sau cu un tur organizat, asa cum am fost si noi. Metroul nr. 4 te poate apropia de obiectiv dar mai este de parcurs, pe jos, o buna distanta. Intrarea costa 30 RMB, adica 3.40 euro.

Patrundem in Palatul de Vara prin Poarta de Est, prevazuta cu 3 intrari: prin cea din mijloc treceau doar imparatul si imparateasa, iar prin cele laterale, printii si slujitorii curtii. Poarta este pazita de leul imperial, purtator de noroc si aducator de prosperitate, de dragon si miticul qilin. Acesta din urma reprezinta unicornul in mitologia chineza. Aparitia sa este asociata cu nasterea sau moartea unui imparat. Qilinul este o fiinta cu corp de caprioara, coada de bou si picioare de cal.
 Poarta de Est
qilin
Ca la toate obiectivele importante, este foarta multa lume, in special turisti chinezi, fiecare grup purtand sepci de o anumita culoare pentru a se putea regrupa mai usor. O multime atat de mare da intotdeauna posibilitate fotografului sa observe ceva deosebit, ca de exemplu aceasta batrana purtand un costum traditional:
calugarii moderni, "inarmati" cu aparate digitale de fotografiat:
 o solutie practica de inlocuit pampersul:
 un vanzator ambulant de blanuri:
si chiar o mireasa:
Complexul cu cele peste 100 de cladiri, holuri, pavilioane, poduri si temple ocupa o suprafata de 304 ha, din care 4/5 sunt reprezentate de Lacul Kunming. Un minunat pod de marmura (Shiqi Kong Qiao), cu 17 arcade, de peste 150 m lungime face legatura cu o mica insula. Se pot inchiria diferite ambarcatiuni pentru plimbarea pe lac. Lacul este strajuit de Dealul Longevitatii, pe care se afla pagoda Yu Feng.
 Lacul Kunming
 podul de marmora
Dealul Longevitatii si pagoda Yu Feng
Una dintre principalele atractii este galeria acoperita, numita Chang Lang - Coridorul lung (728 m), cu o structura acoperita de 8000 de picturi reprezentand peisaje, flori, pasari, scene istorice sau mitice. Aceste picturi trebuie refacute la fiecare 12 ani, pentru a nu se deteriora. Operatia s-a repetat deja de cateva ori si, datorita gradului diferit de indemanare si talent al restauratorilor, s-a pierdut deja din frumusetea lor originala.
 Galeria acoperita
Galeria este intrerupta de 4 pavilioane octogonale, cu acoperis dublu, reprezentand cele 4 anotimpuri. Ele sunt construite in stilul arhitecturii din epoca Qing.
In parc sunt bujori arbustiferi si diferite specii de copaci si arbusti infloriti,
precum si 12 pietre Taihu, reprezentand cele 12 semne zodiacale. Pietrele Taihu sunt pietre calcaroase, valoroase fiind cele formate sub apa, datorita perforatiilor produse de actiunea acesteia.
Taihu reprezentand zodia Porcului in zodiacul chinezesc (zodia mea)
La capatul Coridorului Lung se afla Barca de Marmora, locul favorit al imparatesei Cixi. Aceasta a cheltuit banii destinati refacerii fortei navale a Chinei, dupa infrangerea sa de catre Japonia, pentru a reconstrui aceasta minunata gradina imperiala. Barca avea initial o suprastructura de lemn in stil chinezesc care, dupa ce a fost arsa in 1860 de catre fortele franco-britanice, a fost reconstruita in 1893, in stil frantuzesc.
In anul 1998, Palatul de Vara din Beijing a fost inclus in patrimoniul UNESCO.



23 comments:

ruma said...

Călătoria ta este minunat.

Happy New Year.
Să fie deplină sănătate şi fericire.

Mulţumesc.
ruma

VertAnge said...

Foarte frumos! Cel mai mult imi place Barca de Marmora. Imi imaginez niste mici doamne elegante invelite in matasuri ce se plimbau pe punte la apus.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Ruma, for visiting and for your wishes! Please come again, if you like!

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc, VertAnge! Tot ce am vazut in Beijing, legat de istorie mai ales, este de poveste!

J_on_tour said...

Magnificent structure, scenes and intricate artwork. Look forward to your India material.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, J_on_tour. I'll start India tales on Sunday. It's another type of culture.

LifeRamblings said...

Summer Palace is gorgeous and your pictures bring back wonderful memories of my trip. love all the details you've captured and i enjoy the beautiful blooms too.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

A price location.
Regards,
Wong

RIZALENIO said...

I enjoyed my visual trip so much. Thanks for bringing me here.

I maybe Chinese in another life because looking at your photos make me feel at home. I specially like those Chinese paintings. It reminds me of my childhood staring endlessly at artworks like that.

I cant wait to read and see your adventures in China. Happy new year, my friend. Im always thankful that I found your inspiring and very informative site.

All the best this 2011. Cheers for more travels and our friendships! =)

RIZALENIO said...

ooops, I meant was your travel in India that I cant wait to see and read. =)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Traveling Hawk said...

Life Ramblings, I'm glad we share the same opinion about the Summer Palace. And, yes, I love those blooming trees too.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Wong!

Traveling Hawk said...

Rizalenio, is hard not to like so wonderful places. In time, I'm more and more attached to those memories.
I'll start with India on Sunday. Still 2 posts about China :)

VP said...

Another cascade of beautiful pictures, I hope soon will be the turn of some fresh picture of (probably not so) mysterious India!

Traveling Hawk said...

Yes, VP, on Sunday :)

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Very beautiful pictures from a very interesting and historic place.

Cildemer said...

Wow! Great post with so many beautiful pics!
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment:o)

***
All my best wishes for the new year****

Rajesh said...

Beautiful place with amazing architecture and sculptures. Even the garden is beautiful.

Wish you Happy New Year and Travel.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Phivos, for visiting this new year :)

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Cildemer! Please come again, whenever you like :)

Traveling Hawk said...

Rajesh, the garden was beautiful, like in other places. I like Chinese and Japanese gardens. The whole place is awesome.

TG said...

As always, great photos and info. I really hope I can visit Beijing.

Traveling Hawk said...

May be this year, MKL ? :) I wish you could get aquainted with such a rich culture.