This is the highest point of the Summer Palace, called Longevity Hill. I guess, if you could climb the hill often enough you would live a long life! The highest building is the Buddist Building of the Sea of Wisdom.

Kumming Lake occupies about three quarters of the area. The site had long been a Royal Garden and was consdiderably enlarged and embellished by the Ming Emperor in the 18th century. He deepened and expanded the lake with the help of 100,000 labourers and reputedly surveyed Imperial navy drills from a hilltop perch.

These days leisure craft can be hired to meander across the lake.