Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is the Emperors summer residence, about 10 miles to the North West of Beijing centre.  It was initially constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), but found it's current form in the time of the Empress Dowager Cixi (the Dragon Empress) in the second half of the 19th century.  It is built on the shores of a vast artificial lake, and is again very crowded with tour groups.