Summer Palace Temple (Tower of Buddhist Incense), Beijing, China
The palace was destroyed twice - once during the Second Opium War (1860) and again in the Boxer Rebellion (1900) - then rebuilt by Empress Dowager Cixi. Read a guide to Beijing's Summer Palace - one of the Chinese capital's top attractions.
The Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) is the central landmark and highest point of the Summer Palace in Beijing. Located on the southern slope of Longevity Hill, it stands as a masterpiece of Qing Dynasty wooden architecture and serves as the architectural focal point for the entire imperial garden complex. Built by Emperor Qianlong and rebuilt in the late 19th century, this 3-story, 8-sided, 4-tiered pagoda-style tower features a 16.5-foot, five-ton gilded bronze statue of the thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Bodhisattva Guan Yin. It was a primary spot for Empress Dowager Cixi to worship Buddha, offering panoramic views of the entire Summer Palace and surrounding mountains.
China Images: Temple in the Summer Palace, Beijing
Images of Beijing - photographs of the Chinese capital
Images of China - scenes from China
Images of Chinese Food - Chinese food photographs
Images of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Hong Kong Images - images of Hong Kong & Macau
Images by China Mash - striking images of Beijing
Images of Britain - photographs of Britain
