Ambling along the bank westward from the Stone Boat, tourists can see water flowing to the rear hill. Above the river course stands a huge boatyard, where the imperial dragon boat was tied up. First built in the period of Qing-yi Garden, the boatyard is currently the largest and best preserved imperial boatyard in China. None can rival it considering its3,400-sq-meter area. Renovation has been made on it lately for better preservation.

Continuing walking westward, we get to the well-known western dike stretching from north to south of Kunming Lake. Six varied Bridges lie along the western dike, namely,Jiehu Bridge, Binfeng Bridge, Yudai Bridge, Jing Bridge. Lian Bridge and Liu Bridge, between the Lian Bridge and Liu Bridge erecting the Jingming Tower modeled the well-known Yueyang Tower. The exuberant trees set off these architectures to perfection, adding to the beau-ty of the Kunming Lake. In particular, with the willows branching out and peach blossom flowering in the lovely March, the dike appears incomparably inviting to tourists.

The first bridge at the northern end of the western dike, the Jiehu Bridge locates at the infall of Kunming Lake. Originally named Liu Bridge, it exchanged name with the present Liu Bridge when the Summer Palace was rebuilt.

Binfeng Bridge boasts a double- eaved square pavilion. Named Sangzhu Bridge previously, it was renamed as Binfeng Bridge for the Empress Dowager's dislike for its pronunciation.Binfeng originated from the Book of Songs, implying the ruler's emphsis on agriculture. As there were a group of scenes displaying the countryside life at the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to the west of the bridge, the two names of the present Binfeng Bridge has much reference to agriculture.

Yudai (jade ribbon) Bridge is noted for its unique shape and construction technique. The high and thin arch app-ears to link with the shadow in the water, like a jade ribbon.Also the only high- arch stone bridge, Yudai Bridge was made of white marble and bluestone. Vivid cranes of varied types soaring into the sky were carved on the white bridge railings. It served as the passage for Emperor Qianlong to Jingming Garden. Its high arch resulted from the height of the dragon boat of the Emperor Qianlong, an over 40- meter long boat with pavilions.

The Jing Bridge dervied its name from a well- known poem by Li Bai of Tang Dynasty. The doubleeaved octagonal pavilion on the bridge was reconstructed on the basis of the original one after 1949.

Lian Bridge derived its name from a poem by Xie Tiao. Lian means white silk. The Lian Bridge was named so because it spanned the silk-like water.

Passing the Lian Bridge,we now come to the Jingming Tower, renovated in 1992. Imitating the Yueyang Tower in Hunan Province in the Emperor Qianlong's reign, the Jingming Tower derived its name from the article by Fan Zhongyan of Song Dynasty describing the spring scene of the Yueyang Tower. Composed by three two-story buildings of varied height, the Jingming Tower provides a wide vision of the nearby scenes. Looking back at the Wanshou Hill, tourists will find the hill and Foxiang Pavilion set off each other, an imposing view in the distance.

The last one at the southern end of the western dike, the Liu Bridge derived its name from the poem by Du Fu of Tang Dynasty describing flying catkins on the bridge. The enchanting willows along the western dike and the bridge enhance the beauty of each other.

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