Kunming Lake in early spring

One of the most famous bodies of water in Beijing, Kunming Lake covers over 200 hectares and makes up three-quarters of the Summer Palace’s total area. Once a natural lake where numerous springs in northwest Beijing converged, Kunming Lake in its current incarnation was constructed by Wanyan Liang in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). The lake, along with Longevity Hill, is the highlight of the Summer Palace’s landscape. [Photo by Guo Yinghui/China.org.cn]