Kunming Lake is the central lake on the grounds of the Summer Palace in Beijing, and together with the Longevity Hill, they form the key landscape features. With an area of 2.2 square-kilometers, this man-made lake covers roughly three-quarters of the Palace grounds. Meant to represent the traditional Chinese gardening concept of ‘one pond, three hills’, many features of Kunming Lake are inspired by the natural beauty of the Yangtze River. Look out for the West Dike which is a recreation of the famous Sudi Dike on the West Lake in Hangzhou. Admire the ancient charm of the six bridges on this dike, each with its unique style: Jiehu, Binfeng, Yudai, Jing, Lian, and Liu. Take a romantic walk on the largest bridge on Kunming Lake, a 17-Arch Bridge that connects the eastern shore with South Lake Island. Admire the bronze ox sculpture, believed to protect the Forbidden City from flooding.