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 Walking
out of Hall of Dispelling Clouds and ascend halfway Longevity Hill, one
reaches the Tower of Buddhist Incense. First built in 1750, the eight-facade
tower is 41 meters high with three levels. Standing highly atop the Longevity
Hill, this tower, as the symbol as well as the highest building of the
Summer Palace, can be clearly seen everywhere around the lake.
The original tower was burned down in 1860 and was rebuilt in 1889. In
1900, when the eight imperialist powers invaded Beijing, it was destroyed
again and later reconstructed for the second time in 1903.
According to the original plan of the royal garden, a nine-storey tower
was built at the present site. Just before the completion of the tower,
Emperor Qianlong found out that the tower was not unisonous harmonious
with the nearby surroundings. Under the suggestions of some designers,
the present Tower of Buddhist Incense was built instead with 780,000 taels
of silver.
The tower used to be a place for emperors and empresses to pray. Empress
Dowager Cixi always held praying ceremonies here on the 1st and 15th of
each lunar month.
Ascending the tower, one could have a bird's eye view of the scenery of
the garden. In 1987, the tower was restored again and opened to the public
in 1989.
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