Page "Old Summer Palace" Paragraph 57

The Old Summer Palace is often associated with the ' Western mansions ' ( Xīyáng Lóu ) section of 18th century European-style palaces, fountains and waterworks, and formal gardens.

The designers of these structures built of stone were the Jesuits Giuseppe Castiglione and Michel Benoist, who were employed by the Qianlong emperor to satisfy his taste for exotic buildings and objects.