Take a glimpse of Qing dynasty China through the lensaoji

Child was fascinated by the variety and splendour of grand pagodas around Peking. This is a view of one of the Fragrant Hills Pagodas, which was part of the Grand Zongjing Monastery. The pagoda is embellished with glazed tiles of yellow, green, purple and blue. Its geometry is striking, the bottom section is rectangular, the middle section octagonal, and the top section cylindrical. Child praised the pagoda as 'superior to anything of its kind round Peking' and calls it a 'gem of symmetry and grace'. [Photo provided by Stephan Loewentheil Historical Photography of China Collection]