This two-part program features the legendary figure of Empress Cixi bore witness to the decline of the Qing dynasty and with it, China as an Empire. For her, the Summer Palace symbolized the splendor of the Empire, much more than the Forbidden City. She had to rebuild it twice after the looting of foreign alliances. But her political vision and influence remained insufficient to carry the Empire into modern times. By the early 20th century, the Summer Palace became the preferred place for China's diplomatic activities. But it is also here where the opposition was born that eventually destroyed the reforms considered during the famous "Hundred Days' Reform". With the revolutions that shook the Empire throughout the last hundred years, the palace no longer has a political role to play. But today, it is finally recognized as an essential part of China's history, equal to that of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

Originally released by Film Ideas, 2013. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on April 17, 2019.

Summer Palace Destruction (2:50); --Empress Cixi (2:41); -- Financing the Summer Palace Reconstruction (2:04); -- Planning the Summer Palace Reconstruction (2:45); -- Pavilion of Ordered Clouds (4:16); -- Financial Difficulties (3:18); -- Completing Reconstruction (2:41); -- Cixi's 62nd Birthday (4:56); -- Hundred Days' Reform (4:22); -- Pursuing Power and Immortality (5:04); -- Boxer Rebellion (3:00); -- Official Portrait (6:26); -- Qing Dynasty's End (3:45); -- Summer Palace Today (2:26); -- Credits: Summer Palace Part II: Empress Cixi And The Decline Of The Qing Dynasty (0:36); .