北京颐和园昆明湖上的十七孔桥，中国 The Seventeen-Arch Bridge over Kunming Lake in Beijing Summer Palace, China (© Jia Wang/Getty Images)

北京颐和园昆明湖上的十七孔桥，中国 The Seventeen-Arch Bridge over Kunming Lake in Beijing Summer Palace, China (© Jia Wang/Getty Images)

Seventeen arches at sunset

When it's winter solstice time in the Northern Hemisphere, the setting sun shines under the Seventeen-Arch Bridge of the Summer Palace in Beijing, causing this romantic glow. In the 18th century, during the reign of the Qing dynasty of China, Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of this 1.1 square mile collection of gardens, lakes, and various structures including temples and small palaces. Today it's one of Beijing's premier attractions and will be crowded today with visitors headed to the bridge in time for sunset.