Thousands throng Summer Palace for bridge photos

Thousands of tourists and photographers, equipped with cameras and selfie sticks, swarmed to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and a nearby island at Beijing's Summer Palace on Friday, the winter solstice, aiming to record the famous view of the setting sun shining through the arches.

The phenomenon only occurs during the 20 days before and after the winter solstice and lasts for about 20 minutes each day around 4 p.m.

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge was built in 1750 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and connects the shoreline of Kunming Lake with Nanhu Island in its center.