Set against a row of Scotch pines and larches that form a natural barrier, the Stone Boat seems almost to float on Lotus Pond. Here, once again, the materials emphasize both contrast and harmony, with the water (yin) in the pond lapping at the stone (yang) of the structure.

The Stone Boat is a much smaller version of the marble boat built at the Summer Palace in Beijing for the Empress Cixi, a powerful political figure in the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The small terrace in the "bow" is the ideal spot from which to admire the water lilies on the surface of Lotus Pond, while the upper "deck" in the "stern" is delightfully cool during the hot summer months.