The Summer Palace: Not to be missed if you're in Beijing!
There is nothing unplanned about the Summer Palace, located about 13 kilometers from the capital city of Beijing. Pretty as a picture, it was built with an eye for the smallest detail. The area combines the characteristics of both Northern and Southern China, and can be considered a model of Chinese garden and landscaping. The Summer Palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and while thousands of visitors visit the place daily, it remains a place of solace for the heart and mind.
The oval-shaped marble Jade Belt Bridge leads the eye to the rocky Eastern island and the pavilions that line the banks of the lake, as well as the many buildings that dominate the artificial hills. Each element brings to the fore the eternal Chinese ideal of harmony. In Chinese, the Summer Palace is called Yiheyuan, which means Garden of Harmony.
This summer retreat for the ancient emperors covers almost 300 hectares, which are usually divided into three areas: the imperial palaces, Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake.
The story of the Summer Palace began in the time of Kublai Khan. To improve the waterways of Beijing, he built canals that brought water from the Western Hills to a reservoir that is now known as Kunming Lake. Half a century later, in 1750, the Emperor Qianlong built the gardens and two temples on the shore of the lake in honor of his mother's birthday.
However, it was the Empress Cixi that greatly influenced the present form and look of the Summer Palace. In 1860, a contingent of English and French soldiers entered Beijing and burned the Summer Palace area. Empress Cixi began rebuilding the area in 1880, work which lasted about a decade. In 1900, though, war once again destroyed the gardens. It was only three years later that the Empress Cixi was finally able to mount a full-scale reconstruction of the Summer Palace. When the last emperor Puyi was exiled to the Summer Palace in 1924, the summer retreat of the imperial court also became a favorite summer destination of locals and tourists alike.
There are a number of bays and peninsulas in the area. One of the famous sites near the waters is the Marble Boat. As its name implies, it is made of white marble, although it hasn't moved an inch since it was finished in 1755. The boat is 36 meters long, and it was placed on the lake as a sign of the enduring power of the Qing Dynasty.
In the Summer Palace grounds are temples, pavilions and pedestrian bridges, each one more beautiful than the last. An example is the Long Corridor, reputed to be the world's most romantic bridge. It is 728 meters long and provides a walking route on the shores of the beautiful Kunming lake. On its roof are some 8,000 breathtaking paintings. While part of the paintings depicting Chinese mythology were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, they have been successfully restored to their original brilliance.
Longevity Hill, which was artificially made, is in turn famous for its temples. The Sea of Wisdom Temple can be found on its summit, providing a heavenly view of Kunming Lake. The bronze Cloud Dispelling Hall, also on Longevity Hill, was one of the few buildings spared from the attack of the French and British soldiers.
Perhaps the most famous building is that which comes right after the main entrance. Also called Renshoudian, the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity is a reminder that a good ruler is rewarded with a long life. Here, in the main building of the Summer Palace, emperors delivered decrees, issued orders, to ensure that even during the holidays, the affairs of state ran smoothly.
The Summer Palace is a great place for a picnic, and to get the most of the place, you should devote a whole day to visiting it. Good walking shoes are also important. The easiest way to get there is to take the metro to Xizhimen station and go on from there on mini-buses and taxis that cater to tourists. The more athletic visitors can opt to bike from the city center to the Summer Palace. It should take just under two hours to get there.
