Four famous gardens - Summer Palace

#100 Ways to Travel
Visiting famous gardens: "The tragedy of the late Qing Dynasty in the Summer Palace and Gardens of Empress Dowager Cixi"

The Summer Palace: also known as the "Qingyi Garden", was built in 1750, during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras, the last heyday of Chinese feudalism.
The Summer Palace is a culmination of traditional garden-building art. It borrows the surrounding mountains and rivers, is full of the grandeur and magnificence of Chinese royal gardens, and is full of natural interest. It highly embodies the garden-building principle of "although it is made by man, it seems to be created by nature". Its scenery is mainly based on the "Wanshou Mountain" and "Kunming Lake". The water area alone accounts for 3/4 of the entire park. It is super big! The important thing is that it was listed as a "World Cultural Heritage" and a 5A-level tourist attraction in 1998. Why not come and explore this majestic city!

Historical Overview: After the defeat in the Opium War in 1860, it was burned down by the British and French forces. The Qing government then misappropriated the navy's funds to renovate it and renamed it the Summer Palace, as a place for Empress Dowager Cixi to spend her later years. At the same time, it also became the most important center of diplomatic and political activities outside the Forbidden City.
In 1898, Emperor Guangxu met with the reformist thinker Kang Youwei in the Renshou Hall of the Summer Palace. However, the reform failed and Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned in the Yulan Hall. Soon after, the Eight-Nation Alliance broke out and the Summer Palace was looted again. Later, the Qing government rebuilt it again, and it became what we see today!

🏖️Atmosphere/Facilities: (roughly divided into three parks)
"Political activity area represented by the solemn and majestic Renshou Hall":
It was the main place where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu conducted domestic and foreign political activities in the late Qing Dynasty.

"Living area represented by courtyards such as Leshou Hall, Yulan Hall, and Yiyun Hall": where Cixi, Guangxu, and the empresses and concubines lived

"The vast area consisting of the corridor, the back hills, and the west area":
It is a garden tourist area for the emperors and empresses to relax and have fun.

💳Check-in attractions:
1. Qingyanfang: It is a Western-style building 🏘️, which is perfectly matched with the landscaping and Chinese-style architecture. It is super beautiful.
2. Tower of Buddhist Incense: Climb to the top to overlook the entire "Kunming Lake" and the "Seventeen-Arch Bridge"
3. The Long Corridor: It is about 700 meters long. Walking in the corridor gives you the illusion of traveling through time. Just look back and you will be the most beautiful concubine in the palace!
4. Travel in the Painting: It is recommended to come when the sun is a little smaller or when it is almost sunset. The reflection of the lake looks like a costume love drama.
🔔Reminder: There is an additional charge for the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. It is recommended to buy a combined ticket for a cheaper price.

🕰️Business hours:
4/1-10/31～06:00-20:00 (peak season)
11/1-3/31～06:30-19:00 (off-season)

📍Address: No. 19, Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District

💰Per capita consumption: divided into "Park Admission Ticket" and "Combination Ticket"
Admission ticket: 30 RMB in peak season / 20 RMB in off-season
Combination Ticket: RMB 60 in peak season/RMB 50 in off-season
7-18 years old and college students: RMB 15 regardless of season
Under 6 years old: Free🆓
～～It is recommended to buy a combined ticket, which is more cost-effective. Since you are here, you might as well watch it all at once! ! Don’t you think so?

💞Reason for recommendation: This is a "World Cultural Heritage" and a 5A-level tourist attraction, why don't you come! ? It would be a bit unreasonable if you come to Beijing and don’t come here to have a look🤔

🗓️Itinerary:
1. Route for people with weak legs: (the whole journey takes about 3 hours)
Xinjian Palace Gate🚪 (enter) - Seventeen-Arch Bridge - Xinjian Palace Boat Ride - Qingyan Boat - Travel in the Painting
- Tower of Buddhist Incense - Long Corridor - Renshou Palace - Harmonious Garden - North Palace Gate (Exit)

2. I walk as fast as I run (it takes about half a day)
Enter the garden through the North Palace Gate - Suzhou Street - Xumi Spiritual Realm - Four Continents - Sea of Wisdom - Tower of Buddhist Incense - Paiyun Hall - Left Corridor - Marble Boat - Right Corridor - Leshou Hall - Dehe Garden (Grand Theater) - Wenchang Courtyard - Exit the garden through the East Palace Gate

3. Classic route: (it’s called classic, so just enjoy it 😊, time is not important)
Bei Ruyi Gate - Travel in the Painting - Buddhist Incense Pavilion - Four Continents - Suzhou Street - Beigong Gate

🚴Transportation:
Take Metro Line 4 and get off at Beigongmen

#Four famous gardens
#Summer Palace
#BeijingTourism
#Buddha Incense Pavilion
#Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace
#Seventeen-Arch Bridge
#Historical Monuments
#World Cultural Heritage Series