The Summer Palace in November is stunningly beautiful | Autumn Wonderland

✅ Xiequ Garden - the "garden within a garden" hidden in the Summer Palace
▪️ A Jiangnan-style courtyard built by Qianlong, modeled after Wuxi Jichang Garden
▪️ In autumn, maple leaves dye the corridor bridge red, and koi fish play among the lotus leaves
▪️ Best time: early November, when the red maples and clear water look like a painting

✅ Houxi River (Back Lake)
▪️ A quiet river beside Suzhou Street, completely avoiding tour groups
▪️ Ancient trees on both banks display colorful foliage, reflected in the water like a Monet oil painting
▪️ Secret photo spot: the three-arch stone bridge for autumn reflections

🗺️ Private route
Enter from North Palace Gate → go straight to Houxi River (key spot to spend 1 hour) → Xiequ Garden (immersive experience) → Jiqing Pavilion → Longevity Hill → exit from East Palace Gate
✨ Personally tested, this route has the fewest people and the most beautiful scenery, taking 3-4 hours in total

📸 Must-shoot spots
1️⃣ Xiequ Garden "Zhiyu Bridge": framed by red maples, shoot koi swimming through
2️⃣ In front of Hanyuan Hall window: use the scenery for composition, the autumn view outside the window is like a painting
3️⃣ Houxi River three-arch bridge: symmetrical composition capturing golden reflections
4️⃣ Jiqing Pavilion stone tablet: ancient tablet framed with maple leaves

🕘 Best times
▪️ Rush in right at 7:30 AM opening for empty shots
▪️ After 4 PM, soft light gilds the autumn leaves
▪️ Avoid weekends! The day after Monday’s closure has the fewest people

Standing in the winding corridor of Xiequ Garden, watching maple leaves fall on the green tiles and koi fish stir the autumn colors in the pond, you finally understand why Qianlong wanted to "move" Jiangnan to Beijing—this limited-time romance lasts only until the end of November!