- Location: Beijing

Situated in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, the Summer Palace (頤和園) is the largest and best-preserved royal garden, and one of the four most famous gardens in China. It was first built in 1750 and restored in 1886 as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi after being destroyed during the Second Opium War in 1860. The Summer Palace is a real masterpiece of China's classic landscape gardens, combining natural beauty with a great number of ancient Chinese architectural structures which include courtyards, halls, temples, pavilions, walks and bridges. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and 5-A class tourist attraction in China in 2007.

The Summer Palace occupies an area of 2.97 square kilometers, with three-quarters of it being water. It mainly consists of the 60-meter Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake, dotted with stunning traditional classical structures featuring elaborate design and the finest layout. The most famed and must-see attractions in the Summer Palace include the beautifully decorated Long Corridor along the lake, the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Sea of Wisdom, the Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Suzhou Street, Garden of Harmonious Interests, the Grand Stage, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and the Marble Boat. The 41-meter Tower of Buddhist Incense, standing on the top of the Longevity Hill, is not only the highest point of the garden but also its symbol.

Travel Tips:

1. The best time to visit the garden is from April to October, especially when it's sunny.

2. You can rent a boat to tour the Kunming Lake.

- Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (Apr.1-Oct. 31); 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Nov. 1- Mar.31)

- Admission: 30 yuan (Apr. 1-Oct. 31), 15 yuan for students; 20 yuan (Nov. 1- Mar.31), 10 yuan for students

- Tel: 86-10-62881144

- How to get there: take Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station, or take Bus 303, 330, 331, 346, 375, 384, 393, 634, 716,718, 737, 801, 808, 817, 834, Express 5 to Beigongmen, Bus 330, 331, 346, 394, 718, 737, 801, 808, 826 to Donggongmen, or Bus 374, 437, 481, 952, 992 to Xinjian Gongmen