Summer Palace

Described as ‘a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design’ by UNESCO, the Summer Palace is a grand recreational area just outside downtown Beijing. The area is mostly covered with large water bodies and imperial gardens. Built around the 13th century, the palace served as a summer residence for emperors. Longevity Hill is the main attraction of the Summer Palace. It is dotted with magnificent halls and temples. Boat ride on Kunming Lake is one of the must things to do while visiting the Summer Palace. Get away from the cacophony of Beijing in this peaceful retreat. Strolling along the lakeside promenade or taking a boat ride to an island temple is quite relaxing. Avoid visiting the Summer Palace on weekends as it gets really crowded with local Chinese out on picnics.