The Summer Palace

A globally celebrated historic and cultural city, Beijing boasts a history of over 3000 years, 850 of which have been as China's capital.  It is a city rich in cultural relics. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Peking Man Site and the Ming Tombs are listed as World Cultural Heritage Sites.

The Summer Palace

Add: Xiyuan, Haidian District

Tel: (010) 6288-1144

Open: 7am-5pm

Admission: 30 yuan for ordinary ticket, 50 yuan for set ticket

Buses: 330, 332, 333, 346, 394, 801, 808

While it is understandably one of the city's most visited sites, the Summer Palace is a great place to escape Beijing's hustle and bustle for a day.

Another of the city's truly atmospheric spots, visitor soon get a feel for the royal garden's turbulent history while ambling around prime examples of Qing architecture and the pretty Kunming Lake.

This is where the residents of the Forbidden City would decamp in summer, escaping the summer heat. It's easy to understand the appeal, strolling around its cooling water features, hills and beautiful gardens.

Kunming Lake (Kunming Hu) is the obvious centrepiece, taking up about three-quarters of the total area. This was once a popular skating area in winter and a source of ice for domestic purposes. In the poetically named Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Ren Shou Dian), emperors would handle affairs of state. Look out for the hardwood throne and for the bronze animals in the courtyard.

Amongst scores of photo opportunities you will find a particularly eye-catching boat, this one made of marble under the command of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Popular with photographers too is the 700-meter Long Corridor (Chang Lang).

The best view of the park is from the artificially made Longevity Hill (Wanshou Shan) on which sits the Precious Clouds Pavilion (Baoyun Ge) and the Temple of the Sea of Wisdom (Zhihui Hai). It's a great place to rest, catch your breath and look out over the city.

Just the names of some of the attractions alone -Cloud Dispelling Hall; Buddhist Virtue Temple; Harmonious Interest Garden (Xiequ Yuan), are enough to fire the imagination back in time.

A 17-arch bridge takes you to South Lake Island and competes with Jade Belt Bridge (Yudai Qiao) for the attention of photographers looking for the perfect backdrop.