Aside from Forbidden City and Great Wall of China, Summer Palace is one of the places that one should visit in Beijing. This site may not be depicted extensively as much as Forbidden City in popular culture, this palace does have its charm of its own time. Summer Palace (its original name was Garden of Clear Ripples) was created by Emperor Qian Long which was used as escapade site during summer. Despite of the Second Opium War in 1860 and Boxer Rebellion in 1900, pretty much of the sites are well-preserved and restored, from the way I look at it it is. Summer Palace is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1998.
"Yi He Yuan" is quite a distance from Beijing City and you should use Beijing Subway to get there, using Line 4 stops at Beigongmen (literally means North Palace Gate). I bought combination entrance ticket at 60 RMB which inclusive access to Suzhou Street, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Dehe Hall and Wenchang Hall. These entrance tickets can be bought at separate time if you couldn't make your mind earlier.
Suzhou Street is one the first sites that you could pay a visit which is optional. It is excluded from Summer Palace entrance ticket package.
Suzhou Street
One-way street by the river, you could stroll along the shops like an ancient Chinese man. You could buy souvenirs and there are food stalls available too (I didn't buy nor eat any).
Exiting from Suzhou Street, there are two ways to go; ahead is hiking up to Longevity Hill or turn right and follow the pathway heading to Kunming Lake. I went for second alternative.
Kunming Lake
Kunming Lake occupies around three quarters of Summer Palace. The lake is so huge that you will require quite sometime to walk around it. Think twice before you go for it if you don't feel like detouring afterwards. As you can see from the photo above, you can opt for a boat ride across the lake. Continue to walk along and you shall arrive at Long Corridor.
Long Corridor
The 700m roofed pathway was built for the emperors to be shielded from external elements. There were four pavilions along the way and the ceilings are decorated with paintings and as far as I remember, there is no repeating patterns. I was rather amazed with the persistence of ancient Chinese artist to actually paint the whole corridor.
Tower of Buddhist Incense
One of the sights that you cannot miss is the Tower of Buddhist Incense, which is at top of Longevity Hill. Walking up the hill and a number of pavilions shall come to sight. You will be able to have a view of Kunming Lake as you reach the peak.
View of Kunming Lake (the weather is not really favourable)
My entrance inclusive of access to Dehe Garden in which it has a big stage there. When I passed by the place I was just in time for 30-minute show. I was expecting there would be Chinese Opera. Instead, I was entertained by Chinese orchestra, Chinese dance and the show concluded with Face Changing performance.
The Great Stage
Theatre-Box Corridors, where the royals sit to watch the performance
Moving on and I arrived at Hall of Benevolence & Longevity. It is the main building at the ground level with a great courtyard. You shall see a bronze animal statue.
"Qilin", a mythical hybrid animal that appeared on earth only at times of harmony
I continued to walk along the lake and I reach 17-arch bridge that connects to South Lake Island. You should be able to count the number of arch in the photo below.
17-Arch Bridge
I continued to stroll around Kunming Lake and South Lake to return to North Palace Gate. I couldn't recall how long the walk was but I remembered it was around 3pm when I ended my visit at Summer Palace (I started at 10am.) It would be quite a walk to surround the lake and you can choose to turn back after visiting South Lake Island.
This view of Marble Boat on the left and Tower of Buddhist Incense on the right completed my visit at Summer Palace.
My agenda of the day is yet to complete as my next stop is Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan). Using the same subway line, Yuanming Yuan is just 2 stops away from Beigongmen. This royal park looked rather different due to its European style, which incorporates fountains and baroque statuary. Due to the opium war in 1860, most of the structures in the park were destroyed except for European palace buildings which are made of stone.
Broken-Arch Bridge
Great Fountain Ruins (Dashuifa)
Dashuifa is one of the best preserved (most famous) relics in the park. Opposite of the fountain are 5 large stone screens embellished with European carvings of military flags, armour, swords and guns. (additional entrance fee is required to view this section of the park.)
Guanshuifa
As the sun started to set, I was in the park for 2 hours and began my journey returning to hostel after a long day. Before I call it a day, there was a Black Swan lake in the park in which I sighted a number of swans there.
Black Swan Lake at Yuanming Yuan
Summer Palace and Yuanming Yuan pretty much concluded my palace visit for this trip.
1. Beginning of Maternal Ancestral Journey
2. Trespassing The Forbidden City
3. A Summer Escapade
4. A Great Scam at the Wall
5. Mao's Legacy
6. Temples Hopping
7. Walks in the Parks
8. Gastronomical Hunt
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