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Considered to be one of the finest classical gardens in China, the Summer Palace was first built in 1153 and served as a retreat for the royal court to escape the heat in the city. The imperial residences are built on the shores of Kunming Lake, which contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse. The palace was rebuilt in 1888 by the Empress Dowager Ci Xi who spent large amounts of money, from a fund intended for building a Chinese navy, on bringing the garden to its present state of glory. Covering an area of 290 hectares (717 acres), the gardens consist of a large lake with halls, towers, galleries, pavilions and bridges dotting the surrounding hilly land.
Contact Addresses
For more information on Summer Palace, contact China National Tourism Administration (see Tourist Information above).
Transportation
Air: Beijing Capital Airport. Rail: Train: Beijing Station. Road: Bus: Public services.
Location
China
