Beijing Summer Palace: Optional bilingual guide & professional commentary for a relaxed tour experience

▲ The Summer Palace stands out for its perfect integration of natural landscapes surrounded by mountains and water with the majestic imperial garden architecture. The scenic designs within real mountains and water bodies not only highlight the grandeur of the imperial style but also embody the harmonious unity between the garden and its natural surroundings. It draws inspiration from nature while elevating it, skillfully blending natural beauty with artificial craftsmanship. The garden's landscaping incorporates the artistic concepts of Chinese painting, poetry, and literature, creating a magnificent imperial garden that showcases China's grand scale, splendid colors, and seamless harmony with the surrounding mountain and water greenery.

▲ The Summer Palace is the most complete existing imperial garden in China, originally built in 1750. It mainly consists of Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake. The garden contains over 3,000 structures, including various ancient architectural forms such as pavilions, towers, halls, corridors, and waterside houses. Notable buildings include the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Long Corridor (the world's longest painted gallery), the Seventeen Arches Bridge, and Deheyuan, showcasing the essence of Qing Dynasty garden architecture and its unique artistic style.

▲ The Summer Palace is a well-preserved imperial garden with ingenious designs like the Long Corridor and the magnificent Seventeen-Arch Bridge, showcasing the elegant grandeur of classical Chinese royal gardens. As one of Beijing's iconic landmarks, it's a must-visit attraction for any one-day tour in the city.

▲ The Summer Palace is located in the northwest of Beijing. Originally built in 1750 and named Qing Garden, it is one of the most well-preserved imperial gardens in China. The palace grounds are centered around Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake, covering a total area of approx. 300.8 hectares. It features various ancient palaces and garden buildings spanning approx. 7 hectares, and houses over 40,000 cultural relics. During the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace served as a retreat for Empress Dowager Cixi and was an important political and diplomatic activity center for the late Qing rulers.