Beijing Summer Palace is an outstanding of the creative art of Chinese garden design and the best preserved imperial garden in China. Perfectly combine the works of men and nature beauty harmony, it becomes one of the hot tourist destinations in Beijing.

Main Scenic Spots in Summer Palace
Summer Palace can be divided into three main parts: the Court Area, Longevity Hill Area and Lake Area.

From East Palace Gate (Donggongmen) to the northeast coast of Kunming Lake is the Court Area of Summer Palace. The center building in the courtyard is the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity where Emperor Guangxu conducted state affairs. To the northwest are three halls: the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived; the Hall of Virtue and Harmony, the biggest theater in the Qing Dynasty; and the Hall of Joyful Longevity, a splendid residence of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Emperor Qianlong conceived the man-made Longevity Hill as a gift to his mother on her 60th birthday. On the hill there littered with Buddhist temples and pavilions including Buddhist Fragrance Pavilion, the wonderful Cloud Dispersing Hall and the Wisdom Temple. Also the Long Corridor is the main scenic spot of the Longevity Hill. is 782 meters long with totally 14000 beautiful pictures including natural landscape, birds, fish, flowers and famous people with non reiteration. Located in the south side of Longevity Hill, facing Kunming Lake, east from Yaoyue Gate, west to Shizhang Pavilion, it is the longest tour gallery in Chinese gardens and listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest gallery in the world.

Kunming Lake is the main part in Summer Palace, accounting for three-quarters of park area, about 220 hectares. Three islands are on the lake with different forms of classical architectures. The three islands are symbols of ancient Chinese legend three mountains of the East China Sea, Penglai, Abbot and Ying Chow. Another landmark lying on the lake is 17 Arch Bridge. With a length of 150 meters, this is the largest bridge in Summer Palace. There are totally 544 distinctive lions on the columns of the parapets, 59 more than those on the Lugou Bridge.

Summer Palace is a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both the garden design and the construction. It is not only the grandeur of an imperial garden but also the beauty of nature. With the most charming scenery, seems that it is definitely a place of escape from the busy city atmosphere.