Explore China's Summer Palace with Bunnik

No trip is to Beijing is complete without visiting the stunning Summer Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage site dates back to as early as 1153, and has primarily served as a luxurious garden and residence for royal members of the Qing Dynasty. Set among Longevity Hill and the man-made Kunming Lake, there are gardens, living quarters, temples and pavilions to explore. The main entrance, with its two well-preserved bronze lions to welcome you, instantly gives you an insight to the opulence of the era when Emperors ruled.

Passing through the rockery gardens, you will see the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, where court sessions were held. Follow onto Dehe Gardens housing the Grand Opera Hall. Many an opera has been staged in this imposing three storey complex. Continue to the stunning Long Corridor stretching 728 metres along the side of Kunming Lake. View the many colourful paintings, all different and depicting Chinese folklore, famous places and mythology scenes. Don’t forget to look up as you walk along! With the colourful paintings, tranquil gardens on one side, and lotus-lined lake on the other, this is certainly a highlight.

At the end of the corridor sits the imposing Marble Boat, originally built in wood and then restored in marble, that is used as a pavilion. Surrounded by traditional riverside shops, it is the perfect stop for a relaxing drink. It is here that you board a traditional Chinese dragon boat. Gently cruising the lake is the perfect ending to your visit and really enables you to take in the enormity and grandeur of the palace grounds, which are also considered to be the best preserved imperial garden in the world.

Bunnik visit Beijing’s Summer Palace on the 18 day China in Depth tour.