Yi He Yuan (Summer Palace)

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Description: 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: 332, 320, 362 or 904.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-1600.

Admission Fees: RMBY90.