If you're the least bit adventurous, skip the tour groups, have a good guide book, and see this place on your own. You'll save lots of money and enjoy it more. It's an easy taxi ride from the city. Plan to spend at least 3 hours, more if you can. Buy the pricier ticket so you can enter all the buildings. Yes, it's a lot of ...

Crowded in the summer, because it is such a great place. I want to go back. Be ready to walk and go in the early spring if you can. The peach trees are spectacular.

The Summer Palace- a short and cheap taxi ride from central Beijing- is well worth a day long visit. The place is so vast and there are so many places to see within its confines. To stroll gently around the Palace grounds and to appreciate all that is there takes a full day. Thank goodness for drinks stands as it can get very hot in the summer. The ...