Summer Palace, Beijing

This is the most amazing place I have ever seen in my life. The architecture is unbelievable. The bridges are absolutely beautiful. And you have to ride the Dragon boats. After seeing the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven I was most impressed with the Summer Palace. You really need more than one day to explore the whole site as it is massive.

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 walking, but there is soooo much to see. Just people watching is a pleasure here. If it's a hot summer day, stop for frozen desserts on a stick every hour or so. Be sure to wander around the back side and go into as many sites as you can. Locals come here to picnic and read in a shady spot away from the crowds. The buildings have been painstakingly repainted and are gorgeous!!! The boat ride across the lake (one way or round trip = same price) is relaxing, and if you're feeling more energetic rent a paddle boat. One nice memory was seeing a man and then various locals taking turns using a 3-4 foot long brush dipped in water to make Chinese characters along the sidewalk. It left a beautiful trail of beautiful calligraphy.

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 views over the lake are incomparable and the architecture is again stunning. Relax, wander and enjoy at leisure there is no way you can rush through this site and get the real feeling of it all.