Some 2000 years ago, China's first emperor had gardens built for his pleasure. Throughout history, many more gardens had been built and then lost to natural or human disaster. Now, visitors may see exquisite private gardens in Suzhou. For imperial gardens, one has to come to either Beijing or Chengde.

The Summer Palace in Beijing was first built in the 1750s. It is the only imperial palace & garden complex in existence today. Designed to the highest ideal of Chinese garden theory, this time-consuming project made good use of the natural landscape northwest of Beijing and offers beautiful views of the West Hills. The purposefully segmented space, careful arrangement of natural objects, every style of architecture, and artistic paintings from different ages make a trip to the Summer Palace a pleasurable and elevating experience.

This is a very popular stop for tourist groups. If you enjoy solitude, a trip early in the morning is highly recommended.

We visit this imperial garden frequently. If you wish to join us or set up a guided tour, please e-mail richard@walkbeijing.com.