The Summer Palace in Beijing in different seasons.

The Summer Palace is a famous royal garden of the Qing Dynasty, also known as the "Summer Palace." It is said to have been built with funds embezzled from the navy, but this claim does not hold up to scrutiny. The Summer Palace was expanded over several dynasties on the basis of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. It has eight major attractions: 1. The Tower of Buddhist Incense, located at the highest point of Longevity Hill, offers a panoramic view of Kunming Lake and houses the relics of Sakyamuni. 2. The Long Corridor, which is 728 meters long and features various colorful paintings, is a great place for tourists to rest. 3. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge, built in 1750, connects Kunming Lake and South Island. It is named after its 17 arches, and over 500 small stone lions are carved on the bridgehead and stone railings. 4. Kunming Lake, which has a different appearance in summer and winter. In winter, it becomes a skating rink covered in silver, while in summer, it is a boating area with rippling green waves. 5. The Tower of Many Treasures, which is 16 meters high and has a copper bell on top that rings in the wind. It is said to be a gift from Emperor Qianlong to his mother on her 60th birthday. 6. The Dehe Garden, which is a theater. 7. The Wenchang Garden, which is a museum. 8. The West Causeway, which is a long causeway built in imitation of the West Lake in Hangzhou, with six bridges and pavilions scattered along it. It is most beautiful in spring and autumn. There are three routes to visit the Summer Palace: the East Palace Gate, the North Palace Gate, and the New Palace Gate, depending on your location and purpose. The estimated time is 3-5 hours. If you look closely at the Summer Palace, you will find that the mountains built by the ancients are lifelike, and tourism is a seasonal product that cannot always rely on the weather. The Summer Palace ticket price is 20 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for students. The opening hours are 6:30-18:00.