1-day tour to Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven [Private English-speaking guide and dedicated vehicle pick-up for 2-8 people]

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, originally the imperial retreat and garden of the Qing Dynasty, was also known as the Garden of Clear Ripples. Built on the foundation of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill with the design techniques of Jiangnan gardens, it stands as one of China's largest and most well-preserved royal gardens, boasting elegant scenery and numerous precious cultural relics, earning it the title of "Museum of Royal Gardens." **Area Overview** The vast Summer Palace can be divided into three main sections: the political activity area centered on the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity; the living quarters of emperors and empresses, primarily consisting of the Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Joyful Longevity; and the scenic touring area along the Long Corridor, the back hill, and the western section. Kunming Lake occupies about three-quarters of the entire garden, with over a hundred pavilions, terraces, towers, corridors, and waterside structures lining its shores—more than 3,000 rooms in total. Iconic landmarks such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat, Suzhou Street, and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge are must-see attractions when visiting the Summer Palace. **Cruising Kunming Lake** Beyond admiring the resplendent palace architecture, taking a cruise on Kunming Lake offers a relaxing and scenic way to explore the garden. The attraction features eight cruise docks: Pavilion of the Eight Directions, Wenchang Pavilion, Hall of Jade Ripples, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Shizhang Pavilion, Bronze Ox, Marble Boat, and South Lake Island. Five types of boats are available: pedal boats, rowboats, electric boats, dragon boats, and large painted pleasure boats, with varying prices and routes to suit different preferences. **On-Site Food & Beverages** Given the vast size of the Summer Palace, a full tour typically takes at least 4-5 hours. When hunger strikes, visitors can recharge at one of the three fast-food kiosks located near the Pavilion of Spring Heralding, the East Nine Rooms of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds, and Shizhang Pavilion, offering affordable daily meals and noodles. For a more thematic dining experience, the Listening to the Orioles Restaurant specializes in imperial-style cuisine, though prices are higher than the regular fare.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven was the exclusive altar for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship heaven, pray for rain, and seek bountiful harvests, and is a renowned ancient architectural complex in China. The northern part of the altar area is circular, while the southern part is square, symbolizing "the round heaven and square earth." The entire Temple of Heaven is divided into the Inner Altar and Outer Altar sections, with iconic structures like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Echo Wall located within the Inner Altar.

Area Overview

The inner altar is divided into northern and southern sections by palace walls. The northern part is the "Prayer for Good Harvest Altar," where emperors held grand ceremonies in spring to pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests. Key structures include the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the East and West Side Halls, the Gate of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Divine Kitchen, the Slaughter Pavilion, and the Seventy-Two Corridors.

The southern section is the "Circular Mound Altar," an open-air three-tiered circular stone platform where emperors performed the winter solstice heaven worship ceremonies. The main structures include the Circular Mound Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven with its side halls, the Divine Kitchen, the Three Storerooms, and the Slaughter Pavilion.

Connecting the two altars is a 360-meter-long, 28-meter-wide, and 2.5-meter-high brick-and-stone platform called the "Sacred Way," also known as the "Seaside Avenue" or the "Danbi Bridge," symbolizing the long path one must traverse to reach the heavenly court.

The ingenious design of the Three Echo Stones

When visiting the Temple of Heaven, in addition to admiring the exquisite architecture of various halls and imagining the grand ceremonies of ancient emperors offering sacrifices to heaven, the ingenious designs like the Echo Wall and the Triple-Sound Stone also inspire awe at the wisdom of ancient people.

On the stone-paved path between the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the main gate, there are three stone slabs aligned from north to south known as the Three Echo Stones. When the doors and windows of the Imperial Vault of Heaven are closed and there are no nearby obstructions, standing on the first stone slab and clapping will produce a single echo; clapping on the second stone slab will produce two echoes; and clapping on the third stone slab will produce three echoes.

Travelers' Photo Spot