Located 15km northwest from Beijing center area; the Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. It mainly consists of Longevity Hill (which can be divided into Front Hill and Rear Hill) and Kunming Lake, covers a vast area of 294 hectares, in which three quarters are water. There are three parts in the garden, namely, administration, residence and scenery browsing area. The administration area, taking Halls of Benevolence and Longevity as its principal part, is the place where Cixi dealt with state affairs and received officials. Residence area mainly consists of Hall of Jade Billows, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, and Hall of Joyful Longevity. The Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill then serve as the scenery browsing area.

The Summer Palace has a history of over 800 years. Early in the Jin dynasty, an imperial palace named Golden Hill Palace was built on the present site of the Summer Palace. In mid-18th century, during the prosperous reign of Emperor Qianlong, the stable society and rich national coffers pushed China to the zenith of the country's feudal history in politics, economy, military, science and culture. Against this background, Emperor Qianlong personally presided over the construction of Qingyi Yuan (the Garden of Clear Ripples), and renamed the Golden Hill as Longevity Hill to celebrate his mother's birthday. Completed 15 years later, the garden epitomized the scientific and cultural development status of China. It was certainly a remarkable cultural construction project.

During the 19th century, the fires of two wars destroyed the Garden of Clear Ripples. Later, towards the end of that century, Empress Dowager Cixi had it rebuilt under the name Yihe Yuan, the Garden of Good Health and Harmony. The magnificent and colorful imperial garden thus re-emerged. This famous oriental garden crystallizes the essence of Chinese culture. Her important historical and outstanding artistic values will become all the more prominent.

Counting from the time when the Garden of Clear Ripples was first built, 250 years has passed. The Summer Palace is a witness of the prosperity and decline, honor and disgrace of the Chinese nation. It is an outstanding example of Chinese imperial garden, and a potent symbol of one of the major world civilizations. In December 1998, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO approved to inscribe Beijing's Summer Palace on the World Heritage List. 

Main attractions in the Summer Palace:
Administration Area:
East Palace Gate
Hall of Benevolence and Longevity
Scenery Browsing Area:
Hall of Dispelling Clouds
Tower of Buddhist Incense
Sea of Wisdom
Garden of Harmonious Interests
Suzhou Market Street
Back Lake
Seventeen-Arch Bridge
Bronze Ox
Marble Boat
The Island
Long Gallery
Residence Area:
Hall of Jade Billows
Garden of Virtue and Harmony
Hall of Joyful Longevity