Overview

The Summer Palace was the royal summer residence during the Qing Dynasty. The palace grounds cover an area of 290 hectares, three quarters of which is Kunming Lake. Within the grounds there is a diverse collection of gardens that together form an overall harmony. During the summer, this attraction offers a number of pleasant respites from urban Beijing including walks along the West Bank or through the elaborate Xie Qu Garden. The Summer Palace is also known for its impressive 17-arch bridge and the Long Corridor decorated with brightly-colored paintings.