Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - The Summer Palace is an extensive complex of lakes, gardens, and palaces located in Beijing, originally serving as an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty. It features notable sites such as Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake, and the Seventeen Hole Bridge, spanning an area of 2.9 square kilometers, with water bodies making up three-quarters of this expanse.

The Summer Palace was a favored summer retreat for the Chinese royal family, who preferred its scenic gardens and open pavilions over the enclosed Forbidden City during Beijing’s hot summers. Dowager Empress Cixi even made it her permanent residence for a period, leading to many tales of opulence and indulgence.

Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) - Situated just north of the Imperial Palace, Jingshan Park, dominated by Prospect Hill, was a private park for the emperor’s use during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).

In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), an artificial hill with five peaks was constructed using the earth excavated from the Imperial Palace moat. Each peak was adorned with a pavilion housing a bronze Buddha statue, though four of these statues were taken by the Allied Expeditionary Force troops during the 1900 Siege of the Legations. The park was opened to the public in 1928.

The artificial hill in Jingshan Park was once the highest point in the city. While the park itself is pleasant for a stroll, the real highlight is the Pavilion of Everlasting Spring (Wanchunting) at the hill’s summit, offering breathtaking, panoramic views of Beijing and the Forbidden City.

Temple of Heaven - In ancient times, without scientific explanations for natural phenomena like the sun and moon’s movements, seasonal cycles, and weather events, people attributed these occurrences to “Heaven” and worshipped the “Emperor of Heaven”.

To gain the necessary respect for governance, Chinese emperors called themselves the “sons of Heaven” and claimed divine authorization to rule the Earth (China). Consequently, offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth became crucial political activities for emperors in each dynasty.

The Temple of Heaven represents the fusion of dynastic rule and Confucian theocracy.

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