Begin your full-day tour with pickup from your Beijing accommodation, when you greet your guide and board a private, air-conditioned vehicle destined for the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan).
On arrival at the UNESCO-listed landmark, your guide provides a historical overview of the palace, detailing its construction during the Qing dynasty and its destruction during the war of 1860. Wander around the gardens that spill out from Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, and admire the harmonious design of Chinese garden landscapes.
After breaking for a Chinese lunch (included), continue to the Summer Palace’s predecessor, the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan). Nicknamed the ‘Versailles of the East,’ the gardens of the Old Summer Palace combine Eastern and Western architecture with flair.
See crumbling ruins of a labyrinth, statues, and water features before concluding your tour with hotel drop-off.
