Escape the Crowds: Unveiling Hidden Gems in the Summer Palace

📍Location: ❤️Summer Palace: Located in Haidian District, northwest Beijing, China. 🚗Getting There: 🚍Bus: Take bus routes 330, 331, 332, etc., to the Summer Palace stop. 🚈Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Xiyuan Station, Exit C. Walk left for about 8 minutes. 👍️Must-See Attractions: ❤️Tower of Buddhist Incense ❤️Architectural Features: Situated on a 20-meter-high platform on Longevity Hill, this octagonal, three-story structure with four eaves is the heart of the Summer Palace. Inside, a magnificent 5-meter-tall Ming Dynasty gilded bronze statue of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin stands. 💛Scenic View: Ascend the tower for panoramic views of the Summer Palace's lake and mountains, and distant views of Jade Spring Hill and the Western Hills. 💙Long Corridor 💜Length and Structure: Stretching 728 meters from the Gate of Inviting the Moon in the east to the Stone Boat in the west, passing through the Cloud-Dispelling Gate, this corridor boasts 273 sections supported by 548 pillars, making it the longest corridor in classical Chinese gardens. 💚Painted Art: Adorned with over 14,000 colorful paintings depicting scenes from the Four Great Classical Novels, historical figures, and mythological tales, it's known as the "longest painted corridor in the world." 💛Seventeen-Arch Bridge 🧡Architectural Structure: Built in 1750 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, this 150-meter-long bridge connects the East Causeway to South Lake Island. It features seventeen arches and is decorated with 544 stone lions on its railings and ends. ❤️Unique View: Around the winter solstice, as the sun sets, the light filters through the arches, creating a "golden light piercing through holes" spectacle that draws numerous visitors. 🎟️Tickets: ❤️Peak Season (Apr 1–Oct 31): CNY 30/ticket, CNY 60/combined ticket. ❤️Off-Season (Nov 1–Mar 31): CNY 20/ticket, CNY 50/combined ticket. ❤️Separate admission fees apply to: Garden of Harmonious Interest (CNY 5), Summer Palace Museum (CNY 20), Tower of Buddhist Incense (CNY 10), Suzhou Street (CNY 10). 💗Other Tips: ✔️Documents: Bring your ID card or other necessary identification for ticket purchase, entry, and potential identity verification. ✔️Daily Necessities: Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and an umbrella for varying weather conditions. Also, bring wet wipes, tissues, and personal hygiene products. ✔️Food and Water: Bring enough drinking water and some easy-to-eat snacks like chocolate or biscuits for energy.