The Summer Palace is the largest and most complete royal garden existing in China. It is not only a world famous tourist resort, but also one of the first national key units to be protected. It was first built in the 12th century as an imperial summer resort.

Composed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, The Summer Palace occupies an area of 294 hectares (726.5 acres), three quarters of which is water. Guided by nature, the design of the Summer Palace has borrowed from nature bringing mountains and lakes into a whole with a variety of palace buildings, temple structures and pavilions and pagodas and other garden constructions added to create a splendid paradise.

Front-Hill Area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop, on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Glory, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, etc.

The unique attractions are the Marble Boat and the Kunming Lake.

The Marble Boat is a symbol of stability of the rule of Qing Dynasty. It was built in 1750 for the 50th birthday celebration of Empress Dowager Cixi. It is 36 metres long, with 4 dragonheads on the body of the boat, and whenever it rains, you may see water pouring out from the four dragon mouths. It has a French style wooden superstructure and two marble wheels. It is believed that the body of the boat was carved out of one whole block.

Kunming Lake has an area of 3300 acres. Every summer occasion and take photos is a wonderful place. And in the winter it is a very good natural ice-skating rinks and ice-sports playground.