Summer Palace near Beijing
A trip to Beijing and the Chinese region of the same name is interesting, eventful and impressive. Over 11 million inhabitants and a 3000 year old history make Beijing the cultural and economic center of China.
Lots of impressive details
The Summer Palace near Beijing is one of China’s World Heritage Sites and is one of the most impressive gardens in China. Once a gift from Emperor Quianlong to his mother, the Summer Palace was rebuilt true to the original after being completely destroyed in the Second Opium War and was the residence of the imperial family during the hot and humid summers. Chinese building art and architecture are reflected in countless pagodas, bridges and halls. The Kunming Lake takes up almost a third of the entire area, with its dragon boats it offers the visitor a special spectacle. Marble boat and bronze temple are further architectural masterpieces in the Summer Palace, which has been open to the general public since 1924.
In addition to the 17-arch bridge, the 728-meter-long walkway on Kunming Lake is also impressive; it not only connects the eastern part of the garden with the western part, but also depicts scenes from Chinese nature, mythology and landscape on over 8,000 colorful pictures 273 pairs of columns connect the pavilions and invite you to take a walk.
Splendid relaxation from hectic Beijing
During the summer months, not only did daily life take place in the Summer Palace, but foreign diplomats were also received in the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. From the museum in the Hall of Mercy to the three-story theater, the Summer Palace today gives visitors an insight into the splendid life of the Imperial Court.
A study trip to Beijing brings anyone interested closer to the foreign culture and life in the largest Asian country. The capital Beijing is modern and hectic, sights such as the Summer Palace, on the other hand, are a place of relaxation and a contrast to the noise and traffic of the city.
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Tiananmen Square
Tian’anmen Square
Tiananmen Square is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the People’s Republic of China. The square is located in the center of Beijing and is often referred to as the largest inner-city square in the world. The square was named after the southern gate to the Forbidden City, because Tian’anmen means “Gate of Heavenly Peace” in Chinese. Numerous tourists take photos of this gate with the huge Mao portrait every day.
Historical meaning
The square was originally built as a kind of forecourt to the imperial palace and has only been open to the public since the end of the Chinese imperial dynasty. This is where Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and in 1976 crowds gathered at the same place to pay their final respects. In the 1950s, the communist party expanded the square as a place for mass marches and party events. Up to a million people can gather in the square today. Tiananmen Square gained notoriety after the violently suppressed protests in 1989.
Attractions
In the center of the square is the monument to the folk heroes and the publicly accessible Mao mausoleum, in which the mummified body of Mao is kept. Other sights surround Tian’anmen Square, such as the Forbidden City with the old Imperial Palace on the north side, the imposing Chinese National Museum on the east side and the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the People’s Congress, on the west side.
Tiananmen Square is closely guarded today. Visitors go through several security checks to reach the square. A spectacle popular with tourists is the daily roll call of the Chinese soldiers.
The square can be easily reached by public transport.
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake is often chosen for honeymoon trips by locals in Taiwan. Strictly speaking, that already shows what a romantic place this lake is. If you want to treat yourself to a wonderful romantic trip, you should definitely include the Sun-Moon-Lake as a travel destination.
Explanation for the name of the lake
There used to be two mountain lakes, from which the sun-moon lake was created by overflowing. It was the sun lake, which had the shape of the sun, and the moon lake, the shape of which corresponded to the crescent moon. Today it has become a single particularly romantic mountain lake, which is 760 m above sea level and is the largest inland body of water in Taiwan.
The Sun-Moon-Lake is not suitable for a beach holiday
It is important to point out that the Sun-Moon Lake is not the right place for enthusiastic bathing holidaymakers, because it is not only very cold, but bathing and swimming is even prohibited in most places.
Romantic boat tour to Guanghua Island
If you want to treat yourself to a romantic boat tour, you can take a one-hour boat trip to the artificial island of Guanghua on the Sun and Moon Lake and visit a shrine there.
Beautiful temples and a pagoda on the bank of the lake
The Sun Moon Lake is visited by many tourists because of the sights there. There are two magnificent temples and a beautiful pagoda on the shores of the lake. These are the 46 m high Ci-En Pagoda above the southern tip of the lake, the Syuentzang (Xuanzang) Temple, which was dedicated to the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, and the Wenwu Temple. This temple was partially destroyed once by an earthquake in 1999, but has since been completely renovated. One part of the Wenwu Temple is dedicated to the god of war Guan Gong, the other part to Conficius.
