The Imperial Gardens of Beijing

Imperial gardens are common places of interests when visiting Beijing. These imperial gardens are mostly within the grounds or near the palaces of the kingdom of imperial China period During my visit to the city last 2012, I've visited at least 4 of these imperial gardens in which the most beautiful for me was Summer Palace. But unfortunately due to lack of time I wasn't able to explore Summer Palace fully because it was such a huge sight to see and explore. Unfortunately, this visit to Summer Palace has also caused me to missed my flight back that day. Well, charge to experience, I will definitely come back to China someday and the first place to revisit on my list is Summer Palace!

Beihai Park during winter.

Beihai Park

Beihai Park is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the center of Beijing. Beihai Park covers an area of about 0.71 sq km, more than half of which is taken up by the lake. White Dagoba is found at the top of Jade Flowery Islet and the landmark of Beihai Park which is easily access from the parks systemized walkways and pathways.

The lake was a scenery itself and it was a perfect timing for us as we witness "Beijing Sunset" about to happen at that time.  My stroll with my travel mates was afternoon time.

See the White Dagoba?

Winter Sonata in China!

I will never forget my "Winter Sonata" experience in Beihai Park. It was their I saw snow for the first time though it was already in the ground and it wasn't falling from the winter sky. Beijing sunset was also unforgettable! It was romantic and it added a romantic touch to the chilly surrounding of Beihai Park. No flowering plants or trees needed here, just the sunset make up for it. I wonder what Beihai Park will look like during Summer or Spring. I bet, it is lovely as well!

How to reach Beihai Park: Via Subway, take Subway Line 6 and get off at Beihai Bei Station. Go out from Exit B and walk 5 minutes east to get to the north gate of the park.

Stunning Beijing Sunset!

The lake scenery at Beihai Park.

Beihai Park is an imperial garden in Beijing.

Imperial Garden of Forbidden City

This garden is located at the north exit grounds of Forbidden City. But before you reach this garden, you have to explore first the grounds of Forbidden City - the main palace of imperial China that lasted for thousands of years.

The Imperial Garden is located outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility. Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters. This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design. There are some twenty structures, each of a different style, and the ways in which they harmonise with the trees, rockeries, flower beds and sculptural objects such as the bronze incense burners both delight and astonish visitors. It is a worthy tribute to the art of the designers that so much can be achieved in so small a space. (Source)

The imperial garden of Forbidden City.

Oak or cypress tree?

Spring is coming in the imperial garden of Forbidden City.

The garden has many pavillions and halls to admire Chinese artistry but it was mostly dried becuase winter is just starting wear off. But some flowering plants are starting bloom already. I bet this garden is much more beautiful during Spring. It is said that in this garden that the emperor chooses his concubines. An exit here will lead you to Jingshan Park.

How to reach Forbidden City: Via Subway, take subway line 1, get off at Tiananmen East Station (Exit A) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), find the Tiananmen Tower, and then walk north to the Meridian Gate. Option 2 - Take subway line 2, get off at Qianmen Station (Exit A), walk north through the Tiananmen Square, pass the Tiananmen Tower, and then find the Meridian Gate further north.

Jingshan Park

It is also an imperial garden situated on Jingshan Hill where trekking to the hill’s central point, visitors are rewarded with a full and clear view of the Forbidden city. Jingshan Hill has five summits and on each summit there is a pavilion which is perfect for relaxation, picture-taking and admiring the views surrounding the park. The hills central point is the highest point in Beijing. Looking from the peak, visitors is able to get a view of Forbidden City.

Forbidden City from Jingshan Park's highest hill.

Appreciate Chinese artistry at one of the pavillions of Jingshan Park.

Together with my travel mates, we trek the highest hill of the five hills found inside the park to see a rewarding panoramic view of Forbidden City. Even on a cloudy weather coupled with mist and haze, I was still able to clearly to see how huge is Forbidden Palace and every detail of the buildings inside it. This is the best admirable view at Jingshan Park! While at the back of the viewing area, visitors will also appreciate the view of the rest of the park grounds and on the left one will see the Beihai Park and its prominent landmark, the White Dagoba.

How to reach Jingshan Park: Via Subway, take Subway Line 8 to Shichahai Station. Get out from Exit C and then walk south for about 1,000 yards (914m) to the north gate of the park. From Shichahai Subway Station, visitors can also take bus 5, 60, 82, 107, 124, or Sightseeing Bus 3 to the park.

Summer Palace

Summer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Haidian District which is quite far from central Beijing. It is famous for its artistically designed pavilions, towers and bridges that all of which are ideal for sightseeing. But the most imposing scenery of Summer Palace is Kumning Lake with the Tower of Buddhist Incense in the background. It is here where I also saw winter scenery of frozen rivers filled with cracked ice sheets at riverside market attraction of Suzhou Market Street. Although filled lots of tress, flowering plants were not in bloom yet in Summer Palace.  So, I imagine how much beautiful it is when it is in spring or summer time where all the flowers are in full bloom and plants are fully green and grown. This imperial park must have been more stunning at those seasons! 

Suzhou Market Street at Summer Palace.

Welcome to Summer Palace!

Summer Palace - the most beautiful imperial garden in Beijing.

 I haven't seen the rest of attractions in Summer Palace because of lack of time. And it is a huge place as well. It is said that Summer Palace was a rest house of members of the imperial family. Well, its quite a huge place just for a rest house of a king! But having seen half of its beautiful attractions, for me this is the most beautiful imperial gardens of Beijing that I have visited. I just wished next time, I have more time to see it.

How to reach Summer Palace: Via Subway, take Subway Line 4: get off at Beigongmen, take exit D and walk to the North Palace Gate; or get off at Xiyuan to reach the East Palace Gate from exit C2. Option 2, take Subway Line 16: get off at Xiyuan and leave from exit C2. Walk west to the East Palace Gate.

Happy and satisfied in discovering the imperial gardens of Beijing at the beautiful Beihai Park.

The imperial gardens are one of the best places to visit in Beijing which are perfect for afternoon strolls while having a cool vibe of Winter season. These imperial gardens have been part of the ancient Chinese dynasty periods as they have been the retreat places of Chinese monarchs during the imperial period of China. I bet these parks are more lovelier in Spring or Summer when the trees are in full growth and flowers are in full bloom and in Autumn when all the leaves are turning yellow and red. But whatever the season is, these parks are lovely all the time.   

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The Imperial Gardens of Beijing is the last part of my Beguiling Beijing.Captivating China series where I share my birthday trip adventures, travel stories and first-time experiences in Beijing, China last March 20-24, 2012. You might also like the other parts of the series: 

+Beijing - A Beguiling City
+Winter Sonata in China
+Roaming through Beijing
+One Spring Day in Beijing
+Forbidden City: Forbidden No More
+A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China
+Beijing's Architectural Wonders
+Peking Duck: An Authentic Chinese Cuisine
+Wangfujing's Lively Street Life
+The Imperial Gardens of Beijing

A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China

Still sleepy and feeling a little bit of dizzy from waking up very early while seating on a bus bound to Huai Rou, the bus speeds off from Dongzhimen Station on a cold winter morning. Enjoying the sights of the city of Beijing that laid on my eyes, I try to stay awake and open my eyes. Though, I’m going on a slumber mode on and off, but inside my heart,  my excitement cannot be contain as I know today I will see one of the wonders of the world – The Great Wall of China!

The Great Wall of China - one of the wonders of the world!

Ticket to the wall. 45 RMB per person during my 2012 visit. 

Cable car going up to the wall platform. The other option going up is doing a stair hike.

Excited to see the Great Wall of China from the Cable car ride.

Today, I am doing a commute way of visiting the Great Wall to its Mutianyu section with my travel mates.  We decided not to join tours here because aside from pricey rates, do-it-yourself tour to the Great Wall is easily doable. You just need accurate instructions and knowing the right public vehicle to Mutianyu. The other famed section of Great Wall is Badaling section but we choose Mutianyu section because it is less crowded with visitors and more stunning and scenic sight of Great Wall yet only a little bit far from Beijing compare to Badaling section. Travel time via bus to Huai Rou is one and a half hours. We alighted to Huai Rou Qui Che Zhan, the last stop and terminal of the bus in Huai Rou.

At the terminal, there are many cab drivers waiting and willing to drive you privately to the Great Wall. There were many drivers to choose from but we choose the one we feel trusted. But honestly, most of them can be trusted since most of the driver’s rely on the Great Wall visitors for income. Travel time is thirty minutes. When we reached the grounds of the Great Wall, the driver volunteer to wait for us for the return trip which delighted us because it seemed hard to find a cab for a return trip to the Huai Rou Terminal at the Great Wall.

National toursist attraction of Mutianyu Great Wall from the platform.

First glimpse of the Great Wall of China!

At the ground of the Great Wall, you won’t see the wall yet. The ground is at the base of the mountain and the wall is resting on the top of its ranges. It is either you go up via trek or via Cable Car. We choose to go up via Cable Car and then go down via trek since it is harder to go up than going down via trek. After we paid the necessary fees, we ride the Cable Car going up to the wall where we are treated with mountain winter sceneries of China as the car goes up. At the base of the top platform, there is a space area like a park with seats where I can already see the Great Wall snaking on the top of the mountain ranges. I exclaimed, “That’s it!” My heart jump and beat faster, the moment I got a glimpse of The Wall from the space area.

Let the "Dragon Hike" start!

One of the 8 watchtowers I explored in the hike.

Hundred more steps. Maybe a thousand more steps...

 There’s a small stairs going up that you have to pass through before you fully step on the wall itself. Once you pass through, you’ll be greeted with the beautiful sight of the Great Wall of China of Mutianyu section. The strong and historic wall of Mutianyu is 1.4 miles through the mountains and high ridges, which many of its section is made of granite. The Great Wall of China as per history is made to strengthen its defense from northern enemies and various nomadic groups and guard the e capital. There are 22 watch towers distributed at close intervals along the wall. I explore 7 of those watchtowers during my hike to the wall.  The Great Wall is estimated to have been built as early as 7th century BC. Today, it is one of the most recognizable landmark of China because of its historic importance, breathtaking scenery and amazing architectural wonder.

To enjoy the various scenic views of Great Wall, you to have hike the long brick wall from a starting point and explore its watchtowers. Since the wall is a long stretch of fortress, it requires a “Dragon Hike”, an energetic and aggressive kind of hike that also motivates you to be strong and withstand tiredness. Nah, I just coined that name of hike which I find it suitable when hiking the wall. But just like the dragon, you really need to be energetic and aggressive like having a power to withstand the tiring hike to the steep stairs, curving steps and rocky platforms of the wall fortress. You’ll also have to be cautious on steps and stairs as some are so high and some are sudden downward curve that it can lead for danger and accident. I say for experience hikers, this will be easy but for couch potato, they will have difficulty.

A perfect way to stretch those leg and feet muscles - Dragon Hike!

History information at the some section of the wall.

Admiring one of the world wonders of mankind...

With my “dragon hike” style, I hike the Great Wall of China to explore it. The cold winter weather coupled with a very cold wind blow made my hike more difficult. I’m starting to have colds after minutes of hiking. But it didn’t stop me from exploring this architectural wonder of China. I continue my hike and savor the beautiful sight of the wall everytime it laid upon my eyes by looking at it in all angles possible. The scenic Great Wall of China looks like a dragon resting on the mountain ranges and ridges. The winter season which made the area had bare trees with only stems left and some dried leaves left made the wall standout in the mountain ranges. Actually, I find it the wall scenic amidst wintertime. But they say, whatever the season is, the Mutyaniu section of the wall is all stunningly beautiful all the time.   

There are small patches of melting snow in some sections of the wall as I walk through. I explore the watchtowers, where visitors can read historical information about the function of the wall and the watchtower. In the watchtower too, one can see a greater view of the wall snaking through the mountain ridges as it is located on higher elevation than the wall platforms. From one of the windows of the watchtower, I saw how long, stretching and wonderful the Great Wall of China that seems endlessly snaking through the mountain ridges. The view that I saw from the window made me appreciated this man-made world wonder that is really an opportunity of a lifetime to set my foot on.

Winter scene at Mutianyu section of Great Wall.

More to hike but breathtaking view from one of the watchtowers.

 I did not regret to visit the Mutyaniu section of the wall. It is less crowded that sometimes the wall is just by ourselves and I find it scenic than the other wall sections of the Great Wall. I still stunned on how ancient Chinese people made it manually and how strong it is surviving until now. This is truly an architectural wonder!  In every angle I look at it, I’m marveling to its beauty and greatness. I can’t help but admire its every scenic angle in the mountain ranges. For me, it symbolizes China’s advancement in intelligence and glorious history of the country. The Great Wall of China is a pride of China and Chinese people – a wonder in history, architecture and culture. I’m glad I’ve set my foot on one of the wonders of the world.   

Souvenir shops at the foot of the wall. 

Dried fruits sold at the souvenir stands at the foot of the wall. Dried cherry is recommended for an afternoon snack.

 After an hour and a half exploration and hiking of the wall, we reached the stairs going down. It was quite a difficult hike to the numerous stairs going down from the wall but we survive it. At the foot of the wall are numerous souvenir shops and China memorabilia for pasalubong. There are also shops of dried fruits and nuts which we tried. We found our driver after and he brought us back to the terminal station to a bus going back to Beijing. It was a very tiring day at the Great Wall of China but I feel content to the experience I had. I’ve just seen and walked through one of the world wonders of mankind and it is a momentous experience of lifetime that I will never forget!   

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Commute Guide to Great Wall - Mutianyu section: Visiting the Great Wall via do-it-yourself trip is easy! Before I thought it will be hard especially for first timers and language barrier like me but with accurate and good guide, you can do it like we did as this is a cheaper option to experience the Great Wall of China. So here's the guide. Go to Dongzhimen Bus Station via subway or taxi. Take Bus No.916 to Huai Rou. Get off at the last stop of the bus - Huai Rou Qui Che Zhan - the terminal of Huai Rou. Look at the bus route map posted on its walls for guide. At the station, there are many taxi drivers and vans waiting and willing to fetch going to the Great Wall. Choose the one willing to wait for you for a return trip as well. Taxi going back is hard to find at Mutianyu Great Wall. On return trip is the same. Taxi to the bus station then hop the bus going to Beijing and drop at Dongzhimen Station again.

A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China is part of my Beguiling Beijing.Captivating China series where I share my adventures, travel stories and first-time experiences in Beijing, China last March 20-24, 2012. You might also like the other parts of the series:   

+ Beijing - A Beguiling City
+ Winter Sonata in China
+ Roaming through Beijing
+ One Spring Day in Beijing
+ Forbidden City: Forbidden No More
+ A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China
+ Beijing's Architectural Wonders
+ Peking Duck: An Authentic Chinese Cuisine
+ Wangfujing's Lively Street Life
+ The Imperial Gardens of Beijing
+ Airport Review: Beijing Capital International Airport

Forbidden City: Forbidden No More

Lying at the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City is once forbidden for any entry during the ancient China times as special permission from the emperor is needed to enter the imperial palace.  It served as the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.  Rectangular in shape, it is the world’s largest complex that covers 74 hectares and displays ancient Chinese skills in engineering building and collection of treasures and imperial living. But today, thousands of tourists worldwide has visited and enjoy the Forbidden City as it is now one of China’s popular attractions.

 

A grand welcome to China's imperial days - Forbidden City!

After a visit to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City is just right after the square with the south gate entrance named Meridian Gate as the point of entry. From the outside, the palace’s bordering walls surrounding it were astounding in height and engineer. Surrounded by a 52 meter wide moat and a 10 meter high wall, its appearance seems to discourages any robbers or forbidden entry to the palace. When I enter from one gate to the next, it seems to be an endless entrance to the court’s complex of palace. But the visitors adjoined with me in the entrance seem never getting tired for a day’s exploration of the palace. So, I ready myself for a long walk of journey - a 960 meter walk to be exact in reaching the north gate end of the palace.  

Entering inside Forbidden City is a trip down to the history, richness and grandiose royalty life of imperial periods of China. For me, it was an instant crash course in learning China History 101 mainly because I get learn more about the imperial days of China and the life of the royalties inside the palace and not just about the names of the famous emperors or empress who did this or that to China.   Forbidden City is a huge palace complex. I couldn’t imagine walking a whole day exploring this huge complex as it will literally take a whole day need to spend here just to see and explore every corner of Forbidden City. But exploring the essential parts of the palace is enough to have a rediscovery of China’s rich history of imperial period. 

Meridian Gate or the entrance to Forbidden City.

The architectural wall of the palace is designed to discourage robbers from climbing it.

Ticket is 120 Yuan as of March 2012.

Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern section or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court, was where he lived with his royal family. The Outer Court displays the throne area of the emperors where he meets his officials and constituents. I noticed the dominance of yellow color in every throne room and its decorations. Later I learned that that yellow is the symbol of the royal family. There are information markers explaining about the sections of the place especially its significance inside the palace where visitors would find useful in learning about the imperial history of China. If you prefer a guided tour of the palace, visitors can rent an audio guide at the information booth which is available in many languages.

Rub the gold for goodluck!

Beyond Meridian Gate, a large square is ended with the elegant and grandiose designed Gate of Supreme Harmony. Behind it is the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square. A three-tiered white marble terrace rises from this square. Three halls stand on top of this terrace and it is the focus of the palace complex - these are the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest, and rises some 30 metres (98 ft) above the level of the surrounding square. It is the ceremonial centre of imperial power, and the largest surviving wooden structure in China. The Hall of Central Peace is a smaller, square hall and used by the Emperor to prepare and rest before and during ceremonies. Behind it, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, was used for rehearsing ceremonies, and was also the site of the final stage of the Imperial examination. All three halls feature imperial thrones, the largest and most elaborate one being that in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Also in the Outer Court, I saw colorful and beautifully designed roofs and ceilings of each throne rooms and gates. There is a statue of guarding-like gilded lions that are on each side stair entrance of each court. I saw also white marble plates carved with intricate art design of a dragon that truly exhibits Chinese art ingenuity at its finest. And there’s also a lot rooms inside Forbidden Palace despite of large squares and narrow spaces for walkthroughs. Later, I learned that this largest palace complex in the world contains 999 buildings and 9,999 rooms as 9 is the lucky number for Chinese.  
  

Gate of Supreme Harmony.

Meridian Gate - a view from Gate of Supreme Harmony.

Intricate and colorful designs on the ceiling of Gate of Supreme Harmony.

Enter the Dragon!

The biggest palace complex in the world! Truly breathtaking!

In Inner Court, I was submerged to a lot courtyards and halls of the emperors and his family. The most notable halls that I saw and explored in the Inner Court where of Empress Dowager Cixi’s courtyard (one of the most notable empress of imperial China, a powerful and charismatic woman who unofficially but effectively controlled the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years) and other the emperor’s notable concubines. Inside these halls were the preserved antique furniture and accessories belonging to the royal family. Visitors will see silver plates, combs, candle holders, vases, beds and even pillows still intact as if it has not been through thousands years before. All of the artifacts and furniture belongings can be seen through the glass cover that replaced the wall covering the halls and rooms of each court. Now I’m not puzzled why Forbidden City is also called as Palace Museum. The complex contains hundreds and thousands of museum artifacts, historical pieces and treasured artworks of importance that displays and exhibits China’s rich history.  
 

The throne of the Emperor.

I conquer China!

What the royalties in China used during the imperial era of the kingdom.

Dragons on a slab of marble.

The beautifully designed roofs of halls and courtyards at Inner Court.

One of Inner Court's halls where the Empress and the imperial concubines lived.

A guarding gilded lion at the front of the gate. Note the ball under the paws symbolizing the emperor's power.

The grandest throne of the emperor at the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

At the center of the Inner Court is another set of three halls. From the south, these are the Palace of Heavenly Court, Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Smaller than the Outer Court halls, the three halls of the Inner Court were the official residences of the Emperor and the Empress. The Emperor, representing Yang and the Heavens, would occupy the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The Empress, representing Yin and the Earth, would occupy the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. In between them was the Hall of Union, where the Yin and Yang mixed to produce harmony. The north-eastern section of the Inner Court is taken up by the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, a complex built by the Qianlong Emperor in anticipation of his retirement. It mirrors the set-up of the Forbidden City proper and features an "outer court", an "inner court", and gardens and temples. The entrance to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity is marked by a glazed-tile Nine Dragons Screen. I also get see a mini-museum hall about Puyi at the Inner Court. I saw his toys, crib, clothes, books and other things he used when he lived inside the palace. There were also information about his life and how he is popularly figured in the history of imperial China. Puyi is best remembered as the last emperor of imperial China.  

Spring time at the Imperial Garden.

Interlinked branched of two cypress trees that says to symbolize love.

Rockeries and pavilions at the Imperial Garden.

Rock formations near the Gate of Divine Might.

Flowers starting to bloom at the Imperial Garden.

One of the marvelous Imperial Garden sceneries...

At the end of the Inner Court, I reach the Imperial Garden with my travel-mates. Relatively small, and compact in design, the garden nevertheless contains several elaborate landscaping features like beautiful rock formations and colorful Chinese pavilions and towers. It is also here I saw flowers starting to bloom in time for the Spring season which makes the garden more exciting for roaming, exploration and strolling. There are also hundred year old Cypress trees here but two Cypress trees draws much of the crowd because of its intertwined branch that is said to be symbolize love. Many visitors like to take photos under it to wish that their love and life are happy and sweet. To the north of the garden is the Gate of Divine Might. This is the exit to Forbidden Palace and across it is the imperial park called Jingshan Park.

Forbidden City from the viewtop of Jingshan Park.

Forbidden City displays unique Chinese palatial architecture and imperial treasures that has captivated the world for its engineering, richness and grandiose. So no wonder that Forbidden City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.  It also displays the grand royalty life, culture and tradition of the royal family that lived during the imperial period of China. A visit to Forbidden Palace is a trip down the history of China’s history of dynasties, emperors, politics and traditional way of life. So, it’s hard to imagine if Forbidden Palace remains forbidden until now. I wouldn’t see its beauty, witness its magnificence and discover its hidden treasures behind its tall walls and hundred rooms. But today, the gates of this palace are wide open for the world to see. It is forbidden no more. 

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Forbidden City: Forbidden No More is part of my Beguiling Beijing.Captivating China series where I share my birthday trip adventures, travel stories and first-time experiences in Beijing, China last March 20-24, 2012. You might also like the other parts of the series:
+Beijing - A Beguiling City
+Winter Sonata in China
+Roaming through Beijing
+One Spring Day in Beijing
+Forbidden City: Forbidden No More
+A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China
+Beijing's Architectural Wonders
+Peking Duck: An Authentic Chinese Cuisine
+Wangfujing's Lively Street Life
+The Imperial Gardens of Beijing