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Day Three
Home » China » Beijing - Seven Day Itinerary » Day ThreeFor day three of your trip, head to the Summer Palace, located on the beautiful Kunming Lake northwest of the Forbidden City. The palace was home to Chinese royalty for centuries, but it is most closely associated with Empress Dowager Cixi, who lived there until her death in 1908.
Most of the major sites at the Summer Palace are located on the lake’s northern shore. Take your time walking the Long Corridor. It is a covered wooden promenade stretching almost a half of mile, and every crossbeam, ceiling, and pillar is painted with a different scene from Chinese history, literature, mythology, or geography – numbering about 10,000 in all. Since you have all day to tour the palace, enjoy getting lost amidst the glorious artwork.
At the end of the Long Corridor is the Marble Boat, which is not actually made of marble. It is a wooden structure, painted to resemble marble. It has a bit of a controversial history, as Empress Cixi had it built in 1893 using funds earmarked for the Chinese Navy. The fact that she had what is technically considered a boat built with those funds was an irony not appreciated by many residents at the time.
Across the Summer Palace complex is the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, where Empress Dowager received members of the court. Other interesting sites include Longevity Hill, the Seventeen Arch Bridge, Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Tower of Buddhist Incense, and the Jade Belt Bridge.
Related Beijing - Seven Day Itinerary Articles
- Beijing - Seven Day Itinerary Overview
- Day One
- Day Two
- Day Three
- Day Four
- Day Five
- Day Six
- Day Seven