“The Summer Palace, in the Haidian District, northwest of central Beijing, is said to be the best preserved imperial garden in the world, and the largest of its kind still in existence in modern China.  It’s hardly surprising that, during the hot Beijing summers, the Imperial Family preferred the beautiful gardens and airy pavilions of the Summer Palace to the walled-in Forbidden City.  Dowager Empress Cixi took up permanent residence here for a time, giving rise to some wonderful tales of extravagance and excess.”

quoted from http://www.chinahighlights.com/beijing/attraction/summer-palace.htm

Well, it was a glorious Spring day last Sunday when we went to see The Summer Palace.

These are just highlights; the rest of the photos are found here.