Total Category: 0
Total articles: 1729
8 users online.
Beijing Hotels: Living the Comfort of the Summer Palace
As China's vibrant cosmopolitan and ancient capital, Beijing houses some of the world's many wonders. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City may have taken you aback, but there are still more places to discover and things to experience in the metropolis. An added bonus is that Beijing hotels are found near these spots, making them more readily available to both locals and tourists.
Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com
When China was under imperial rule, the emperor, his family and their servants lived within the confines of the Forbidden City. It was there where the emperors fulfilled their duties as the 'Sons of Heaven.' Due to the immense responsibility that they face, they were also subjected to many pressures. This was the reason why the emperors built the Summer Palace to calm themselves amidst the enormous task that they were facing.
Literally called the 'Gardens of Nurtured Harmony,' the area is primarily dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. It covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three-quarters of which are water. In the Summer Palace itself, you can find a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures. Getting to this place can be made easier by working with Beijing hotels which would gladly assist you in your itinerary.
One of the most important features of the complex, the Kunming Lake was created by extending a present body of water to imitate the West Lake in Hangzhou. The central lake was entirely man-made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill.
When the capital was moved near the Beijing area, emperor Wnyn Ling built a Gold Mountain Palace on the site of the hill. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed from Gold Mountain to Jug Hill (Weng Shan). The Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty finally christened the hill with its present name.
The hill is about 60 meters high and holds many buildings that are positioned in sequence. The front side is lavishly decorated with halls and buildings while the back is calm with its natural beauty.
The Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, and the Sea of Wisdom Temple, all having religious and cultural significance, are some of the notable buildings in the hill's northern side.
The Summer Palace was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, calling it "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design." Today, it not only serves as a tourist destination but also as a recreational park.
Beijing hotels are always ready to assist you if you want to visit this place. As an important guest, we will let you feel the comfort of the Summer Palace right in your own room within Beijing hotels. From there, you will definitely be treated as a royal!
About the Author
Author E. Larson is a long-time resident of Beijing, China. He works closely with the Redwall Beijing Hotel and other beijing hotels. Check out his website about the Redwall Beijing Hotel here.
by: Efrenn Larson
Total views: 6
Word Count: 469
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 Time: 7:55 AM -
0 comments
Publish/Share this article
To use this article on your site click here to get the HTML code |Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Rating: Not yet rated