Beijing Hotels: Partners in Experiencing the Wonders of the Summer Palace
When you hear the name China, you would immediately relate this to the Great Wall, maybe to Confucianism or Buddhism, or even to the Peking Duck. Whatever you relate this name with, there is always a common denominator to each of them: they are borne out of a very spectacular history.
Snippets of this history are concepts such as Imperialism and the emperor as the ruler. The country was ruled by a number of dynasties from the Qin to the Qing Dynasty and one of the most well-known of these was the Ming Dynasty.
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty were notable individuals because they improved the Great Wall and they began the production of porcelain wares. The Chinese, out of respect to the contributions of these emperors, honored them by building their resting places. A number of Beijing Hotels always include the Ming Dynasty tombs in their itineraries. For tourists who want a slice of the peaceful countryside, then this place is definitely a go!
The site, which is located some 50 kilometers north of Beijing, was chosen by Emperor Yongle, the third Ming Dynasty emperor. He built many famous landmarks and monuments in Beijing, the country’s new capital.
Following the principles of Feng Shui, the builders carefully chose the site of the tombs. From this, the 40-square kilometer area surrounded by mountains in a quiet valley and tranquil water was born.
A seven kilometer road, known as the “Spirit Way” (Shen dao) leads into the complex. Statues of guardian animals and officials, with a front gate consisting of three red arches, called the “Great Red Gate” can be seen. A gigantic stone memorial archway, which is considered to be one of the biggest in China, signals the beginning of the Spirit Way.
Further within, you can see the Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion which houses a 50-ton tortoise shaped dragon-beast hauling a stone tablet. It was believed that the traditional designs guided the spirits of the deceased.
The road will lead you to 18 pairs of stone statues of mythical animals, which are all sculpted from blocks of stones and are larger than human proportions. These will lead you to a three-arched gate known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate.
At present, only three tombs are open to the public: These are the Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling.
The tombs were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August of 2003. Due to this positive development, Beijing hotels are experiencing increased occupancy rates throughout the years. The generous staff of the numerous Beijing hotels will never fail to help you plan your itinerary. Visit the Ming Dynasty Tombs now and experience the wonders of Imperial China!
E. Larson is a long-time resident of Beijing, China. He works closely with the Guangxi Hotel Beijing and many other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Guangxi Hotel Beijing here.
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.
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.
The Kunming Lake, one of the most important features of the complex, was created by extending a present body of water to imitate the West Lake in Hangzhou. Entirely man-made, the lake’s excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill.
When emperor Wnyn Ling moved his capital to the Beijing area, he had a Gold Mountain Palace built on the site of the hill. In the Yuan Dynasty, the hill was renamed from Gold Mountain to Jug Hill (Weng Shan). The present name of Longevity Hill was given by the Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Standing about 60 meters high, the hill holds several sequentially-positioned buildings. The front side is abundantly decorated with buildings and halls while the back is maintained in 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!
E. Larson is a long-time expatriate in Beijing, China. He works closely with the Haige Hotel Beijing and many other hotels in Beijing. Check out his website about the Haige Hotel Beijing here.