East Palace Gate at the Summer Palace - Beijing Destination Guide


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East Palace Gate

East Palace Gate at the Summer Palace Visitors to the Summer Palace usually enter the Palace from the East Palace Gate, it is considered the front Gate of the Summer Palace because the Qing Emperor Guangxu's inscription "The Summer Palace" hangs over the Gate. In the center of the stairs is a stone carving Two dragons playing with a pearl, it was made during the reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), originally, it was put in Yuan Ming Yuan Garden (Garden of Perfection and Brightness and later moved here, the two bronze lions outside the Gate were also made in Emperor Qianlong's reign, the lions were auspicious guardians to ward off evil spirits in ancient China, this Gate was actually the place where the Empress Dowager Ci'xi's sedan chair was carried in.

Entering the Gate, you'll immediately see two crowds on each side of the passage, the crowd on the left were reading the introduction of the Summer Palace, while, on the right hand side, another crowd were looking at a big map of the Palace (Standing in front of the big map and begining introduction.)

East Palace Gate at the Summer Palace The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, it is a hall for political activities in the Summer Palace and that is the Garden of Virtuous Harmony. By the sides of the Gate of Benevolence and longevity is a pair of strange looking stones, these two stones resemble the two lovely figures in the famous Chinese classic novel "Pilgrimage to the West", the left stone is supposed to resemble the Monkey King-the first disciple of the famous Tang Dynasty Monk Xuanzang; the right hand stone looks like Pigsy, Xuanzang's second disciples the two disciples were said to put here to guard the Palace for the emperors.

Now, a three metre high rock blocks th scene, it was transported all the way from Taihu Lake area in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Therefore, it was named Taihu Rock after the Taihu Lake. In the Qing Dynasty, the rock was located in Prince Morgan's Garden in the present site of Beijing University, and it was moved here later for a better view.

The monster looking bronze animal behind the Taihu Rock was called Xuanni (also called bronze Qilin). In the real world, no such animals really existed, it was only an imaginery animal in Chinese mytholody. Just have a close look at the animal, you'll find that it has a head of dragon, the antlers of a deer, the hooves of an ox, and the tail of a lion; Xuanni was supposed to be one of the nine sons, which could distinguish right and wrong, loyal and disloyal. When enemies invaded, they would fall down when they touched the antlers of Xuanni, moreover, it could also prevent the Palace from fire. Originally, there were one pair of Xuanni in Yuan Ming Yuan Garden, but in 1,860 when the Allied Anglo-French Forces invaded China, one was destroyed.

These vats were used for storing water against fire, they were called Tai Ping Vats (bats to guarantee Great Peace), during the war against Japan, the Japanese tried to take these vats home when they invaded Beijing. After 1945, they were sent back from Tianjin.

The bronze dragons and phoenixes are incense burners, as we know, dragon and phoenix are the symbols of Emperor and Empress. When there was a ceremony, usually, the Tibetan incense was burnt to create a solemn atmosphere.

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Beijing Summer Palace Tours

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Bus Tour --- from US$ 30
Classic City Bus Tour, visit Beijing's highlight attractions to touch the face of the metropolitan city on this one-day tour. Departure: daily.

Badaling Great Wall & Summer Palace Bus Tour --- from US$ 30
This one-day bus tour includes visits to the most famous section of the great wall + royal garden. Departure: daily.

Summer Palace Half Day Private Tour --- from US$ 38
This half day private tour covers the trip to Summer Palace, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

Badaling Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Day Tour --- from US$ 44
Badaling Great Wall, the most popular site, Summer Palace is the largest imperial garden of Qing dynasty, enjoy this one day private tour package.

Lama Temple, Summer Palace & Beijing Zoo Private Day Tour --- from US$ 45
Visit Lama Temple, Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo, enjoy this 1 day private tour package.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace Private Day Tour --- from US$ 46
Highlight one day private tour covers the trip to 3 of the 6 major sites in Beijing. Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace.

Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & the Summer Palace Private Day Tour --- from US$ 50
Classic one day private tour package covers the trip to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

3-Day Beijing Private Tour Package --- from US$ 71
3-day private tour package covers airport transfer & the trip to the attractions: Badaling Great Wall, Summer Palace, Peking Duck Dinner, Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City.

Beijing Classic 2-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 104
The 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace.

Special 4-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 105
Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Beijing Mongolian Hot Pot, Chinese Acrobatics Show, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Wangfujing Walking Street, Donghuamen Cuisines Street, Temple of Heaven, Imperial Court Food.

5-Day Beijing Private Tour Package --- from US$ 112
5-day private tour package covers airport transfer & the trip to the attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Chinese Kungfu show, Badaling Great Wall, Ming tombs, Peking Duck Dinner, Summer Palace & Beijing Hutong by rickshaw

Popular 5-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 126
Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Peking Roast Duck, Acrobatics Show, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven, Imperial Court Food, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Wangfujing Walking Street, Donghuamen Cuisines Stree.

4-Day Kaichuang Golden Street Business Hotel Coach Tour Package --- from US$ 151
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Kaichuang Golden Street Business Hotel(3 star, including breakfast) accommodation & Pick up from hotel to the airport.

4 Day Beijing LuSongYuan Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 187
Stay in the most distinctive courtyard, Beijng LuSongYuan Hotel. Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night hotel accommodation, then pick up from hotel to the airport.

Xingang to Beijing 2-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 194
Pick up from Xingang to Beijing, 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs. Then transfer from hotel to Xingang Port.

4 Day Jianguo Garden Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 220
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Jianguo Garden Hotel (5 star, including breakfast) accommodation & Pick up from hotel to the airport.

4-Day Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 224
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel (5 star, including breakfast) accommodation, then pick up from hotel to the airport.

Xingang to Beijing & 1-night in Wangfujing Grand Hotel Private Tour Package --- from US$ 246
Pick up from Xingang to Beijing, stay in Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel 1 night and 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs. Then transfer from hotel to Xingang Port.

Beijing to Xingang 4-Day Wangfujing Grand Hotel Coach Tour Package --- from US$ 288
Pick up from Beijing airport, stay in Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel 3 nights and 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour, then transfer to Xingang Port in Tianjin.

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