The China Diary: Day 1, Beijing

Fragrant Hills Park

One of the less crowded attractions in Beijing is the Fragrant Hills Park. Located in Northwest Beijing, it took us about an hour to arrive there. There are imperial gardens, pagodas, temples, and beautiful pavilions all in this one 395 acre park. There was no crowd at the park, but it was also very hot. Originally, I had hoped to actually hike up the mountain, which takes several hours, but because of the heat, I opted to take the gondola ride instead.

Attractions here include Fragrant Temple, ShunagQing Villa (where Mao ZeDong once resided), Tranquility Lake, Xianglu Peak, and the collection of 508 life-size Buddhas carved from clay in the Temple of Azure Clouds (Biyun Temple).

The "New" Summer PalacE

One of the most popular destinations to visit in Beijing, the Summer Palace is the largest Royal Palace in the entire country of China. This was my second time visiting, and it was no less beautiful. Though the crowds were annoying, it is still something you must see while in Beijing. It has some of the most stunning landscapes and naturally beautiful gardens.

The Old Summer Palace

This became the Chinese Emperor's private garden to walk, relax, and enjoy. It generally consists of three different gardens: The Garden of Perfection and Light, The Garden of Blossoming Spring, and The Garden of Eternal Spring. With pavilions, an array of exotic flowers and fauna, it is a beautiful place to spend a day walking and enjoying life. It's easy to imagine why they nick-name it the 'Garden of Gardens' or the 'Versailles of the East'.