30 Photos to Inspire You to Visit the Summer Palace

China has always held a special place in my heart. Living there for two and a half years meant I got to explore some of the many treasures. Back in 2014 I started my first year of teaching in Dongguan. It was then that we made a trip up North to the Old Summer Palace […]

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A Beginner’s Guide To Chinese New Year

Xin Nian Kuai Le my dear readers! The year of the Dog is upon us and the Chinese New Year celebrations have begun! Having lived in China for two and a half years, I thought it would be a great idea to write a post about one of my favourite Chinese holidays! Celebrated by over 20 […]

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Visiting the Tian Tan Buddha, Lantau Island

The Tian Tan Buddha is one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world. It’s no surprise that this was at the top of my Hong Kong bucket list in 2009 and while I didn’t get to see it on my first trip to Hong Kong, I was sure that I wouldn’t miss it […]

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A Brief History of the Summer Palace

China is home to many architectural wonders filled with deep history and cultural design. The Summer Palace forms one of the largest and most well preserved imperial gardens. First built in 1750, it covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers and is dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake which covers three quarters of the palace […]

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The best walking routes within the Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is one of the largest and best preserved Imperial Gardens in the world. Its Chinese name, Yiheyuan translates into the ‘Garden of Nurtured Harmony’ and that is exactly what this vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces nestled among the surrounding landscape forms. First designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1990, it’s […]

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Essential Tips For Visiting the Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is one of the best preserved masterpieces of Chinese landscape and design. Filled with lakes, gardens, pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges, it all comes together to form a harmonious ensemble of calming aesthetic pleasure. It’s also one of the largest imperial gardens in China. Wandering around, taking in the surrounding architecture […]

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