Our trip to the Summer Palace today was indeed reflective of the Dragon Lady’s ambition: hot and incredible. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Summer Palace was one of the most scenic places I have ever visited. From the 17-arch bridge to the Kunming Lake, every nook and cranny was absolutely beautiful, and it was hard to believe that such a grand place was built by men.
My favorite part of our trip to the Summer Palace was, however, hands down the temple sitting atop Longevity Hill. While the weather was torrid, the air humid enough to make my blood boil, and the number of stairs we had to hike up made my calves burn, the view of the rest of Summer Palace from the temple was worth every ounce of discomfort we had to endure in order to reach the top of the hill. If anything, I would almost say that the sense of accomplishment I felt from overcoming these plights in order to stand where the Dragon Lady has stood long before my own time actually made the experience that much more spellbinding.
I also especially loved the emergent aquatic plants that blanketed the lakes in Summer Palace. Many of them looked like American lotuses, although, I’m not a botanist, so I can’t quite confirm exactly what the type of plants I saw were. Regardless, they added to the overall ambience of Summer Palace – they were a fantastical ingredient in the Summer Palace’s fairy-tale charm, fostering the grounds’ hazy green hues amidst the shroud of feverish fog that hung over every temple and bridge and body of water.
Needless to say, my first day in Beijing was a breathtaking experience. It is hard to believe that we only arrived here yesterday, but I am also thrilled by the realization that the next two weeks will be full of adventures just as memorable as the one I had today was!
