Royal Garden

Dining: × / × / ×

Accommodation: ×

Gather at the designated meeting point at 09:00 to begin your exploration of Beijing's imperial legacy. At 10:00, visit the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan). Once known as the "Garden of a Thousand Gardens," this magnificent Qing Dynasty royal estate consisted of the Yuanming, Changchun, and Qichun gardens. Although the grand structures were reduced to ashes by British and French forces in 1860, today's visitors can walk through the haunting ruins to reflect on the past glory of the imperial empire.

After a self-arranged lunch (** × **), continue at 13:30 to the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). Originally an imperial summer retreat and garden known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, it is centered around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Built using traditional Jiangnan landscaping techniques, it is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Often called the "Royal Garden Museum," it offers elegant scenery and a vast collection of precious cultural relics.

To enhance your experience, enjoy a Summer Palace Boat Ride. Drifting across the expansive Kunming Lake provides a relaxing way to admire the golden halls and architectural wonders from a unique vantage point on the water.

At 17:30, make a photo stop to view the Exteriors of Peking University and Tsinghua University, China's two most prestigious academic institutions. At 18:00, you will be transferred back to the designated location for dismissal, concluding your day of imperial and academic discovery.