Unlike the Forbidden City, which impresses with its ceremonial grandeur, the Summer Palace was designed for leisure, where emperors and empresses escaped the summer heat by boating on the lake, strolling through gardens, and enjoying theatrical performances. Once the imperial summer retreat of the emperors during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), this UNESCO World Heritage site offers a perfect blend of majestic architecture, tranquil lakes, lush hill, elegant gardens and centuries of cultural heritage.
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