The Summer Palace Part 2 | Your Walking Companion Through Beijing's Imperial Garden

A Day In Beijing is an English podcast, created and hosted by a born-and-raised Beijinger, living in Beijing.

Exploring Chinese history, culture, traditions, creativity, innovations, and beyond.

This is the episode to listen to while you're actually at the Summer Palace — or the next best thing if you're on your sofa!

From East Gate to Seventeen-Arch Bridge, building by building, I walk you through the whole garden.

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Who is this podcast for?

🌍 World travellers who want more than a guidebook — cultural travel, responsible tourism, real local perspectives

🇨🇳 Planning a trip to China or Beijing — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the places guidebooks miss

📚 History lovers — Chinese history, the Qing Dynasty, Empress Cixi, imperial gardens, how architecture tells a political story

🗺️ Anyone visiting the Summer Palace who wants a walking companion that actually explains what you're looking at

🎙️ Anyone who wants to hear about China from someone who actually lives there

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What this episode covers:

EP6 gave you the history. This one walks you through the garden.

🔹 Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (仁寿殿) — the nine-dragon mirror, the bronze deer and cranes, and what every animal symbolises

🔹 Garden of Harmonious Interest (谐趣园) — the quiet corner most tour groups skip, lotus ponds, pavilions, and why Cixi came here to think

🔹 Longevity Hill (万寿山) — the Buddhist temple at the top, the bronze pavilion that cost 78 万两 of silver, and the view that makes the climb worth it

🔹 Marble Boat (石舫) — Cixi built a boat in stone with the navy's budget. It can never sail and it can never sink. Metaphor or monument? You decide.

🔹 Seventeen-Arch Bridge (十七孔桥) — 150 metres, 544 stone lions each with a different expression.

🔹 What locals actually do — tai chi at dawn, slow walks, ice skating on the frozen lake in winter. This is a park, not a museum. 🔹 Practical tips — tickets, timing, which entrance, combo tickets, best season to visit

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New here? Listen to the trailer (3 minutes) and the pilot episode (15 minutes) for the full story of who I am, why I'm doing this, and what this podcast is about.

EP1-3: The Forbidden City

EP4-5: The Great Wall of China

EP6: The Summer Palace — The History (listen before this one for the full story)

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Questions this episode answers:

What is the best walking route through the Summer Palace

What are the main buildings and sites inside the Summer Palace?

What is the Long Corridor at the Summer Palace? '

What is the Marble Boat at the Summer Palace and why was it built?

What is the Seventeen-Arch Bridge?

What do locals do at the Summer Palace?

How long do you need to visit the Summer Palace?

Which entrance should I use at the Summer Palace?

What is the best time to visit the Summer Palace in Beijing?

What are the best things to see at the Summer Palace?

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🙏 I appreciate the fact that I'm no historian. I research every episode the best I can! Reading, digging, and calling friends and family who are experts on certain topics to fact-check. If anything sounds off, let me know in the comments. I'm always learning, and this podcast gets better with your help!

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💬 Drop a comment: have you been to the Summer Palace? What surprised you most? If you haven't — what's the one building you'd want to see first? I LOVE hearing from you all!

📩 Got a question about visiting Beijing? Use the Q&A feature or find me on socials.

🌏 Planning a trip to Beijing? I curate conscious, ethical cultural experiences that support independent businesses and local communities.

📪 DM me on Instagram. Haven't followed yet? Hit Follow + 🔔 so you don't miss EP8 next Wednesday!

🎧 Search "A Day In Beijing", it's also available on: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube Music / 小宇宙 / Substack

🌐 adayinbeijing.carrd.co

📸 Instagram: @a_day_in_beijing / @chen_backinbeijing

📧 Email: urchineseconnection@gmail.com