,url-https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripexpert.com%2Fimages%2Fmarker-fade%402x.png(116.38921,39.92579)/116.34953487664461,39.9627098544421,10.255800996464835/1280x214@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidHJpcGV4cGVydHdlYiIsImEiOiJja2Fud3l2MDcwbXZ0MndyeGF3eGI3ZWhzIn0.zLqNa1RECyZZadF8zfQM5w)
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)vsBeihai Park (Beihai Gongyuan)
Both are praised by those who travel for a living. On balance, Old Summer Palace ranks marginally better than Beihai Park. Old Summer Palace ranks #4 in Beijing with recommendations from 5 sources such as Lonely Planet, Frommer's and Fodor's.
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
Fodor's
Frommer's
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine Afar Magazine
The Telegraph
Qinghuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100007
From $0/night
Fodor's "eijing has chosen to preserve the vast ruin as a "monument to China's national humiliation," though the patriotic slogans that were once scrawled on the rubble have now been cleaned off." Full review
Frommer's "An amalgamation of three separate imperial gardens, these ruins create a ghostly and oddly enjoyable scene, beloved for years as a picnic spot." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"All that remain are its majestic ruins, however it is very pleasant to stroll though this park dotted with remnants from a former time."
Afar Magazine "Only the stark marble columns of the Western-style section remain, as the wooden portions were burned down by the Anglo-French forces." Full review
Afar Magazine "The Old Summer Palace is also known as Yuanming Yuan (Garden of Perfection and Light)." Full review
The Telegraph "Once the gilded retreat of the Qianlong Emperor. Rambling and romantic, a few shattered lumps of stone are all that remain. Fix yourself a picnic and find a quiet corner within its wooded pathways" Full review
Beihai Park (Beihai Gongyuan) Michelin Guide Fodor's
Travel + Leisure Afar Magazine
U.S. News & World Report Frommer's
No.1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100000
From $0/night
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"A lake occupies half of the total area of the 70ha Beihai Park, which was once used by the emperors as a place of relaxation."
Fodor's "A white stupa is perched on a small island just north of the south gate of this park... The lake is Beijing's largest and most beautiful public waterway." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Alamy Once an imperial park, Beihai ("North Sea") was built to showcase the best in Chinese gardening traditions." Full review
Afar Magazine "You can also spend an entire morning just wandering the willow-lined avenues, but be sure to pass by the Five Dragon Pavilions, where locals often congregate to sing and dance. " Full review
U.S. News & World Report4.0
"Whether you're under a tree overlooking the lake or in an ancient pagoda, you'll see why this former imperial garden has been a preserved sanctuary since its creation in A.D. 1166. " Full review
i
Not-to-be-missed highlights include the Temple of Everlasting Peace, White Dagoba and the Circular City.
Frommer's "An imperial playground dating back to the Tartar Jin dynasty (1115-1234), Bei Hai lies to the north of Zhong Hai and Nan Hai, which were also opened to the public in 1925." Full review
