We had what turned out to be a very eventful excursion this past weekend. A group of our freshman students decided to organize a class field trip to Yihe Yuan , known in English as the famous Summer Palace. Since this tourist hot spot is located on the outskirts of Beijing, we eagerly accepted their invitation to go with them.We met Saturday morning at 8:30am sharp at the North Gate of BISU. Our group ended up being about fifteen people (of course not all who said they would go showed up). Actually, as the day progressed it was best that our group remained small. Once our group leader, Sally, determined that everyone was present we crossed a chaotic road to catch the bus. We didn't realize it at first, but quickly learned, that we would be taking the public transit all the way to the Summer Palace. Two buses and over an hour later, we finally made it to our destination.
As we entered the palace, we began asking our students about its features and highlights. It quickly became apparent by the responses we got that those who came on the trip had never visited the palace. This was due largely to the fact that many of them lived in provinces several hours away from Beijing. However, one of the students named Felix, a native of Beijing, agreed to be the group's tour guide since he had visited the palace before. Since it was a cool and drizzly day, we avoided the enormous crowds (during peak season over 100,000 tourists visit daily!) that typically flock to this popular historical sight. Once inside, we learned how truly massive the palace is as its grounds cover some 725 acres, including a man made lake. With its blend of natural beauty and incredible architecture, it's easy to see why so many people visit what is often described as the most well-kept imperial garden throughout the world.
Some of the highlights from our day included viewing the world's longest corridor decorated with over 14,000 scenic paintings, a two story marble boat, the serene Kunming lake, and breathtaking Jade Belt Bridges. The palace also contained the Hall of Dispelling Clouds that was used only once a year to celebrate the birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi. Directly behind the hall was the Tower of Buddha Fragrance that sits atop the 135 foot Longevity Hill, known for its amazing views of the entire imperial park.Overall, we had a fabulous time. It was a great opportunity for us to learn more about Chinese history, while at the same time learn more about our students. It appeared that they enjoyed themselves just as much as we did. They hinted to us that they just might have to plan another excursion like this one some time in the future. If they do, we'll be ready.
Here is a good group shot of the students and Pazi that attended the field trip.
