Juyong Pass:
Located 50km from Beijing, in a ravine hemmed in between two mountains, Juyong Pass (Dwelling-in-Harmony Pass) provided impregnable protection to northwest Beijing and was one of the most important fortifications of ancient China.
Walls descend from the top of mountains on both sides of Juyong Pass to link with the stronghold of Juyong Pass, a bone of contention between warring strategists of bygone days. Two gates are built into the pass, Nankou to the south and Badaling Pass to the north, and a walled-in enclosure is built at the southern gate. Historical records show that Juyongguan Pass was not only a strategic pass but also a trading place flourishing hundreds of years ago. In the center of the pass is an elevated stone platform called the Yuntai (Cloud Terrace). Originally it was probably the plinth of a gate-tower, the upper part of which has collapsed. All that left is a balustraded terrace above an arched passageway, covered with carvings dating back to the Yuan dynasty. On the terrace are the remains of four stone pillars, and the balustrade and corner posts are richly decorated with dragon heads, wreathes and other carvings.
Summer Palace:
The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China and has a history of over 800 years. Mainly consists of Longevity Hill (which can be divided into Front Hill and Rear Hill) and Kunming Lake, this present Summer Palace covers a vast area of 294 hectares, in which three quarters are water. All the man-made hills, halls, pavilions and temples, including Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, blend together harmoniously in spite of their individual styles. Ingeniously conceived and elaborately designed, this garden, concentrating the features of the gardens in southern and northern China, can be reputed as the soul of the Chinese gardens.
