Beihai (North Sea) Park is one of the most popular parks in the city of Beijing. It covers a total area of over 68 hectares, more than half of it is taken up by the lake. Early in the 10th century, the Liao Dynasty built a secondary imperial residence here, called Yaoyu or Jade Islet. When the Jin took over, they renamed the capital Zhongdu, meaning Central Capital, and built an imperial palace. Qionghua (Jade Flowery) Islet was built of earth dug out from the lake, and the rocks used for piling on the hill were brought from Kaifeng, Henan Province. During the Yuan Dynasty, the place was rebuilt three times, and Guanghandian or the Palace in the Moon where Kublai Khan used to live and many other palace buildings were built on top of the hill. It was in this palace that Kublai Khan received Marco Polo. Unfortunately it was destroyed. The Islet became the centre of Dadu (Great Capital) and is still situated in the heart of modern Beijing.

First Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), The Summer Palace is still regarded as having the most magnificent gardens in China, if not the world. The grounds consist of four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area. Visitors will find the same combination of serenity and awe as did the Imperial families who escaped the city each summer to take their respite among the tranquility and beauty of the “three hills and five gardens.”