Peering Through the Glass
I was surprised as to how large the Summer Palace was, I guess it is true, in Beijing everything is indeed big, and the Summer Palace is certain no exception. Not much of a surprise since this is the abode of emperors and empresses. The area around the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity was quite complex with a lot of smaller structures in it. For example, there was private temples for royalty to use in their worship. However, most of these places have been closed to the public.
Everybody's So Curious
Most of the places are dark and dusty which is probably why they are closed. I found it a little amusing to see people trying to see what is inside these rooms since it was really dark. What caught me off guard was the number of people still outside despite it having rained that day. I noticed that the tourists come in waves, one moment there are a hundred people around you and the next, there are only a handful. This is due to the go go go attitude of the tour guides who need to rush their clients through the whole place, I feel it is really a pity since you don’t get to go at your own pace. You probably can get a personal guide but of course you will have to pay much for that, more so if it is in languages other than Chinese.
Inside the Mysterious Room
There is an automated guide which you can rent at the entrance for a fee of course, I’m not sure how it works I guess if you approach certain places, it will trigger the guide wirelessly. I find it fascinating to have this kind of guide, and I think it will be cheaper than hiring a personal guide. Of course you can’t ask the automated guide questions. You can return the automated guide when you exit the premises.
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