Flowers have recently begun to bloom at Beijing’s Summer Palace. Colorful blossoms offer a warm welcome to visitors.  

The Summer Palace, an imperial garden first built in 1750, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.  The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble. 

An essential feature is the West Dike, which was created to perfectly adorn the Kunming Lake. In spring it is a long path of riotous floral profusion with new buds forming on the willows and bracts on the peach trees. 

  Photos by Wei Yao