Summer Palace

As a group we went to the Summer Palace, also called Clear Ripples, that was built in 1750. However, it was destroyed by the Anglo-French and rebuilt in 1888. Seventy-five percent of the property is covered by water. The palace had a pagoda, a walkway called the long corridor, and also a giant marble boat. Above the main area there were paths and staircases that led up a hill with grassy areas and more pavilions. Kim, Roy, Maria, and I found a spot to sit, talk, and relax for some time while playing the question game; simply someone asks a question to the group and others have the choice to answer it or not. The time on the hill was enjoyable for two reasons; first, it was away from all the people and commotion and second because we escaped a Chinese boy, Michael, who had been following us for a long time trying to talk to us in English and tell us about the history of the palace. Michael Jackson’s brother, as he once referred to himself, was eager to be around us, but we were annoyed by his presence.