Snowy highlights: South Ruyi Gate of Summer Palace, West Causeway — Guang Cultural Center (Shiguang Bookstore), Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) — Shiguang Shopping Street

How beautiful is winter at the Summer Palace? I know of three moments: one is around the Winter Solstice when the sunset casts golden rays from the southwest, illuminating the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Standing on the small island at the west end of the bridge, you can witness the spectacular sight of golden sunlight streaming through all seventeen arches. Another moment is when snowflakes gently fall, covering Kunming Lake in white. The last is the tranquility and comfort of a clear morning after snow, walking along the West Causeway.

The tranquility comes from the fewer visitors in the morning, and the comfort from gazing westward at the Xishan mountains, still draped in a "snow coat," glowing in golden sunlight. The contrast of the cold white snow and the warm sun embodies the beauty described in one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yanjing: "sunny snow on Xishan".

Entering through the South Ruyi Gate, crossing the tall stone arch bridge, and heading north along the West Causeway, you pass Lian Bridge, Liu Bridge, Jing Bridge, Yudai Bridge, and Binfeng Bridge. The snow-covered Summer Palace looks stunning, with the pagoda of Yuquanshan and the Buddhist incense hall of Wanshou Mountain shrouded in a blanket of white, appearing even more majestic.

Exiting the North Palace Gate, heading east brings you to Yuanmingyuan, known as the "Garden of Gardens". Here lies Shiguang Shopping Street, a recreation of a traditional marketplace created for the Emperor and Empress, allowing them to experience the vibrancy of society within the royal gardens. Although the shopkeepers were often eunuchs and palace maids for security reasons, the street boasts a variety of well-known stores. At Shiguang Shopping Street, you can sense the bustling atmosphere of the past with a range of traditional shops offering food, clothing, medicinal services, and performances—truly a vibrant commercial street, all indoors to keep warm in winter.

Explore the "Thousand Machines of Yuanmingyuan" in a stunning 3D space, where as the lights dim, visitors feel transported to the Yuanmingyuan of the Kangxi and Qianlong eras, with views of scenic lakes and mountains.

At Shiguang Shopping Street, savor traditional Beijing dishes like sour plum juice and authentic fried sauce noodles, alongside various specialty coffees like Hazelnut Latte and Toffee Caramel Latte. If you indulge in some desserts, you can admire the beautiful views of Yuanmingyuan from the railing.

Nearby trendy spot:

From the North Palace Gate of the Summer Palace, a torch-shaped sculpture comes into view—this is the Guang Cultural Center, one of the trendy spots of 2021. Currently, it hosts the exhibition "Lighting Up the Palace: Treasures of Palace Lighting from the Forbidden City." With a simple phrase like "Let there be light", visitors can journey back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, illuminating palace lanterns by touching the light wall, all reflecting the beauty of contemporary life. Next to the Guang Cultural Center stands a sculptural courtyard embodying Beijing's cultural charm, where you can read, chat, and enjoy coffee, all while basking in the natural light that gradually shifts throughout the day.