In 1749, the Summer Palace’s construction was ordered on Beijing's outskirts by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday. It is considered one of the largest imperial gardens in China and of the best preserved in the world. For the past centuries, many Chinese emperors and empresses came to this calm oasis outside the buzzing city to enjoy its lakes, temples and palaces. Its delicate features help it achieve harmony with its surrounding nature and rub any visitor's sense of ease. With its rich history and radiating vibes, the Summer Palace is an aesthetically pleasing place of art and spirituality, which pushed the UNESCO to include it to its famed World Heritage List in 1998.