Who: Leif and Daisy Cedar of Denver
Where: Beijing, in the front of the marble boat at the Summer Palace
Out and about: This was Daisy’s first time back to her home country in 10 years since moving to the United States. Leif was visiting Asia for the first time. The Summer Palace is in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. Built in 1750, it is one of the imperial gardens in the city, covering about 700 acres, of which 2/3 is a lake. There are more than 3,000 buildings including halls, pavilions, towers and courtyards. The boat was built during the period of Emperor Qianlong in the 1700s.
Travel tip: Beijing has many well-preserved ruins and beautiful massive parks. You need at least one week to visit most of these sights. There are many inexpensive souvenirs. Silk products are beautiful and affordable. However, you need to watch for counterfeit money. Use exact change when dealing with street vendors. Watch for pickpockets. The food is inexpensive and delicious.
