Summer Palace, Beijing

One for the ‘gram, this palace really is as pretty as a picture. Imagine a serene spot showcasing all things quintessentially Chinese – intricately designed ancient architecture backdropped by the lush verdure of picturesque gardens, all looking out over a charming lake. Step foot here, and Beijing’s frantic atmosphere will feel a million miles away, that’s for sure.

This is the largest and most well preserved imperial garden in the whole of China. An ensemble of sheer royal beauty, this is where emperors would come to play during – yep, you’ve guessed it – the summer months. When the sweltering heat of the Forbidden City would get too much, all that someone would have to say is “Summer Palace” and anyone who was anyone would be there in a jiffy. So basically, if you consider yourself a somebody, get it on your list now. It’s one of the city’s most visited historical sights, and it’s not hard to see why.

Forefronted by the Tower of Buddhist Incense (the name may not ring a bell but it’s likely that you’ve come across a glossy picture of this one somewhere before), these gardens are dotted by an array of temples and other palatial buildings fit for, well, an emperor. This was, after all, second only to the Forbidden City during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty, so the royal dwellings needed to match up to the royal needs.