China Millennium Monument

Vaguely resembling a vast sundial pointing directly south to Beijing West Train Station, this cumbersome monument solidifies Běijīng's triumphant 21st century aspirations in stone. For such a momentous statement, the design is devoid of imagination or artistry, while examination of the stone cladding shows it already requires repair.

The art gallery, however, is worth perusing (included in the ticket price) and you can pick up boats from the dock to the Summer Palace, leaving daily at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00, or go for a stroll in Yuyuantan Park (Yùyuāntán Gōngyuán) to the north, where you can also board boats (10:10, 11:10, 14:10 and 15:10) to the Summer Palace from the Bayi Lake dock (Bāyī Hú Mǎtou).