The Round Garden

Author: Ye Liangqing / Yang Laiyun
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Summer Palace is located in the northern suburbs of Haidian, and was a large imperial garden built by the Qing Dynasty. For over 130 years, emperors from the Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng dynasties lived and governed in the palace, earning it the special name of the Imperial Garden. Together with the Forbidden City, it formed the political center of the nation. The Summer Palace was renowned as the "Garden of Gardens" for its grand scale and landscape art of terraced hills and water features, ranking first among the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" in the Qing capital. In 1860 and 1900, the Summer Palace was twice devastated by the Anglo-French forces and the Eight-Nation Alliance, with many of its structures destroyed. Originally, the Summer Palace consisted of the Yuanmingyuan, Changchun Garden, and Qichun Garden, collectively known as the Yuanmingyuan. The garden's landscaping drew inspiration from famous mountains and waters across the country. The Western-style gardens, known as the "Western-style Pavilions," were built in the northern boundary of Changchun Garden, earning the palace the reputation of the "Eastern Versailles."
The Summer Palace is located in the central southern part of Haidian. It is a large imperial garden primarily structured around natural landscapes, as well as the most well-preserved imperial garden in the world in terms of ancient architectural landscaping and scale. The Summer Palace consists of two main parts: Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake. It boasts numerous scenic spots and historic sites, with a layout that adapts to the terrain and showcases the pinnacle of Chinese northern and southern garden architectural arts. In 1988, the Summer Palace was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Haidian is dotted with countless scenic spots and historic sites, historically known as the "Treasure Land of the Capital" and a "land blessed with natural and human wonders." From the Ming to the Qing dynasties, within tens of miles of Haidian, "every sight was a garden or pavilion, stretching like a misty ribbon between trees and clouds." Haidian has become the "pearl of western Beijing," showcasing the art of Chinese gardens. The Northern Wei statues at Fenghuang Ridge, the bronze Buddha at Wofosi, and the Yongle Bell at Dazhong Temple all reflect the heights of ancient Chinese sculpture and casting techniques. The Wutasi Temple built during the Ming Yongle era, the Dayue Temple built during the Liao Dynasty, and the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" constructed during the Qing Dynasty all embody the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, with their exquisite craftsmanship and international acclaim.