Beijing Scenery - The Old Summer Palace

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 resided 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 the art of landscape design with layered mountains and artificial lakes, ranking first among the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" in the Qing Dynasty capital. In 1860 and 1900, the Summer Palace was twice brutally looted and burned by the Anglo-French forces and the Eight-Nation Alliance, with many of its scenic spots destroyed. Originally, the Summer Palace consisted of the Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan, and Qichunyuan, collectively known as the Yuanmingyuan. The garden's landscaping drew inspiration from famous mountains and waters across the country. On the northern boundary of Changchunyuan, a European-style garden, the Western Garden, was built, earning it the reputation of the "Eastern Palace of 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 listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Haidian is studded with countless scenic spots and historic sites, historically known as the "treasure land of the capital" and a "land blessed with natural and cultural wonders." From the Ming to the Qing dynasties, within tens of miles around Haidian, "at a glance, one saw gardens and pavilions, stretching and disappearing among the mist and trees." Haidian has become the "pearl of western Beijing," showcasing the art of Chinese gardens. The Northern Wei Tahe statues at Fenghuangling, the bronze Buddha at Wofosi, and the Yongle Bell at Dazhongsi all reflect the high achievements of ancient Chinese sculpture and casting techniques. The Five Pagoda Temple built during the Ming Yongle era, the Da jue Temple built during the Liao Dynasty, and the Three Mountains and Five Gardens rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty all gather the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and fame both at home and abroad.