Beijing Scenery -- The Old Summer Palace

Author: Ye Liangqing Yang Laiyun
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-02
Features: The Summer Palace is located in the northern suburbs of Haidian, and is a large imperial garden built by the Qing Dynasty. For over 130 years, emperors from Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng lived and governed in the palace, earning it the special name of "Imperial Garden." Together with the Forbidden City, it formed the national political center. The Summer Palace was renowned as the "Garden of Gardens" for its magnificent scale and landscape art, and was considered the top among the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" in the Qing Dynasty capital. In 1860 and 1900, the Summer Palace was twice devastated by Anglo-French and Eight-Nation Allied forces, resulting in widespread destruction. 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 China. On the northern boundary of Changchunyuan, a European-style garden, the Western Gardens, 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 and is also the world's most well-preserved ancient garden with rich architectural landscaping and the largest scale. The Summer Palace is composed of two 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 architecture. In 1988, the Summer Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Haidian is renowned for its countless scenic spots and historic sites, often called the "treasure land of the capital" and a "land blessed with natural and human wonders." From the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, within tens of miles of Haidian, "everywhere one looked were gardens and pavilions, stretching like a tapestry amidst misty clouds 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 height of ancient Chinese sculpture and casting techniques. The Wutasi built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, the Dayuesi of the Liao Dynasty, and the San Shan Wu Yuan of the Qing Dynasty further gather the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and international acclaim.