Views of the Summer Palace from Renowned Figures

Author: Hou Renzhi et al
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: The Yuanmingyuan, located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, consists of the Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan, and Wanchunyuan, collectively known as the "Three Yuanming Gardens." It covers an area of approximately 5,200 acres, has a perimeter of nearly 10 kilometers, and a construction area of 160,000 square meters (equivalent to the construction area of the Beijing Imperial Palace). The Yuanmingyuan was originally an imperial garden from the Ming Dynasty. Over a period of 150 years, from the Kangxi to the Xianfeng emperors of the Qing Dynasty, the court concentrated vast human resources, materials, and financial power to transform it into a world-renowned large-scale imperial garden. During the Yongzheng era, it was established as a "retreat for quiet governance" and became the second most important political center after the Forbidden City. In the Qianlong era, with the Qing Dynasty's strong power, the Yuanmingyuan underwent large-scale expansion. To the east of the Yuanmingyuan, the Changchunyuan was expanded, and to the southeast, the Wanchunyuan was extended. The layout of the Three Yuanming Gardens was thus largely determined. Qianlong made six southern tours, and every time he encountered beautiful scenic spots, he ordered them to be replicated in the Yuanmingyuan. The Yuanmingyuan contains an Anlang Garden, the Changchunyuan has a Xiaotianyuan, and there are also the Lion Forest and the Rulin Garden. These four gardens were built in imitation of the "Four Great Famous Gardens of Jiangnan"—the Haijing Yuyuan in Haining, the Wang Family Garden in Hangzhou, the Lion Forest in Suzhou, and the Zhan Garden in Nanjing. To the north of the Changchunyuan stands a group of Western-style palace buildings—the Xipinglou, which were meticulously constructed by Chinese craftsmen based on the designs of the Western missionary Giuseppe Castiglione during the Qianlong era. The "Great Waterworks" and the "Yuanying Pavilion" in the Western-style garden area are mostly built of white stone. Although they are European-style buildings, they incorporate elements of traditional Chinese architectural art, blending East and West—a true masterpiece. The Yuanmingyuan is not only the crystallization of architectural art in China's feudal era but also a rare museum and art gallery in the world. The treasures of the Qing imperial family were not primarily in the palaces of the Forbidden City but in the Three Yuanming Gardens. The gardens housed many rare ancient books from China and abroad, famous calligraphy and paintings, ancient bronze ritual vessels, artistic treasures, gold, jade, and porcelain antiques. The West called it the "Garden of Gardens," and indeed, it was well-deserved. This book introduces the Yuanmingyuan as seen by renowned experts.