Summer Imperial Palace

The Summer Imperial Palace is one of the most prominent imperial gardens in China. It is located in the northwest of Beijing, 20 kilometers from its center. The area of the park complex is 290 hectares, of which three-quarters is water. The park served as a residence and garden for Chinese emperors, and the lake played an important role in Beijing’s water supply and transportation to its surroundings. It is said that once you have been here, you have visited all the beautiful places in China.

The Summer Palace is a fine example of classical oriental art of landscape architecture. Its large size, architectural splendor, artful design and natural beauty cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Here natural and artificial beauty are combined into one.

The Summer Palace has a history of over 800 years. In 1153, when the Jin Dynasty made Beijing (then Yanjing) its capital, an imperial palace was built - the Golden Hill Palace on the site of today's Summer Palace. In 1750, Emperor Qianlong spent 4.48 million lanes of silver (140,000 kg) and 15 years building the Qingyiyuan Garden of Clear Ripples.

This garden brought together five gardens and three hills in northwest Beijing into a single whole: the Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan - Fragrant Hills), the Jade Creeks Hill (Yuquanshan - Jade Spring Hill), the Longevity Hill and the Garden of Perfection and Purity (Yuanmingyuan - Garden of Perfection and Enlightenment), the Garden of Joy Spring (Changchunyuan - Changchunyuan - Garden of Cheerfulity - Springing - Gardening of Serenness - Chi Chi Chi Chi Chi Chi Chistony Garden and the Gardenstony Garden of Serenness - Quan).

In 1860, during the Second Opium War, a combined Anglo-French force captured Beijing and destroyed the garden. In 1886, the Qing Dynasty government began the restoration of the garden for Empress Cixi, which was spent 10 years and 30 million lanes of silver (937,500 kg) for the development of the fleet. Two years later it was renamed the Garden of Peace and Harmony, but became known as the Summer Imperial Palace.

In 1900, the Summer Imperial Palace was again destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion, this time by the forces of the 8-nation alliance. Large temples and halls on the back of Longevity Hill were destroyed. There is only one temple left, the Temple of the Sea of Wisdom, which was made of stone. In 1903, the Dowager Empress Cixi once again spent a huge amount of money to restore the palace. The current Summer Palace is more or less the same as in 1903.

Since 1914, the Summer Palace has existed as a private property of the imperial family. After the last Emperor Puyi left the throne in 1924, the palace formally opened as a public park.

Until 1949, the park was not renewed and fell into decline. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Summer Palace underwent several major restorations. Such attractions as the Four Great Continent, Suzhou Street, Wenchani Gallery and others were restored. Now the Summer Palace is one of the most beautiful places in Beijing.