The Summer Palace is a rare museum-style imperial garden worldwide, renowned for its abundant landscaping, concentrated architecture, and well-preserved condition. It is on a par with the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, serving as an imperial residence for the Qing emperors to handle state affairs and a royal park for summer retreat and recreation. It is also the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in existence. With natural landscapes and rich gardening, it embodies the royal gardening theme of "harmony between man and nature" and "supremacy of monarchical power," possessing both the magnificent grandeur of northern mountains and rivers and the graceful elegance of southern water towns, making it a treasure trove of Eastern gardening art. Mount Wanshou and Kunming Lake constitute the main framework of the Summer Palace, with 70,000 square meters of various splendid palaces, magnificent temples, and architectural complexes scattered within this framework, showcasing the magnificent grandeur of imperial gardens while filled with natural charm. The garden houses 40,000 royal artifacts and is known as a museum park.
History of the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace's predecessor, the Qingyi Garden, was initially built in the 15th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1750). In the 12th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1886), the Qing government began rebuilding it by misappropriating funds such as naval expenses and adopted its current name, "Summer Palace," two years later (1888), as a residence for Empress Dowager Cixi. The Summer Palace was damaged by the Eight-Power Allied Forces in 1900 and restored in 1902. In December 1998, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. It integrates the characteristics of imperial gardens of various dynasties, the essence of private gardens from different regions, and the realms of famous mountains and temples, becoming a paradigm of traditional Chinese gardens.
Introduction to Major Attractions in the Summer Palace
Mount Wanshou: During the Liao and Jin dynasties, it was known as Jinshan. In the Yuan dynasty, its name was changed to Wengshan. In 1751, Emperor Qianlong renamed Wengshan as Mount Wanshou to celebrate his mother's birthday. As part of the Summer Palace, Mount Wanshou boasts not only beautiful natural scenery but also rich historical culture. Standing atop the mountain, visitors can overlook the various ancient buildings and landscaped gardens throughout the Summer Palace.
The Buddhist Tower of Fragrant Incense (Foxiangge): One of the landmark buildings on Mount Wanshou, it stands on the hillside of the front mountain of Mount Wanshou with exquisite internal construction. Empress Dowager Cixi had a special fondness for the Buddhist Tower of Fragrant Incense, and she would faithfully visit there every month to worship Buddha and pray for national prosperity and longevity.
The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshoudian): A solemn and prominent place within the Summer Palace, it serves multiple important functions. It is not only the core location for handling daily government affairs but also a diplomatic stage for welcomingVIPS and foreign envoys.
The Garden of Virtue and Harmony (Deheyuan), also known as the "Grand Theater" of the Summer Palace, is a theater exclusively enjoyed by Empress Dowager Cixi. This towering three-story stage is considered the best among China's existing wooden stages, remarkable for its grand scale and excellent preservation. In the past, luminaries of the Qing dynasty's Peking Opera community performed there to win the favor of Empress Dowager Cixi, making this place the "cradle" of Peking Opera and witnessing the fusion of countless stories of the Peking Opera world and royal elegance.
The Jade Wave Hall (Yulantang): This magnificent palace was once the resting and living quarters of Emperor Guangxu (reigned from 1871 to 1908), symbolizing his honourable imperial status. After Empress Dowager Cixi came to power, she imprisoned Emperor Guangxu here, making the Jade Wave Hall a witness to the power struggle and the decline of imperial power during that historical period.
The Long Corridor: One of the iconic landscapes of the Summer Palace and the longest corridor in the world. This winding corridor, 728 meters long, is cleverly divided into 273 unique spaces with 14,000 paintings depicting ever-changing scenery and patterns. Every step along the Long Corridor feels like wandering through intricate murals and exquisite sculptures, immersing oneself in the depth and brilliance of traditional Chinese culture.
Kunming Lake: The core water body of the Summer Palace, serving as the heart and soul of this royal garden. The lakeside is shaded by green trees, with the lake and mountains complementing each other beautifully. Visitors can take a boat tour on the lake to admire the lotus flowers and surrounding ancient buildings.
The Seventeen-Arched Bridge: A historic bridge connecting the eastern shore of Kunming Lake and Mount Wanshou, it is also one of the most representative attractions in the Summer Palace. This bridge has seventeen stone arches, each offering a different view. The stone arches on the bridge, the stone carvings on the bridge railings, and the stone piers under the bridge are common elements in traditional Chinese gardens, containing profound cultural connotations.
The Cloud-Dispelling Hall (Paiyundian): Originally built by Emperor Qianlong as the Da Baoren Yanshou Temple to celebrate his mother's 60th birthday, it was later rebuilt in the 13th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1887) as the Cloud-Dispelling Hall, specifically for Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday celebrations. Located on the mountainside of Mount Wanshou, this palace showcases various exquisite murals and sculptures, allowing visitors to appreciate China's exquisite architecture and rich historical culture.
The Stone Ship: Built in 1755, this ship-shaped building, with its unique Western style, is the only attraction in the Summer Palace that integrates Western elements. The ship is adorned with colorful glass windows, ornate wheel decorations, and a colorful brick floor, with every detail revealing a uniquely crafted design that astonishes everyone.
Tour Routes:
One-Day Tour:
East Palace Gate → Hall of Benevolence and Longevity → Garden of Virtue and Harmony → Jade Wave Hall → Joyous Hall → Long Corridor → Cloud-Dispelling Hall → Buddhist Tower of Fragrant Incense → Stone Boat → Take a boat to South Lake Island → Seventeen-Arched Bridge → Delightful Garden → East Palace Gate
Half-Day Tour:
New Palace Gate → Eastern Embankment of Kunming Lake → Seventeen-Arched Bridge → Take a boat to South Lake Island → Buddhist Tower of Fragrant Incense → Cloud-Dispelling Hall → Long Corridor → Garden of Virtue and Harmony → Hall of Benevolence and Longevity → East Palace Gate
Basic Information
1.pening Hours
Winter and Spring (November 1st to March 31st): 09:00-16:30
Summer and Autumn (April 1st to October 31st): 09:00-17:00
2.Geographic Location: No. 28 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Tickets
Ticket Price: 25 yuan per person
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