Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, situated in the western suburbs of Haidian District, is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from downtown area of Beijing. With the largest royal park and being well preserved now, in 1960, it was designated by the State Council as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Site of China. Containing examples of the ancient arts, it also has graceful landscapes and magnificent constructions. The Summer Palace is the traditional Chinese garden, and is one of the most well-known and classical gardens of the world. It was listed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.

Construction of this palace between 1115 and 1234 in Jin Dynasty, it was extended continuously. By the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it had become a luxurious royal garden providing rest and entertainment for royal families. Originally called ''Qingyi Garden'' (Garden of Clear Ripples), it was known as one of the famous ''three hills and five gardens'' (Longevity Hill, Jade Spring Mountain, and Fragrant Hill; Garden of Clear Ripples, Garden of Everlasting Spring, Garden of Perfection and Brightness, Garden of Tranquility and Brightness, and Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure). Like most of the gardens of Beijing, it was destroyed by fire. In 1888, in order to meet her own interests, Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled navy funds to reconstruct it and changed its name to Summer Palace (in Chinese called “Yiheyuan”).

She spent most of her later years there, dealing with state affairs and entertaining. In 1900, it suffered again, being ransacked by the Eight-Power Allied Force. After the success of the 1911 Revolution, it was opened to the public.

Composed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the Summer Palace occupies an area of 294 hectares (726.5 acres), three quarters of which is water. Guided by nature, artists designed the gardens exquisitely so that visitors would see marvelous views and be amazed by perfect examples of refined craftwork using the finest materials.