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5A LevelCultural Heritage

Summer Palace

Summer Palace

Beijing

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Category:Cultural Heritage

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the epitome of Qing Dynasty imperial gardens, the Summer Palace features the Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake as its core, and boasts the world's longest gallery, the Long Corridor, showcasing imperial grandeur and Jiangnan charm.

INTRODUCTION

About This Attraction

Summer Palace: The Peak of Qing Imperial Gardens and the Landscape Painting of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake

I. Overview: World Heritage and the Swan Song of Imperial Gardens

The Summer Palace, located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, renowned as the "Museum of Imperial Gardens." It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998, valued for being "an outstanding expression of the art of Chinese landscape garden design, integrating natural landscape and human culture." The Summer Palace was not only a summer retreat for Qing emperors to rest and govern but also a culmination of ancient Chinese architectural art, garden art, and feudal ritual ideology.

Key data are as follows:

Area: Approximately 300.59 hectares (of which water accounts for about three-quarters)
Building area: Approximately 70,000 square meters
Main water body: Kunming Lake, covering about 220 hectares
Core hill: Longevity Hill, with an elevation of about 108.94 meters
Protection level: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (announced in 1961)

PRACTICAL INFO

Travel Essentials

Opening Hours

Peak season (Apr 1-Oct 31) 6:30-18:00, off season (Nov 1-Mar 31) 7:00-17:00. Gardens within the park (e.g., Tower of Buddhist Incense, Garden of Virtuous Harmony) 8:30-17:00 (peak) / 9:00-16:00 (off). Closed on Mondays (except public holidays). Subject to official announcements.

Ticket Price

Peak season ¥30 (combined ticket ¥60), off season ¥20 (combined ticket ¥50), half price for students. Combined ticket includes Tower of Buddhist Incense, Garden of Virtuous Harmony, Suzhou Street, etc. Subject to official announcements.

How to Get There

【Getting There】 1. Metro: Take Line 4 (Daxing Line) to "Beigongmen" Station (Exit D) or "Xiyuan" Station (Exit C2), then walk about 500 meters; or take Line 16 to "Xiyuan" Station. 2. Bus: Take buses 303, 330, 331, 346, 375, 384, 393, 563, 584, 601, 608, 618, 696, 697, 718, Special 5, or Special 10 to "Summer Palace" or "Summer Palace North Gate" stop. 3. Self-driving: From the city, take the Jingzang Expressway (G6) or Jingxin Expressway (G7) to the "Summer Palace" exit, or via Yuanmingyuan West Road and Yiheyuan Road. Parking is available (limited spaces, public transport recommended). 【Internal Transport】 You can walk around the garden, or take a boat (Kunming Lake boat dock) or an electric shuttle (from East Palace Gate to Suzhou Street). A combination of walking and boating is recommended to appreciate the beauty of the imperial garden.

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II. Historical Evolution: A Century of Vicissitudes from Qingyi Garden to Summer Palace

1. The Qianlong Era: The Birth of Qingyi Garden (1750)

The predecessor of the Summer Palace was Qingyi Garden, first built in the 15th year of Qianlong's reign (1750). To celebrate the 60th birthday of his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing, and to dredge the western suburbs' water system, Emperor Qianlong undertook a large-scale transformation based on Wengshan Hill and the West Lake. He ordered the West Lake to be dredged and expanded, and renamed it "Kunming Lake," following the precedent of Emperor Wu of Han who dug Kunming Pool in Chang'an to train the navy. At the same time, Wengshan Hill was renamed "Longevity Hill," symbolizing "boundless longevity." The entire project took fifteen years, essentially completed in the 29th year of Qianlong (1764), costing about 4.48 million taels of silver. Qingyi Garden was the last of the "Three Hills and Five Gardens" built by Emperor Qianlong and the pinnacle of his garden art.

2. Disaster and Reconstruction: The Burning in Xianfeng and the Restoration in Guangxu

The fate of Qingyi Garden changed dramatically in 1860. In the 10th year of Xianfeng (1860), the Anglo-French forces captured Beijing and brutally looted and burned the imperial gardens in the western suburbs. Qingyi Garden was almost reduced to rubble in this catastrophe; all wooden structures were reduced to ashes except for a few metal or stone buildings like the Bronze Pavilion (Baoyun Pavilion).

In the 12th year of Guangxu (1886), Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled behind the curtain, began to rebuild Qingyi Garden under the pretext of "nurturing harmony" and by misappropriating naval funds (nominally for "naval preparation"). The project took ten years, essentially completed in the 21st year of Guangxu (1895). The rebuilt garden was renamed "Summer Palace" (Yiheyuan), meaning "nurturing great harmony." Although this reconstruction largely restored the layout of Qingyi Garden, due to financial constraints, some buildings (such as the Dabei'en Yanshou Temple on the rear hill) were not fully restored, and the architectural style became more ornate and luxurious, reflecting the aesthetic taste of the late Qing court.

3. Modern Changes: From Imperial Retreat to People's Park

In 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces captured Beijing again, and the Summer Palace was looted once more. In 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi ordered repairs after her return. After the abdication of the Qing emperor in 1912, the Summer Palace remained under the Qing royal family according to the "Articles of Favorable Treatment of the Qing Royal Family." In 1924, Feng Yuxiang launched the "Beijing Coup," expelling Puyi from the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace was officially nationalized, opening to the public as a park in 1925. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Summer Palace underwent comprehensive restoration and protection, becoming one of Beijing's most important tourist attractions.

III. Architectural Layout: A Perfect Symphony of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake

The overall layout of the Summer Palace centers on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, following the traditional imperial garden pattern of "one lake, three hills," skillfully combining natural landscape with artificial architecture. The entire garden can be divided into three major parts: the political activity area, the imperial living area, and the scenic sightseeing area.

1. The Front Hill Building Complex: Imperial Majesty on the Central Axis

The southern slope of Longevity Hill is the most exquisite and concentrated area of the Summer Palace. A central axis of about 1,000 meters runs from the "Cloud-Dispelling and Jade-Emblem" archway at the foot of the hill to the Sea of Wisdom at the summit, with layers of progression and grandeur.

Hall of Dispelling Clouds: Located halfway up the hill, it was the main hall where Empress Dowager Cixi received congratulations during her birthday celebrations. The building complex is built along the hill, rising layer by layer, with yellow glazed tile roofs gleaming in the sunlight, forming the core of the front hill complex.
Tower of Buddhist Incense: Built on a 20-meter-high stone platform on the front of Longevity Hill, it is the iconic building of the Summer Palace. The tower is 41 meters high, with eight sides, three stories, and four eaves, housing a Ming Dynasty bronze statue of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin. The Tower of Buddhist Incense is not only the highest point of the entire garden but also the center of the overall composition, visible from any angle on Kunming Lake.
Sea of Wisdom: Located at the highest point of Longevity Hill, it is a beamless hall entirely built of glazed bricks and stones. Its outer walls are inlaid with over 1,000 glazed Buddha statues, which, despite numerous disasters, remain well-preserved, making it a treasure of Qing Dynasty glazed architecture.

2. Kunming Lake and the West Dike: A Northern Reproduction of Jiangnan Water Towns

Kunming Lake occupies three-quarters of the entire garden, with a vast expanse of blue waves. The lake is dotted with three islands: South Lake Island, Zhijing Pavilion Island, and Zaojiantang Island, symbolizing the three immortal mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, reflecting the imperial garden tradition of "one lake, three hills."

West Dike: Modeled after Su Dike on Hangzhou's West Lake, it is a long causeway in the lake, about 2.5 kilometers long. Six bridges of different styles are built on the dike: Jiehu Bridge, Binfeng Bridge, Jade Belt Bridge, Jing Bridge, Lian Bridge, and Liu Bridge. Among them, the Jade Belt Bridge is a high-arched stone bridge with a white jade-like body and a shape resembling a jade belt, making it the most famous scenery on the West Dike.
Seventeen-Arch Bridge: A stone arch bridge connecting the East Dike and South Lake Island, 150 meters long and 8 meters wide, composed of 17 arches. The bridge railings and pillars are carved with 544 stone lions in various postures, with carving craftsmanship no less exquisite than that of Lugou Bridge. Around the winter solstice each year, the setting sun passes through the arches, creating the spectacular sight of "golden light piercing the arches."

3. Long Corridor: The World's Longest Gallery

Starting from the Inviting Moon Gate in the east and ending at the Stone Pavilion in the west, the Long Corridor is 728 meters long with 273 sections. It is famous for its exquisite painted decorations, with over 14,000 Suzhou-style paintings on the beams, covering landscapes, flowers, birds, and figure stories (such as "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Journey to the West"), earning it the title of "World's First Corridor." In 1990, the Long Corridor was listed in the Guinness World Records as the "longest painted corridor in the world."

4. Rear Hill, Rear Lake, and Suzhou Street: A Royal Reproduction of Market Scenes

Unlike the grandeur of the front hill, the rear hill and rear lake area is known for its tranquility and elegance. The rear lake is a winding waterway with ancient trees lining both banks, creating a serene environment. Suzhou Street (also known as "Merchants' Street"), built along the lake, was modeled by Emperor Qianlong after the market towns of Jiangnan water towns, with shops lining the street, including tea houses and taverns. In the past, eunuchs and palace maids pretended to be merchants and customers to let the emperor and empress experience folk life. Today, Suzhou Street has become an important place for visitors to experience Qing Dynasty market culture.

IV. Architectural Features: The Art of Borrowed Scenery, Landscape, and Hierarchy

1. Borrowed Scenery: Incorporating the Western Hills into the Garden

The most praised technique in the Summer Palace's garden art is its "borrowed scenery." Standing on the east bank of Kunming Lake or at the Tower of Buddhist Incense, looking west, the distant Jade Spring Hill and its Jade Peak Pagoda, as well as the Western Hills beyond, seem to be incorporated into the garden, becoming part of the landscape. This technique of "borrowing" scenery from outside the garden greatly expands the visual space, achieving the realm of "though made by man, it seems heaven-made."

2. Landscape Pattern: North Hill, South Water, Harmony of Yin and Yang

The overall layout of the Summer Palace follows the ideal model of "backed by mountains, facing water" in traditional Chinese feng shui. Longevity Hill stands majestically in the north as the "sitting mountain," while Kunming Lake opens up in the south as the "bright hall." The mountain is yang, the water is yin, and they depend on each other, forming a stable and harmonious landscape pattern. This layout not only meets the aesthetic needs of imperial gardens but also embodies the philosophical idea of "harmony between heaven and man."

3. Garden Art: A Synthesis of North and South

The Summer Palace is a culmination of Chinese classical garden art. It combines the grandeur of northern imperial gardens with the delicacy and elegance of southern private gardens. For example, the West Dike imitates Su Dike, Suzhou Street imitates Jiangnan water towns, and the Garden of Harmonious Pleasures is directly modeled after Wuxi's Jichang Garden, known as a "garden within a garden." This fusion of northern and southern styles gives the Summer Palace a unique artistic charm.

4. Color and Hierarchy: The Ritual Order Under Glazed Tiles

The architectural colors of the Summer Palace strictly follow the Qing Dynasty hierarchy. Yellow glazed tiles were exclusively used for the royal family, applied to the most important buildings such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Hall of Dispelling Clouds; green glazed tiles were used for the residences of princes and concubines; while ordinary buildings used gray tiles. This strict color distinction not only makes the building complex visually layered but also directly reflects the ritual order of feudal society.

V. Cultural Significance: The Peak of Imperial Garden Art and the Embodiment of the "Nurturing" Idea

The Summer Palace is not just a garden; it is a condensed history of modern China. It witnessed the entire process of the Qing Dynasty from the Qianlong heyday to the decline of Guangxu, carrying too much historical memory and cultural connotation.

The Peak of Imperial Garden Art: The Summer Palace is the last monument of Chinese classical garden art. It synthesizes the achievements of all previous imperial gardens, perfectly integrating natural landscape, artificial architecture, and poetic and pictorial artistic conception, reaching the artistic realm of "though made by man, it seems heaven-made."
Philosophical Practice of "Harmony Between Heaven and Man": The site selection, layout, building orientation, and landscape relationships all reflect the cosmology of "harmony between heaven and man." It was not only a place for emperors to enjoy themselves but also a symbolic space for communicating with heaven and earth and pursuing immortality.
Material Carrier of the "Nurturing" Idea: The name "Yihe" (Summer Palace) means "nurturing great harmony." The original purpose of building this garden was to meet the needs of Empress Dowager Cixi's retirement after handing over power. Every scenery in the garden, from the blue waves of Kunming Lake to the pines of Longevity Hill, from the paintings of the Long Corridor to the market scenes of Suzhou Street, aims to create a peaceful, auspicious, and pleasant atmosphere to achieve the goal of "nurturing one's years."
Witness to Modern History: From being burned in 1860, to being rebuilt with misappropriated naval funds in 1886, to being looted again in 1900, the fate of the Summer Palace is closely linked to the national destiny of the late Qing. It is both a symbol of the extravagance of feudal rulers and a testimony to the humiliating history of the Chinese nation. Today, it has become a park for the people, symbolizing the vicissitudes and rebirth of history.