The Old Summer Palace and the Summer Palace are two famous imperial gardens in Beijing, each with its own characteristics, but what are the differences between them?
First of all, the historical background and cultural connotation are different: the Old Summer Palace was built in the 18th century, after the expansion and improvement of many emperors, known as the "Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens", is one of the outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese garden art, there are many precious historical relics and artworks. The Summer Palace was built in the middle of the 19th century after the destruction of the Old Summer Palace, and was the summer resort of the Qing Dynasty emperors, paying more attention to the inheritance and development of cultural connotation, and is one of the precious heritages of Chinese culture.
Secondly, the style characteristics and landscape design are different: the Old Summer Palace is dominated by waterscapes, and the architectural style is gorgeous, mostly using glazed tiles, red walls, white marble and other building materials, and the scale is grand and magnificent. There are many lakes, streams, bridges, rockeries, etc., which are full of the charm of Jiangnan gardens. There are hundreds of scenic spots and architectural complexes, among which the famous ones are "Forty Views of the Old Summer Palace", "Changchun Garden" and "Qichun Garden".
The Summer Palace, on the other hand, pays more attention to the mountain scenery, and the architectural style is relatively simple, mostly using natural materials such as wood and stone, and the style is elegant and beautiful. It is dominated by natural landscapes such as mountains and rocks, peaks, and ancient trees, and there are also many artificial buildings, such as corridors, towers, pavilions, etc., which are full of the emperor's style. Among them, the most famous scenic spots are "Wanshou Mountain", "Kunming Lake" and "Seventeen Hole Bridge".
After Z, the functions are different: the Old Summer Palace is a comprehensive place for the Qing Dynasty emperor's residence, office, sacrifice and other comprehensive places, with complete functions, and it is the center of Zhengzhi, culture and art at that time. The Summer Palace is mainly the emperor's summer resort, which is a place for the emperor's leisure and entertainment, and its function is relatively simple.
In general, both the Old Summer Palace and the Summer Palace are treasures of Chinese garden art, each with its own characteristics. Visiting these two gardens can not only appreciate the beautiful natural scenery and exquisite architectural art, but also appreciate the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture.