The Old Summer Palace is a magnificent imperial garden built in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing during the Qing Dynasty. However, the Old Summer Palace has suffered severe damage throughout history, the most famous of which was its burning. The following is how the Old Summer Palace was burned:
1.Background:
Located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, the Old Summer Palace was the residence and amusement park of Qing emperors and members of the imperial family. It is composed of three gardens, Yuanming, Changchun and Qichun, covering an area of 5,200 acres and more than 100 scenic building groups. The Old Summer Palace inherits and develops the traditions of Chinese architecture and garden art, and is known as a treasure of classical Chinese gardens.
2.Second Opium War:
The destruction of the Old Summer Palace was associated with the Second Opium War, also known as the Anglo-French War of Aggression against China. The war, which took place between 1856 and 1860, was a war of aggression against China by Western powers such as Britain and France.
3.Anglo-French forces attack Beijing:
In 1860, the Anglo-French forces captured the northern Chinese city of Tianjin and marched on Beijing. Emperor Xianfeng and the Qing Dynasty** chose the Old Summer Palace as a stronghold of resistance.
4.The Old Summer Palace was burned:
On October 6, 1860, British and French forces captured the Old Summer Palace. According to historical records, the French and British troops were separated after the capture of the Old Summer Palace, and the French army entered the garden at night. The Qing army guarding the garden had fled, and only a few eunuchs remained. At this time, the Old Summer Palace suffered serious damage and fire.
5.Degree of destruction:
The extent of the destruction of the Old Summer Palace was very severe, and almost all the buildings and artifacts were destroyed or looted. The fire lasted for several days, and the buildings, flowers and artifacts in the park were burned to ashes.
6.Follow-up:
The burning of the Old Summer Palace became a great disgrace in Chinese history and a symbol of the foreign aggression and national crisis that China faced during that period. To this day, the ruins of the Old Summer Palace still retain traces of burning, serving as a base for patriotic education in China, reminding people to cherish the national cultural heritage and historical memory.