The Summer Palace, located in the western suburbs of Beijing, China, is a collection of garden art, this garden to Kunming Lake, Wanshou Mountain as the base site, absorbing the design techniques of the Jiangnan garden, is the most complete preservation of a royal palace garden, known as the "Royal Garden Museum", is also one of the four famous gardens in China. With its magnificent architecture, exquisite and delicate garden layout and profound historical and cultural connotation, it has attracted the attention of countless Chinese and foreign tourists.
The Summer Palace was built in the 15th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1750), formerly known as "Qingyi Garden", which was built by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate the 60th birthday of his mother, Empress Xiao Shengxian. However, Qingyi Garden was severely damaged during the Second Opium War in 1860, when it was burned down by Anglo-French forces during the occupation of Beijing. In the 14th year of Guangxu (1888), the Empress Dowager Cixi ordered to rebuild the Qingyi Garden in the name of repairing the Qingyi Garden, embezzling the navy's military funds to rebuild it, and renamed it "Summer Palace", and used it as her personal summer amusement place.
The Summer Palace covers an area of about 290 hectares and is mainly composed of two parts: Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake. There are buildings such as Buddha Xiang Pavilion and Paiyun Hall on Wanshou Mountain, and the corridor at the foot of the mountain is known as "the longest corridor in the world". Kunming Lake occupies most of the area of the garden, and there are scenic spots such as the Seventeen-hole Bridge, the Bronze Ox, and the Zhichun Pavilion on the lakeside. The layout of the whole garden is exquisite, and the mountains and rivers contrast with each other, showing a unique charm of a royal garden.
The architectural style in the Summer Palace is unique, with the elegance and solemnity of traditional Chinese architecture and the lightness and beauty of Jiangnan gardens. Foxiang Pavilion is one of the main buildings of the Summer Palace, towering into the clouds and magnificent; Paiyun Hall is the place where Emperor Qianlong held court meetings and banquets, and the interior decoration is exquisite. In addition, the details such as the paintings on the promenade and the stone lions on the 17-hole bridge all reflect the exquisite skills of ancient Chinese architectural art.
The Summer Palace is not only a royal garden, but also a living historical scroll. It has witnessed the historical process of the Qing Dynasty from prosperity to decline, and also carries the rich cultural connotation of the Chinese nation. Here, people can feel the unique charm of ancient Chinese imperial culture, and can also think about the profound impact of historical changes on human civilization.
Today, the Summer Palace has become one of the iconic attractions of Beijing, attracting countless Chinese and foreign tourists. With its unique garden layout, exquisite architectural art and profound historical and cultural heritage, it has become a treasure of traditional Chinese culture. While enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Summer Palace, we can't help but be impressed by the wisdom and talent of the ancients.