The Yuanmingyuan is a large-scale imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty in China, located in Haidian District, Beijing, which was founded in 1707 (the 46th year of the Qing Kangxi Dynasty), consisting of the Yuanmingyuan and its annexes Changchun Garden and Qichun Garden (later renamed Wanchun Garden), also known as the Three Gardens of the Yuanming, known as the "Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens". The Qing Emperor came here every summer to escape the summer and listen to the government, so the Yuanmingyuan was also known as the "Summer Palace". In 1860, during the Second Opium War, the Yuanmingyuan was looted by the British and French forces and burned down in order to destroy evidence, and the site is now the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park.
The Yuanmingyuan was founded in 1707 (the 46th year of the Kangxi Dynasty), covering an area of 3.5 square kilometers, with a construction area of 200,000 square meters, and more than 150 views. Kangxi inscribed a plaque for it "Yuanmingyuan", and "Yuanming" is the Yongzheng Law number. After Yongzheng ascended to the throne in 1722, he expanded the original garden, and added the Zhengda Guangming Hall and the Qinzheng Hall in the south of the garden, as well as many duty rooms in the cabinet, the six ministries, and the military aircraft department, in order to "avoid the noise and listen to the government" here in the summer. During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, in addition to the partial addition and reconstruction of the Yuanmingyuan, the Changchun Garden was also newly built in the immediate east and merged into the Wanchun Garden in the southeast. At this point, the pattern of the Yuanmingyuan was basically formed, and many repairs and expansions were carried out during the Jiaqing and Daoguang years.
On October 6, 1860, the British and French troops burned the Yuanmingyuan. When the Tongzhi Emperor wanted to repair it, he was forced to stop it due to financial difficulties. After the Eight-Power Alliance, the Yuanmingyuan was destroyed by warlords and bandits, and eventually became a ruin.
Under the creation and operation of the Qing Dynasty for more than 150 years, the Yuanmingyuan has been famous for its grand regional scale, outstanding construction skills, exquisite architectural scenery, rich cultural collection and profound national cultural connotation, and is known as "the model of all gardening art" and praised by the French writer Victor Hugo as "a model of ideals and art".
From December 13, 2021, the Old Summer Palace will be opened to minors free of charge on a trial basis.
How big is the Old Summer Palace?
Now the Yuanmingyuan is divided into QiChun Garden, Yuanmingyuan and Changchun Garden, with the spring warm flowers blooming, let's take a look around.
First, enter the main entrance
Enter the main entrance, go north first, and turn left after seeing this bridge
Pass by an exhibition of cultural relics of the Old Summer Palace
Continue west
Walking along the river, on the left side of the river is now the playground of 101 Middle School
Continue west along the north side of the playground of 101 Middle School
See the sign of the Kyushu Scenic Area and turn left
This location is close to the southwest gate of the Old Summer Palace
This is the Hong Kong Handover Memorial Forest
The southwest gate of the Yuanmingyuan, the gate of the algae garden
Popsicles unique to Ryogan Old Summer Palace (there are also several shapes of popsicles and drinks that also taste good)
Hongci Yonghu
Harvest like clouds
Fish leaping kites fly
Continue north (left)
The Pavilion of The Sails
Great North Gate
If you are not willing to walk, you can also rent a bicycle for two or four people to explore
Here is the entrance to the ruins of the Western-style building, you need to buy a separate ticket, 15 yuan per person
Enter the Yellow Flower Array Maze
Enter the Heritage Park
The Five Bamboo Pavilion is gone
Haiyan Hall (famous zodiac sign)
The landmark building of the Yuanmingyuan, the Great Water Law
Head to the Black Swan Viewing Area
The famous Fuku Sea view area
It's closed, and then another photo of the main entrance
A circle is about 10 kilometers, and if you follow the wall, it is about 10 to 11 kilometers
Today did not introduce the various scenic spots in the Yuanmingyuan, but basically walked along the wall, we have the opportunity to continue to visit next time.