Importance of the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is the largest and most well-preserved imperial garden in China. The gardens were designed as a summer retreat for the royal family during the Qing Dynasty. The landscape design is typical of that time, providing visitors with a glimpse into the past. A several hours to a full day are needed to fully enjoy this must-see site.
Historical development of the Summer Palace
Before being developed into a royal palace by Emperor Qianlong, the site was used as a garden for the imperial family. In 1750, the emperor began work on the site, wanting to gift it to his mother for her 60th birthday. Kunming Lake was expanded to create the body of water that can be seen today. It was named “Qingyi Garden,” meaning Garden of Clear Ripples. The royal family would reach the gardens via the imperial waterway, passing by other historic locations such as Wanshou Temple on their way there.
Damage and renovations
The Summer Palace was damaged at the end of the second by British and French troops in 1860. It was then restored by Empress Dowager Cixi with misappropriated funds from the Imperial Navy. She renamed it “Yiheyuan,” meaning the Summer Palace. Empress Dowager Cixi used the Summer Palace as her primary retreat. It was then damaged once again by foreign troops in 1900 after the Boxer Rebellion. The Summer Palace was once again repaired after this event.
Landscape design and architectural features
The Summer Palace was ranked by UNESCO as a 5A World Heritage Site. It displays typical Chinese landscape design, incorporating nature with manmade components.
Architectural design from different areas in China can be seen in different buildings on the site. From the north entry, the Suzhou Market Street, mimics the design and water features found in Suzhou. If visiting in the summer months, the buildings on the water’s edge are opened as souvenir shops. During the Qing Dynasty, the royal family enjoyed pretending they were commoners, and shopped there.
To the northeast of the Summer Palace, is the court area. This is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu conducted official businesses. These buildings followed the usual design for palaces with buildings at the front, and garden at the rear. Their living quarters were also situated there.
The most beautiful area can be found between Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Gardens and buildings have been built up the side of the hill, with the Tower of Buddhist Incense standing out as the central feature.
Walking by Kunming Lake, the Long Gallery, Marble Boat, and Seventeen-Arch Bridge must be viewed. The Long Gallery, also referred to as the Long Corridor, is 728 meters in length, with each arch being painted with a different scene. It was built by Emperor Qianlong so that his mother could walk in the garden no matter what the weather was like.
The Marble Boat was famously rebuilt by Empress Dowager Cixi in 1893, with some of the embezzled funds from the Navy. She used this boat to sit in and look out over the water and gardens. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge is the longest of the thirty bridges in the Summer Palace. It connects with the Kuoro Pavilion.
How is the Summer Palace written in Chinese?
Chinese name: Yiheyuan / 颐和园
The Summer Palace price and opening hours
Price: Entrance to the Summer Palace 30 RMB from April to October; 20 RMB from November to March.
Tickets inclusive of Wenchang Gallery, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Buddhist of Incense, and Suzhou Street 60 RMB from April to October, 50 RMB from November to March.
Opening hours:
November to March: Gate opens 6:30-18:00; Parks in the Summer Palace 8:30-16:30, gates close at 19:00.
April to October: Gate opens 6:00-19:00; Parks in the Summer Palace 8:00-17:30, gates close at 20:00.
Getting there
Address: The Summer Palace, No. 19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing (北京市海淀区新建宫门路19号颐和园内)
Closest subway: Beigongmen, Line 4 (北宫门，4号线)
