Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is under water. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural relics, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.
The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750. It was razed to the ground by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. The Government of the Qing Dynasty started to rebuild it in 1886 with funds that it had misappropriated from the Imperial Navy and other sources. Renamed two years later as Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony, it was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Known also as the Summer Palace, it was ravaged by the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers that invaded China in 1900. The damage was repaired in 1902. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Summer Palace has undergone several major renovations. Its major attractions such as the Four Great Regions, Suzhou Street, the Pavilion of Bright Scenery, the Hall of Serenity, the Wenchang Galleries and the Plowing and Weaving Scenery Area have been successiv- ely restored.
The Summer Palace is a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. Borrowing scenes from surrounding landscapes, it radiates not only the grandeur of animperial garden but also the beauty of nature in aseamless combinationthat best illustrates the guiding principle of traditional Chinese garden design: “The works of men should match the works of Heaven”. In December 1998, UNE- SCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List with the following comments:
1) The Summer Palace inBeijing is an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole;
2) The Summer Palace epitomizes the philosophy and practice of Chinese garden design, which played a key role in the developm- ent of this cultural form throughout the east;
3) The imperialChinese garden, illustrated by the Summer Palace, is a potent symbol of one of the major world civilizations.
Summer Palace Tours
Summer palace and Badaling
Great Wall Day Tour
Start from 70USD P/P
Summer Palace and Mutianyu
Great Wall Day Tour
Start from 80USD P/P
Summer Palace Relax Tour
Start from 30USD P/P
Summer Palace and Bai Family Imperial Show Day Tour
Start from 45USD P/P
Beijing Zoo Waterway to Summer Palace Day Tour
Start from 50USD P/P
Waterway to The Summer Palace
Start from 40USD P/P
Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City,Summer palace Day Tour
Start from 65USD P/P
Tian’anmen square ,Forbidden city,Summer palace Day Tour
Start from 60USD P/P