Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)

The Old Summer Palace or Yuanmingyuan was originally a large-scale royal park of the Qing Dynasty, and consisted of three parts Yuanmingyuan (the Garden of Perfection and Light), Changchunyuan (the Garden of Eternal Spring) and Yichunyuan (or Wanchunyuan, the Garden of Blossoming Spring). These three gardens are often referred to as one common name: Yuanmingyuan.

The park was first constructed in the 48th year under the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty (1709). Over the next 150 years of the Qing Dynasty (six generations of emperors), this park was expanded to be a large-scale imperial park by investing national financial and material resources, and employing numerous cunning workmen. Through filling lakes, piling up hills, planting exotic flowers and unusual trees, 40 scenic spots and 145 large buildings were built up. Apart from Chinese-style courtyards in the park, there were also Western-style structures in Changchunyuan Garden. Integrating the advantages of various gardens in both China and abroad, the Yuanmingyuan is crowned as the best garden works in Chinese history. Furthermore, Yuanmingyuan was also an imperial museum that collected a large number of literatures, calligraphies, paintings, treasures and cultural artifacts. No wonder Yuanmingyuan was praised as the 'garden of gardens' in that era.

In the 10th year under the reign of Emperor Xian Feng of the Qing Dynasty (October 1860), the Joint Anglo-French Forces occupied Beijing, and plundered and burned the Yuanmingyuan brutally. The fire lasted three days and lights. Finally, the Qing government was forced to sign the unequal treaties. After destroyed, Yuanmingyuan was still a forbidden royal park. Empress Dowager Cixi had ever incited Emperor Tong Zhi to rebuild most significant over 20 scenic spots and over 3000 structures. Most of them were distributed-in the front lake area, the rear lake area, the western area and the northern area as well as in the entrance area of Wanchunyuan Garden. But reconstruction work had to be suspended after ten-month operation for lack of money. After this, Empress Dowager Cixi impropriated the military expenditure of Beiyang navy to built the Summer Palace for her joy. Yuanmingyuan rehabilitation work was then performed only intermittently at a limited scale. In the 26th year under the reign of pmperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty (1900), the Eight-Power Allied Forces occupied Beijing. Empress Dowager Cixi coerced Emperor Guang Xu into submission; and fled Beijing. Nearly 100 remaining or rebuilt structures in Yuanmingyuan were sacked again by the Eight-Power Allied Forces, even Qing soldiers, palace servants, brigands and ruffians. In the next more than 40 years, the last remnants were removed and stolen away as well with only a wasteland left.

The Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park was built in 1988, covering the eastern half of original Yuanmingyuan park. All waters have been restored. Many of original structures have also been rebuilt at their former sites as they were. As the core of the ruin park, the ruins of western building remain in broken-down and shabby state, narrating the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the park to the public. With green hills, vast waters and flourishing trees, the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park is a charming place to relax. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection, and a state 4A scenic attraction spot.