History of the Summer Palace
Originally named as Qinyiyuan (the Garden of Clear Ripples) the Summer Palace locates in the northwest among the beautiful scenery with much quiet and covers an area of 290 hectares. Firstly constructed in 1750 when it was the last prosperous period of the feudal society the Summer Palace was burnt down in 1860 by the Anglo-French Allies. In 1886, the Qin Dynasty (1644-1911) restored Qinyiyuan financed by the capital which was originally earmarked for the Chinese Navy and two year later it was names as Yi He Yuan (Garden of Cultivated Harmony) known to westerner as the Summer Palace. From then on the Summer Palace became an important political center of the Qin Dynasty.
Art achievement
The Summer Palace is comprehensive expression of the traditional Chinese garden arts. On one hand it concentrates all Chinese imperial gardens’ magnificence. On the other hand the Summer Palace is full of interests of the nature by borrowing the beautiful view of the landscape around. Highly embodied the principal of man made but as it were created by the nature the Summer Palace takes Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as her main body. Among the ancient architectures in the garden, the Covered Walkway, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Marble Boat, the 17-Arch Bridge and Grand Theatre are the most famous ones and well known to visits both home and abroad.
Main structures
The Summer Palace is divided into three main parts according to different use. They are the political area, living area and the area for amusement. The main building of the political area is Ren Shou Tang (the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity) which is the place for Empress Dowager Ci’xi and Emperor Guangxu to handle state affairs and receive foreign envoys. The living area is primarily consists of Le Shou Tang (Hall of Joyful Longevity) and Yu Lan Tang (Hall of Jade Billows). It was used to be the living are for Empress Dowager Ci’xi, Emperor Guangxu and his concubines. The Covered Walkway, Rear Hill and Rear Lake make a large area for the imperial family to relax.
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