The Summer Palace

The area now known as the Summer Palace was first built in the 12th century Jin Dynasty and was called Golden Hill Palace. It is 12 km outside o Beijing. At roughly 300 hectares (726.5 acres) it is the largest existing imperial garden in China. The largest areas are Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the rest holds over 3000 structures and many gardens. It can be divided into four parts:

1. Front-Hill Area: This area holds the most number of buildings to include some of the Summer Palace's most important buildings.

2. Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: Fewer constructions with many trees and winding paths.

3. Court Area: The main entrance to the Summer Palace, the East Palace Gate brings people into the Court Area where administrative work was conducted. This is where the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu ruled.

4. Front Lake Area: The Lake and six bridges.

The major scenic spots are:
-The Pavilion of the Fragrance of Buddha: It's walls are carved with images of Buddha
-The Marble Boat: Built in 1755, the boat is completely made of marble.






It began as a retreat for the emperors away from the main imperial palace, the Forbidden City. In the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Kublai Khan had canals constructed to transport water to the palace. The Kunming Lake was enlarged and became a reservoir. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qian Long hired landscape artists to replicate palaces and gardens around China, increasing the number of gardens found on property. He renamed the spot Longevity Hill. In 1860, many buildings were destroyed when the Anglo-French Allied Forces invaded China.

From 1888-1898, Empress Dowarger Cixi used funds she took funds meant for the Imperial Navy to restore the Summer Palace, and then moved her administration there upon completion. She renamed it Yi He Yuan. Many of her changes were expensive and excessive. The kitchen was eight courtyards and employed 128 eunuch cooks. She exclusively used 290 of 294 hectares. The palace began to symbolize the imperial family's decadence.

During the Boxer Rebellion, the palace was destroyed again. When CiXi returned in 1903, she ordered a full-scale restoration and that is what exists today.

In 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List.