Situated in the western outskirts of Haidian District,the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from central Beijing. Having the largest royal park and being well preserved,it was designated,in 1960 by the State Council,as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Site of China. Containing examples of the ancient arts,it also has graceful landscapes and magnificent constructions. The Summer Palace is the archetypal Chinese garden,and is ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world. In 1998,it was listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234),during the succeeding reign of feudal emperors; it was extended continuously. By the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),it had become a luxurious royal garden providing royal families with rest and entertainment. Originally called "Qingyi Garden" (Garden of Clear Ripples),it was know as one of the famous "three hills and five gardens" (Longevity Hill,Jade Spring Mountain,and Fragrant Hill; Garden of Clear Ripples,Garden of Everlasting Spring,Garden of Perfection and Brightness,Garden of Tranquility and Brightness,and Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure). Like most of the gardens of Beijing,it could not elude the rampages of the Anglo-French allied force and was destroyed by fire. In 1888,Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled navy funds to reconstruct it for her own benefit,changing its name to Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). She spent most of her later years there,dealing with state affairs and entertaining. In 1900,it suffered again,being ransacked by the Eight-Power Allied Force. After the success of the 1911 Revolution,it was opened to the public.
Composed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake,The Summer Palace occupies an area of 294 hectares (726.5 acres),three quarters of which is water. Guided by nature,artists designed the gardens exquisitely so that visitors would see marvelous views and be amazed by perfect examples of refined craftwork using the finest materials.
Centered on the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions,towers,bridges,and corridors. The Summer Palace can be divided into four parts: the court area,front-hill area,front-lake area,and rear-hill and back-lake area.
Front-Hill Area: this area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop,on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds,Hall of Dispelling Clouds,Hall of Moral Glory,Tower of Buddhist Incense,the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom,etc.
Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: although the constructions are fewer here,it has a unique landscape,with dense green trees,and winding paths. Visitors can feel a rare tranquility,and elegance. This area includes scenic spots such as Garden of Harmonious Interest and Suzhou Market Street.
Court Area: this is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials,conducted state affairs and rested. Entering the East Palace Gate,visitors may see the main palace buildings: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the office of the Emperor,the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived,the Hall of Joyful Longevity,Cixi‘s residence,the Hall of Virtue and Harmony where Cixi was entertained.
Front Lake Area: covering a larger part of the Summer Palace,opens up the vista of the lake. A breeze fluttering,waves gleam and willows kiss the ripples of the vast water. In this comfortable area there are the Eastern and Western Banks,the Seventeen-Arch Bridge,Nanhu Island,and so on. On the western bank float six distinct bridges amongst which the Jade-Belt Bridge is the most beautiful.
hi! Hello, I am your tour guide xiao Lin, today by I lead you to visit the world cultural heritage, beautiful scenery of the Summer Palace, we hope you have a good time, play fun.
Now we have been to the Summer Palace, the Summer Palace formerly qingyi park, built qing dynasty emperor qianlong fifteen years as AD 1750, Beijing in the qing dynasty, is the famous "three mountains five gardens" built in the last one. Also is one of China's four big gardens, on March 4, 1961, the Summer Palace was announced as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units, in August 1998 was rated as the world cultural heritage, the Summer Palace on May 8, 20xx by the national tourism administration approval for the state 5 a-class tourist scenic spot.
The Summer Palace gates, around the hall, came to the famous promenade. The promenade is 720 meters long, divided into 273 rooms, each cross on the sill between painted with colorful painting, painting the character, the grass, the landscape, as well as some historical stories and myths and legends.
Tourists now here we are at the foot of longevity hill, you look at that whether there is a three layer architecture of anise pyramid stand that is halfway up the mountain, buddhist incense under the rows of resplendent and magnificent palace, is to go to the temple.
Everybody is good! I am your tour guide, my name is zhou, you can call me weeks tour guide.
Dear visitors, walked into the door to the Summer Palace, around the hall, came to the famous promenade, endless promenade workers more than seven hundred meters, is divided into 273 rooms, each between the horizontal bar has a colorful picture, it draw, figures, flowers and plants, landscape. No two of the painting so many picture is the same.
Go to the end of the corridor, came to the foot of longevity hill, please look up, a three layer architecture of anise pyramid stand in the hillside, that is the Buddha incense. The following rows of resplendent and magnificent palace, is the cloud temple.
Now we will go to the kunming lake. Lake island in the center. As long as the visitors through the resin stones can play on the island, the bridge is seventeen little tunnel, call the marble seventeen-arch bridge which, railing pillars, above the pillar carved with a lion, so many lions, have different attitude, no two are just the same.
My explanation is over, now you can free activities, collection 3:30pm here! But beware: 1, no littering, 2, pay attention to safety, finally I wish you all a happy journey!
Dear visitors, everybody! Today is a great pleasure when you tour guide. Welcome to visit the Summer Palace, it is included in the "world heritage" imperial garden. Please tourists in visiting graffito of the scribble don't litter, and destroy its beauty.
Let's look when we first came to the famous promenade, the pillars of the green paint, red paint of the rail, as the eye is not the end. The corridor is not general, there are more than seven hundred meters long, divided into 273 rooms, each of the cross on the sill have colorful paintings, painted figures, flowers and plants, landscape, the tourists, do you believe that? Thousands of no two picture in the picture the same. It is no wonder that is referred to as: the world's first gallery
Swim gallery, we came to the foot of the longevity hill, fellow tourists, you looked up and saw a three layer architecture of anise pyramid? Yes, that is, buddhist incense the rows of resplendent and magnificent palace, below is the cloud temple
Visitors, we boarded the longevity hill, standing in front of the Buddha incense looking down, the Summer Palace, the landscape of the most in fundus. Look forward again, kunming lake quiet like a mirror, like a piece of jade green. Cruise ships, original in the lake slowly glides, almost leave no traces. Kunming lake is a quiet, tourists feel?
So we went down the mountain visit kunming lake. Look, kunming lake around long embankment, the top there are several styles of different stone bridge, involves numerous weeping willows on both sides. Visitors walk through the long stone bridge, can go to the island to play. The stone bridge seventeen little tunnel, so called the marble seventeen-arch bridge which.
Tourists, trip to the Summer Palace, to the end, wish everyone have a good time.
Kunming Lake covers an area of 220 hectares; three quarters of the while Summer Palace. The name of the lake came from “Kunming Pool” in Chang'an, made by Emperor Wu Di in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)for training his solders. Qing Emperor Qianlong just followed the example of Han Wu Di and gave the name Kunming Lake.
Western Bank
Lying west of the Kunming Lake, the Western Bank was built to imitate the Su Bank in Hangzhou, Zheijang Province, and visitors strolling along the bank often feel as though they are beside the West Lake in Southern China. The bank has been created to adorn the lake it surrounds, making it even more lovely and enchanting. Its most distinctive features are its six bridges, which, ranging from north to south, are: Jiehu Bridge(Lake-Bound Bridge),Binfeng Bridge, Jade-Belt Bridge, Jing Bridge(Mirror Bridge),Lian Bridge(White-Silk Bridge)and Liu Bridge (Willow Bridge)。 Its picturesque setting, at once tranquil and elegant, made it a popular retreat for such historical figures as Emperor Qianlong(1711-1799)and Empress Dowager Cixi.
As the entry point to Kunming Lake, Jiehu Bridge forms the boundary between the Front and Back Lakes. It is a cross-shaped stone bridge with three arches. With its square kiosk, Binfeng Bridge has been built in the style of bridges in the countries of Southern China. Jade -Belt Bridge, the most renowned and beautiful of the bridges, is made of white and black marble. Its fluid contour lines are woven graciously together, hence its name-seen from afar, it resembles a jade belt. Its high arches enabled the Emperor Qianlong to pass under it in a dragon boat. Jing Bridge(Mirror Bridge) gets its name from the artistic vision of poet Li Bai(701-762)-two clear rivers like mirrors, two crossing bridges like double rainbow's. Lian Bridge takes its name from the line “limped and serene, the river seems to be white silk” and the Willow Bridge from the line “beneath the sunshine, willow's feather flying beside the bridge”。
Then East Bank
The main scenic sports in the East Bank are: the 17-Arch Bridge, the spacious Paclion, the Bronze Ox, the Heralding Spring Pavilion, the Yelu Chucai Temple, the Wen Chang Belvedere, the Hall of Jade Ripple, the Lodge of Propriety of weeding , etc.
Seventeen-Arch Bridge
Connecting the eastern shore of Kunming Lake in the east and Nanhu Island in the west, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong(1711-1799); with a length of 150 meters(164 yards) and a width of 8 meters (8.75 yards)。 It is the longest bridge in the Summer Palace. The unique scenery is but one of the stunning landscapes in the Summer Palace. With the styles of Lugou Bridge in Beijing and Baodai Bridge in Suzhou, Zhejiang Province, Seventeen Arch Bridge looks like a rainbow arching over the water. On the column of the parapets are 544 distinctive carved white marble lions. On each end of the bridge is a carved bizarre beast. With the biggest arch in the midst of the bridge flanked by eight others, visitors can count nine arches on either side. According to ancient thought, the number nine symbolizes good fortune and safety; and the meticulous design of the bridge embodies it perfectly.
Bronze Ox
A bronze ox set on bluestone wave-lined pedestal overlooks the east shore of Kunming Lake. The ox, cast in the image of a live creature back in 1755, is said to possess flood control powers. Da Yu, the legendary master in floods prevention, would commit an iron ox into the water on completion of every of his projects. It has become customary since Tang Dynasty(618-907)to line the edge of waterways with oxen. Hence this bronze ox was upon the bank, too. This Bronze Ox, sitting besides the water and overlooking the harmonious and enchanting lake scenery, was rather imposing. The Emperor Qinglong(1711-1799)had personally dedicated this particular bronze ox. On the back of the ox is an 80-character-posy in seal character-“Golden Ox Inscription” by him.
Nanhu Island
Nanhu Island lies southeast of Kunming Lake opposite Longevity Hill. With an area of about 1 hectare(2.47 acres),it is the largest island in the Summer Palace. When Emperor Qianlong(1711-1799) enlarged Kunming Lake, he ordered workers to save the temples and building but to excavate the earth; thus creating Nanhu Island. On the island are Hanxu(Modesty) Hall, Wangyan(Looking---at-the-Eaves) Pavilion, Dragon King Temple, and other structures. Hanxu Hall is the major construction on the island; Wangyan Pavilion was the site from which to inspect navy drills; and the Dragon King Temple, which changed its name to “Guangrun Lingyu Temple”(Widely-Moistening Fancy-Rain Temple),was employed to pray for rain. The is banked with carved stone-stripes and surrounded by blus and white stones. Visitors can reach the island through the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.