the Summer Palace
Located in the western suburbs of Beijing, the Summer Palace is one of the models of ancient Chinese royal garden architecture and a World Heritage Site. It was built in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, covers an area of about two hundred and ninety hectares, and is famous for its unique landscape pattern and exquisite architectural art. The Summer Palace is mainly divided into two major parts: the Summer Palace Area and the Wanshoushan Area. The Summer Palace area is centred on Kunming Lake, which is a clear lake with different sceneries in all seasons. Along the lakeshore, there are simple and elegant buildings, such as the Foxiang Pavilion and Yulantang along the Kunming Lake, which show the design essence of Chinese classical gardens. On the other hand, the Wanshou Mountain area is dominated by the Wanshou Mountain, on which there are the Foxiang Pavilion, the Zhihuihai Lake, the Promenade and other attractions, each of which has a unique architectural style and rich cultural connotation. The Summer Palace is not only an outstanding representative of Chinese classical garden art, but also the main place for the amusement and cultural activities of emperors and kings of all times, showing the profoundness of Chinese royal garden culture.
