The Summer Palace, or Garden of Harmonious Peace (Yi He Yuan), in the northwestern part of Beijing was originally an imperial garden and travel lodge in the Qing dynasty.Despite the devastations it has suffered in the past, including burning-down by the AngloFrench Allied Forces and plunder by the Allied Forces of Eight Powers, it is still attracting many visitors with its picturesque scenery and immense historical value.

Cmpared with the countless number of heritage sites across the length and breadth of China, the Summer Palace is young in its history. This,however, enabled the Summer Palace to take advantage of the best in the art of landscape architecture accumulated in a thousand years by the Chinese people and to become an unexcelled landmark in the history of the Chinese art of landscape architecture. This advantage, plus its position in the politics of modern history and the repeated disasters it has suffered, has turned the beautiful Summer Palace into a site that is attracting the attention of the people of the whole world.The author has devoted much effort in preparing the book and explains the intricacies in the history of the Summer Palace in simple terms. Together with you, he inquires into the historical origin of the buildings, structures, gardens, hills and lakes in the Summer Palace and provides you with accurate information to answer questions you may want to ask during your visit. The book is illustrated with the finest landscape photographs to enhance the attraction of the Summer Palace.

ABOUT THE SUMMER PALACE

HISTORY OF THE SUMMER PALACE

PALACEAREA

LONG CORRIDOR AREA

FRONT OF THE LONGEVITY HILLAREA

BACK OF THE HILL AND REAR RIVER AREA

WESTERN PART OF THE LONGEVITY HILL AREA

LONGEVITY HILL AREA

KUNMING LAKE AREA