Summer Palace

It was 3:30 p.m. by the time we arrived at the lakeside to begin our tour of the Summer Palace on 23 May 2026, following our climb of the Great Wall earlier that day.

The Summer Palace (Yíhéyuán, 颐和园) is one of the most renowned imperial gardens in Beijing and a masterpiece of traditional Chinese landscape design. Originally constructed in 1750 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty, it was designed as a luxurious imperial retreat where emperors and their families could escape both the summer heat and the pressures of court life in the Forbidden City. The entire complex was conceived in accordance with classical Chinese aesthetics, emphasizing harmony between architecture, water, hills, and gardens, and the ideal balance between human creation and the natural world.

Covering approximately 2.9 square kilometres, about three-quarters of which is water, the Summer Palace is centered on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Kunming Lake was modelled after the famed West Lake in Hangzhou and serves as the tranquil heart of the grounds. One particularly fascinating feature of the site is that Longevity Hill is not entirely natural. A smaller hill, originally known as Jar Hill, already existed on the site, but during the palace’s construction, large quantities of earth excavated from the expansion of Kunming Lake were used to reshape and elevate it into its present form. This transformation reflects the traditional Chinese “mountain–water” philosophy, in which hills and lakes are deliberately arranged to create a balanced and harmonious landscape.

Our tour began with a boat ride across Kunming Lake. The experience was both serene and breathtaking, with sweeping views of the Long Seventeen-Arch Bridge, the lakeshore, and the graceful willows lining the water, all coming together to form a vivid and picturesque scene.

Just before concluding the boat ride, we passed by the Marble Boat, a decorative stone structure symbolizing stability and permanence.

In September 2000, we didn’t manage to visit the Palace. Nevertheless, even viewing it from a distance was a magnificent experience, as its grandeur was still striking and memorable.

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After disembarking from the boat, we walked along a long covered corridor - stretching more than 700 meters along the lakeshore. It is decorated with thousands of painted scenes from Chinese mythology, literature, and nature. 

We climbed the two flights of long staircase to reach the platform just below the Tower of Buddhist Incense constructed on the Longevity Hill. From there, we were rewarded with panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding gardens.

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As we gathered to leave the Summer Palace, we passed in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. Standing at its entrance were two bronze statues, one of a phoenix and the other of a dragon. In Chinese symbolism, the phoenix, or Fenghuang, represents the Empress, while the dragon symbolizes the Emperor, together reflecting the balance, harmony, and complementary power of the imperial couple.

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The Summer Palace suffered major damage during the Second Opium War when Anglo-French forces looted and destroyed parts of it in 1860. It was later rebuilt under Empress Dowager Cixi, who famously diverted naval funds for restoration, making the palace a symbol of both imperial grandeur and political controversy.

Today, the Summer Palace is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1998. It is more than just a palace, it represents the artistic peak of Chinese garden architecture and offers a vivid glimpse into imperial China’s refined lifestyle and worldview.