The Summer Palace surrounded by the picturesque landscape of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. The 70,000 square meter building features numerous palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Because of its large and priceless collection of cultural artifacts, it was among the first cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.
The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750 but was destroyed and rebuilt several times. After the Anglo-French Allied Forces destroyed it in 1860, the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) rebuilt it in 1886 and renamed it Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony. It served as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. In 1900, it was ravaged by the Eight Power Allied Forces and then repaired in 1902. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Summer Palace has also undergone several major renovations. It has many popular attractions such as the Four Great Regions, Suzhou Street, the Pavilion of Bright Scenery, the Hall of Serenity and the Wenchang Galleries.
The Summer Palace is a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. Incorporating scenes from surrounding landscapes, it radiates not only the grandeur of an imperial garden but also the beauty of nature shown by Chinese architectural style. It was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list in December 1998 and has always been a favorite Beijing attraction.
