Overview
The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan, "Garden of Nurtured Harmony") lies in the Haidian district northwest of central Beijing, China. The site originated as Qingyi Garden, expanded under the Qianlong Emperor in the 18th century; the present name and much of the layout reflect the rebuilding ordered by Empress Dowager Cixi after Anglo-French destruction in 1860 and further work after 1888, reputedly using funds intended for the navy.
Kunming Lake — expanded to resemble West Lake at Hangzhou — covers about three quarters of the 293-hectare park. Longevity Hill rises on the north shore, terraced with temples and halls linked by the Long Corridor (Chang Lang), a 728-metre painted gallery. The Marble Boat (清晏舫) on the lake shore symbolises the durability of the Qing throne. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Suzhou Street, and Tower of Buddhist Incense anchor key vistas.
UNESCO listed the Summer Palace in 1998 as an outstanding example of Chinese landscape garden design. It ranks among the top visitor attractions in Beijing alongside the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.