A Most Harmonious Delight – The Summer Palace in Beijing
Beijing is the home of one the most beautiful imperial gardens in the world, the elegant Summer Palace. It was reconstructed by China’s last feudal dynasty, the Qing, from preceding imperial gardens. The landscape of the Summer Palace is graceful, almost poetic and the manmade structures are the finest examples of ancient art and artefacts.
The gardens were sadly destroyed by fire, during the British-French invasion of 1860. However, in 1888, funds were embezzled from the navy by the Empress Dowager Cixi to rebuild the magnificent Summer Palace, also known as the Garden of Harmony.
Over three quarters of the area is covered by water, with imperial living areas, official areas for matters of state and an abundance of astounding scenery. The fourth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty has especially chosen the area at the foot of the West Hill, to make the Garden, in the mid eighteenth century. He chose the best landscape artists, traditional artisans and skilled architects to construct a garden to rival all in China. When the gardens got into the hands of the Empress, she made even more extravagant changes, and changed the name to Yiheyuan, the Summer Palace.
They merged all the lakes, ponds and pools with the ancient Wongshan Lake, to create the vast and stunning Kunming Lake. Whilst they used the earth they dig from the lakes to make the Wonshan Hill bigger and renamed it Longevity Hill. The Summer Palace was opened to the public after the 1911 Revolution and to date represents the might of imperialism and the splendour of nature.
Over three thousand buildings and structures abound in the Summer Palace, perfectly in harmony with the natural landscape. The most glorious structures within the Summer Palace are the bridges. Across the vista of the Longevity Lake, spans the Seventeen Arch Bridge, taking its followers to an isle on the lake. There are 544 stone lions carved into the railings, an extraordinary skilled example of ancient craftsmanship.
Another beautiful bridge is the Jade Emperor Bridge, a majestic arched bridge. It is the most splendid of the six bridges on the western shore. The Qingjan Fang is the marble boat, another fine example of the expertise of ancient Chinese peoples, with its western design and traditional Chinese relics. The Garden of Harmonious Delight is one of the hundreds of scenic areas, with the Summer Palace. The largest island on the Longevity Lake is Nanhu Island, and on the shore stands the magnificent statue of the Bronze Ox.
In December 1998, the Summer Palace was named a World Heritage Site. One if its most famous landmarks is the Pavilion of Buddha Fragrance, decorated in gorgeous detailed designs. It rises forty one metres in the air. Towards the western part of the Lake, there are three isles, a reflection of the three fairy islands where immortals dwell on the high seas.
The Long Gallery is the longest corridor in the world; it is a shelter along the Shore of Kunming Lake, at the foot of Longevity Hill, and also serves as a gallery for fine art and relics.
Hidden within the shadows of Longevity Hill, are Buddhist Temples, a symbol of the spirit of China. There is the Suzhou Street, a wonderful and cunning replica of a commercial street. The Taoist also worshiped at the Pavilion of the God of Literature.
The Summer Palace blends the natural with the earthly creations of many ancient artist and builders, who saw within nature exquisite beauty, and inspired, added and enhanced what they saw. This celebration of fantastic scenery has left us with the magnificent Summer Palace.
