SituatedinthewesternoutskirtsofHaidianDistrict,theSummerPalaceis15kilometers(9.3miles)fromcentralBeijing.Havingthelargestroyalparkandbeingwellpreserved,itwasdesignated,in1960bytheStateCouncil,asaKeyCulturalRelicsProtectionSiteofChina.Containingexamplesoftheancientarts,italsohasgracefullandscapesandmagnificentconstructions.TheSummerPalaceisthearchetypalChinesegarden,andisrankedamongstthemostnotedandclassicalgardensoftheworld.In1998,itwaslistedasoneoftheWorldHeritageSitesbyUNESCO.

　　ConstructedintheJinDynasty(1115-1234),duringthesucceedingreignoffeudalemperors;itwasextendedcontinuously.BythetimeoftheQingDynasty(1644-1911),ithadbecomealuxuriousroyalgardenprovidingroyalfamilieswithrestandentertainment.Originallycalled'QingyiGarden'(GardenofClearRipples),itwasknowasoneofthefamous'threehillsandfivegardens'(LongevityHill,JadeSpringMountain,andFragrantHill;GardenofClearRipples,GardenofEverlastingSpring,GardenofPerfectionandBrightness,GardenofTranquilityandBrightness,andGardenofTranquilityandPleasure).LikemostofthegardensofBeijing,itcouldnoteludetherampagesoftheAnglo-Frenchalliedforceandwasdestroyedbyfire.In1888,EmpressDowagerCixiembezzlednavyfundstoreconstructitforherownbenefit,changingitsnametoSummerPalace(Yiheyuan).Shespentmostofherlateryearsthere,dealingwithstateaffairsandentertaining.In1900,itsufferedagain,beingransackedbytheEight-PowerAlliedForce.Afterthesuccessofthe1911Revolution,itwasopenedtothepublic.

　　ComposedmainlyofLongevityHillandKunmingLake,TheSummerPalaceoccupiesanareaof294hectares(726.5acres),threequartersofwhichiswater.Guidedbynature,artistsdesignedthegardensexquisitelysothatvisitorswouldseemarvelousviewsandbeamazedbyperfectexamplesofrefinedcraftworkusingthefinestmaterials.

　　CenteredontheTowerofBuddhistIncense(Foxiangge)theSummerPalaceconsistsofover3,000structuresincludingpavilions,towers,bridges,andcorridors.TheSummerPalacecanbedividedintofourparts:thecourtarea,front-hillarea,front-lakearea,andrear-hillandback-lakearea.

　　Front-HillArea:thisareaisthemostmagnificentareaintheSummerPalacewiththemostconstructions.ItslayoutisquitedistinctivebecauseofthecentralaxisfromtheyardofKunmingLaketothehilltop,onwhichimportantbuildingsarepositionedincludingGateofDispellingClouds,HallofDispellingClouds,HallofMoralGlory,TowerofBuddhistIncense,theHalloftheSeaofWisdom,etc.

　　Rear-HillandBack-LakeArea:althoughtheconstructionsarefewerhere,ithasauniquelandscape,withdensegreentrees,andwindingpaths.Visitorscanfeelararetranquility,andelegance.ThisareaincludesscenicspotssuchasKunmingLakeandBackLake,whichpresentsatranquilbeauty,GardenofHarmoniousInterest,builtbyimitatingthelayoutofSouthernChina’sclassicalgardens,andSuzhouMarketStreet,endowedwithastrongflavorofthewatertownSuzhou.

　　CourtArea:thisiswhereEmpressDowagerCixiandEmperorGuangxumetofficials,conductedstateaffairsandrested.EnteringtheEastPalaceGate,visitorsmayseethemainpalacebuildings:theHallofBenevolenceandLongevityservedastheofficeoftheEmperor,theHallofJadeRi