Beijing is quite different from other major historical cities in China including Xi’an, Luoyang and Nanjing, because it is the only city in China where you can experience the imperial lifestyles of the emperors in ancient China, by visiting the relatively intact palaces, museums and gardens. Nearly all touriststraveling to Beijingaim to experience Beijing’s historical culture. I know you must have the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven on your touring list, but what about the back gardens of the emperors of Qing Dynasty? What are they? Which amazing features do they have? Where are they located?
Three Hills and Five GardensThere is no official title like emperors’ back gardens, but 8 attractions located in Beijing’s Haidian District do serve as the back gardens of the past emperors and empresses residing in Beijing. In Chinese, people usually call them “Three Hills and Five Gardens”. The Three Hills refer to the Fragrant Hills, theLongevity Hilland Yuquan (Jade Spring) Hill. The Five Gardens refer to the Garden of Clear Ripples (the Summer Palace), Jingyi Garden, Jingming Garden, Changchun Garden andYuanmingyuanGarden (the Old Summer Palace). These attractions were not built at one time but in different times during the Qing Dynasty, and the emperors of that time retired to these places to go through summers or to have a good rest when they were tired.
TheFragrant HillsThe Fragrant Hills or Xiangshan is located in the northwest of Haidian District. It got its name because the huge rocks on it look like huge censers. The most beautiful season of it is in autumn, when the red and yellow maple and other trees leaves are the most attractive view for tourists. Other than the leaves, it also has cultural and historical attractions inside, such asSun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and a residence where China’s Chairman Mao once lived. It is also suitable to visit the park in spring, for the lush trees and dense forests will just make you feel so relieved. Today’s Fragrant Hills Park was once named Jingyi Garden. Getting there is so easy, Just take Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station, and get on Bus No. 318, 331, 360, 696 or 563 to the park. Now the admission ticket is only 5 yuan for each visitor.
The Longevity HillThe Longevity Hill, 58.59 meters high, is an offshoot of the Yanshan Mountain range. The Tower of Buddhist Incense is always considered the center of the entire Summer Palace. Not only does it look beautiful in itself, but it has the architectural beauty which makes the entire Summer Palace alive and lively. To celebrate the 60th birthday of Emperor Qianlong’s mother, Emperor Qianlong named the hill Longevity Hill. Getting there is so easy, for you only need to take Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station.
Yuquan HillYuquan Hill or The Jade Spring Hill is situated five to six li west of the Summer Palace, from where you can see the tower standing on the peak of Yuquan Hill, which on the other hand serves as another ornament of the Summer Palace. The name of the hill originated from the spring, which sparkled like sliver, and so it was given such a name. The Yuquan Temple is the most well-known attraction inside the hill. Now the hill is not open to the public. The area where Yuquan Hill is situated was once named Jingming Garden.
The Garden of the Clear RipplesThe Garden of the Clear Ripples was once used as the name of today’s Summer Palace, which was given by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. The two major attractions of it are the Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, which accounts for about 3/4 of the entire area of the Summer Palace. The West Causeway divides the entire lake into two parts. It was built by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, destroyed by the French and British armies, and renovated by the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi. In building the palace, the emperor referred to the West Lake in Hangzhou and theClassical Gardens of Suzhou. The West Causeway is the replica of the West Lake’s causeway.
Changchun GardenChangchun Garden is located north of the Old Summer Palace and west of Peking University, and its original site is the “Qinghua Garden” built during the Ming Dynasty. Based on it, the Manchu government of the Qing Dynasty built up the renowned Changchun Garden, which gives off an air of simplicity and features the views of gardens. It was the earliest garden built byEmperor Kangxiamong the five gardens. The scenery of the garden is stunning. Location: Changchun Garden of Peking University, No. 5, Summer Palace Road, Haidian District, Beijing
The Old Summer PalaceThe Old Summer Palace must be well-known by both China and the world, because it was invaded by the Franco-British armies and burned to the ground. But do you know anything about its history before it was completely destroyed? It was originally built during Emperor Kangxi’s reign during the Qing Dynasty, and the emperor then granted it tohis fourth son, his successor as the following emperor. It was small in the beginning but was gradually enlarged after the successor ascended the throne. Since it has already been destroyed, today’s tourists can only view its splendor from the documents recording the palace. It is located to the east of the Summer Palace.
