Yuanmingyuan park is located in the western suburb of Beijing and the eastern part of Haidian District. According to The Study of Old Beijing News, Yuanmingyuan park was built in the 48th year of the Kangxi reign of Qing Dynasty (1709). It was a gift from Emperor Kangxi to his fourth son, Yinzhen. The name “Yuanming” symbolizes the principles of harmony and wisdom.
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, in addition to partial expansions and renovations of the Yuanmingyuan park, the Changchun Garden and Qichun Garden were also incorporated into Yuanmingyuan park, which forms the basic layout of the “Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan”. Over the 150 years of construction by the Qing royal family, Yuanmingyuan park gained worldwide reputation for its vast geographical scale, outstanding construction techniques, exquisite architectural landscapes, rich cultural collections, and profound cultural connotations, earning it the title of “the epitome of all garden art”. French writer Victor Hugo praised it as “a model of idea and art.”
The “Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan” boast over a hundred scenic spots, combining the essence of renowned southern gardens and ancient Chinese garden art. During its peak, the architectural styles of Yuanmingyuan encompassed almost every possible layout and form of ancient Chinese architecture. Its landscape predominantly focuses on water, drawing inspiration from famous water scenes in southern China. In the rear lake area, nine islets symbolize the “Nine Provinces” when Yu the Great travelled around China, with each island featuring unique gardens or scenic clusters that have distinctive features and complement each other harmoniously.
In the tenth year of Xianfeng reign (1860), Yuanmingyuan was looted and destroyed by the Anglo-French allied forces. It was partially reconstructed in the twelfth year of Tongzhi reign (1873), but halted due to financial difficulties. In the twenty-sixth year of Guangxu reign (1900), during the invasion of Beijing by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the remaining buildings of the Yuanmingyuan were completely destroyed in the chaos of war. In the third year of the Republic of China (1914), the management of Yuanmingyuan was transferred to the Summer Palace. Subsequently, the relics within the garden were subjected to long-term encroachment by those in power, as well as various forms of theft and damage. It became ruins in the end.
After the establishment of People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Party and government implemented various protective measures for Yuanmingyuan site, ensuring its preservation to be relatively intact. Tree planting and greening efforts began in the garden in 1956, and in 1976, a specialized management agency, the management office of Yuanmingyuan, was established to initiate large-scale preservation and restoration activities. In January 1988, the Yuanmingyuan site was designated as the third batch of major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level by the State Council, and it was opened to the public on June 29 of the same year.
Address: 28 Qinghua Xilu (W. Rd), Haidian, Beijing
Official Website: http://www.yuanmingyuanpark.cn/
Ticket Prices:
Adult Ticket: 10 RMB per person
Half-price Ticket: 5 RMB per person
Adult All-Access Ticket: 25 RMB per person
Half-price All-Access Ticket: 10 RMB per person
Opening Hours: 7: 00-19: 00 (April 1st to October 31st); 7: 00-17: 30 (November 1st to March 31st of the following year)
Purchase Method: “Yuanmingyuan Ticket” WeChat Mini Program
