On stage, there are upper and lower trapdoors, allowing actors to descend from the "heavens" or emerge from "below." Over 100 years ago, at the grand opera stage in Summer Palace, this was one of the signature performances in the Qing imperial theater.

Today, this grand opera stage, the largest surviving ancient theater in China, is now part of an exhibition area in the Summer Palace Museum. At the ongoing "Selected Pieces of Beijing's Eight Imperial Handicrafts," artifacts from the eight renowned "Beijing crafts," including cloisonné, are on display, showcasing scenes from the royal life of the past. This transformation of ancient architecture is now breathing new life into modern cultural experiences.

In Beijing, a city known for its concentration of imperial gardens, the Summer Palace has "lived" for over 270 years. In 1750, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty ordered the construction of the Garden of Clear Ripples (Qingyiyuan), a large natural landscape garden centered around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, which would later become the Summer Palace as we know it today.

By that time, the northwestern outskirts of the capital already housed several imperial gardens, including Yuanmingyuan, Changchun Garden (Changchunyuan), Jingyi Garden at Xiangshan, and Jingming Garden at Yuquanshan. With the addition of the Garden of Clear Ripples, the northwest region formed a garden cluster consisting of flatland, mountain, and water gardens, exemplifying the phrase "with the completion of one garden, the entire area comes alive."

This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Summer Palace's opening to the public. Praised by the World Heritage Committee as a "masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design," the Summer Palace is revitalizing traditional elements within its cultural relics and ancient structures, ensuring that this historic garden maintains a strong presence in modern life.

The Summer Palace currently preserves 879 ancient buildings. Most of the brick and stone structures date back to the Qianlong era, while the majority of the other buildings are from the Guangxu period. The decorative paintings on the Long Corridor (Chang Lang) showcase a blend of ancient and contemporary styles. For example, the persimmon motif represents "everything as you wish", and bats are considered lucky, as the Chinese word for bat ("fu") sounds like the word for good fortune. Lotus flowers symbolize "pure integrity," serving as a reminder to officials of moral conduct.

The oil paintings in the Long Corridor (Chang Lang), beloved by visitors, depict a rich array of flowers, birds, insects, fish, and mythological stories. These works are not only visually captivating but also inspire deeper exploration of traditional culture.

Since 2020, the Summer Palace has hosted an annual lecture series, inviting the public to learn about garden culture and participate in heritage preservation. The Summer Palace also engages in exchange programs with other renowned gardens to share experiences on opening up and promoting public access. With its doors wide open, this historic garden welcomes visitors from all over the world.

Translator: NIU Lihua

Reviewer: BAI Jing