Why is the Summer Palace famous?

The Summer Palace is famous mainly because it blends profound historical significance, exquisite royal garden art, and rich cultural value. It is a treasure of ancient Chinese imperial gardens and an important carrier of traditional culture and art, attracting tourists from all over the world to appreciate its unique charm.

The main reasons for the fame of the Summer Palace are based on several aspects:

Historical Background:

Originally named Qingyi Garden, the Summer Palace was built by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty to honor his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing. Located in the western suburbs of Beijing, it is one of the largest existing imperial gardens in China. However, the history of the Summer Palace has not been smooth. It was severely damaged during the invasion of the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1888) and renamed the Summer Palace. It suffered destruction again in 1900 during the warlord conflicts and the period of Kuomintang rule. Nevertheless, the deep historical background of the Summer Palace continues to attract countless visitors.

Reasons for its Fame:

  • Cultural Value:
    • Artifact Collection: The Summer Palace houses a large number of precious artifacts, totaling over forty thousand items, including bronzes, jades, ancient books, and various other traditional artifacts, some of which are even foreign. These collections are not only diverse but also of high quality, with some reaching national standards, such as the Guo Xuan Gongzi White Ding and other national treasures.
    • Architectural Style: The architectural style of the Summer Palace is rich and diverse, integrating classical architectural elements of palaces, bridges, pavilions, and towers, such as the Grand Qing Garden and the Tower of Buddhist Incense, showcasing the elegant beauty of ancient Chinese architecture.
  • Natural Landscape:
    • Harmony of Mountains and Waters: With Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as its foundation, the Summer Palace incorporates design techniques from Jiangnan gardens, creating a beautiful scenery where mountains and waters complement each other. The lake covers about three-quarters of the park area, perfectly blending with the surrounding ancient buildings and natural landscapes.
    • Long Corridor and Bridges: One of the most famous attractions in the park is the 728-meter-long Long Corridor, which is one of the longest corridors in the world and is listed in the Guinness World Records. Meanwhile, the bridges in the park are also distinctive, adding to the park's ornamental value.
  • Historical Significance:
    • Center for Political and Diplomatic Activities: Since the late Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace has become the most important political and diplomatic center outside the Forbidden City for the rulers of the late Qing Dynasty. Many significant historical events are closely related to this place, such as Emperor Guangxu's reception of the modernist thinker Kang Youwei.

In summary, the Summer Palace is widely acclaimed for its deep historical background, rich cultural value, and unique natural landscape. It is not only one of the representative works of ancient Chinese imperial gardens but also an important carrier of traditional Chinese culture and art. These factors together constitute a solid foundation for the fame of the Summer Palace.


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