The Summer Palace, also known as Yihe Garden (simplified Chinese: 颐和园; traditional Chinese: 頤和園; pinyin: Yíhéyuán), was built by Chinese Empress Cixi as a place for rest and quiet reflection. It is a large area in Beijing that includes lakes, gardens, and palaces. During the Qing dynasty, it was an imperial garden and features Longevity Hill (万寿山; 萬壽山; Wànshòu Shān), Kunming Lake, and the Seventeen Hole Bridge. The Summer Palace covers 2.9 square kilometers (1.1 square miles), with three-quarters of its area covered by water.

Longevity Hill is about 60 meters (200 feet) tall and has many buildings arranged in order. The front part of the hill has grand halls and pavilions, while the back part is peaceful and filled with natural beauty. Kunming Lake, which is 2.2 square kilometers (540 acres) in size, was created by humans. The soil removed during its construction was used to build Longevity Hill.

The Summer Palace was inspired by gardens in southern China. It includes over 3,000 ancient Chinese buildings that hold more than 40,000 valuable historical items from different dynasties.

In December 1998, UNESCO added the Summer Palace to its World Heritage List. It was described as "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design." The natural hills and open water are combined with man-made structures like pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, and bridges to create a beautiful and balanced design.

Additionally, the Summer Palace is the endpoint of the Central Route of the South-North Water Transfer Project. This project brings water from Danjiangkou Reservoir in Hubei Province, traveling 1,267 kilometers (787 miles), to supply Beijing with water.

History

The Summer Palace has a long history that began during the Jin dynasty, which was led by the Jurchen people. In 1153, the fourth ruler of the Jin dynasty, Wanyan Liang, moved the capital from Huining Prefecture (now part of Acheng District, Harbin, Heilongjiang) to Yanjing (now Beijing). He ordered the construction of a palace in the Fragrant Hills and Jade Spring Hill, which are now in the northwest of Beijing.

In 1271, after the Yuan dynasty established its capital in Khanbaliq (now Beijing), the engineer Guo Shoujing started a water project. He directed water from Shenshan Spring in Baifu Village, Changping, into the Western Lake (later called Kunming Lake). Guo wanted to create a water reservoir to provide a steady water supply for the palace.

In 1494, the Hongzhi Emperor of the Ming dynasty built the Yuanjing Temple for his wet nurse, Lady Luo, near Jar Hill (later renamed Longevity Hill). Over time, the temple fell into disrepair and was abandoned. The area around the hill grew with vegetation. The Zhengde Emperor, who ruled after the Hongzhi Emperor, built a palace near the Western Lake and turned the area into an imperial garden. He renamed Jar Hill "Golden Hill" and the lake "Golden Sea." Both the Zhengde Emperor and the Wanli Emperor enjoyed boating on the lake. Later, during the reign of the Tianqi Emperor, the court eunuch Wei Zhongxian claimed the garden as his personal property.

During the early Qing dynasty, Jar Hill was used as a site for horse stables in the imperial palace. Eunuchs who broke rules were sent there to do chores like weeding and cutting grass. When the Qianlong Emperor began his reign in 1735, many imperial gardens were built in the Haidian District of Beijing. This increased water use significantly. At the time, most water for the Western Lake came from the freshwater spring on Jade Spring Hill, while some came from the Wanquan River. Any disruption to the water flow from Jade Spring Hill would have affected the capital’s water systems.

In 1749, the Qianlong Emperor decided to build a palace near Jar Hill and the Western Lake to celebrate his mother’s 60th birthday. He expanded the Western Lake to create two new lakes, Gaoshui Lake and Yangshui Lake, to improve the water system. The three lakes provided water for the imperial gardens and nearby farmland. The emperor named the three lakes "Kunming Lake" after a similar lake from the Han dynasty. Earth removed during the expansion was used to enlarge Jar Hill, which was renamed "Longevity Hill." The Summer Palace, completed in 1764 at a cost of over 4.8 million silver taels, was originally called "Qingyiyuan" (Gardens of Clear Ripples).

The design of the Summer Palace was inspired by a Chinese myth about three divine mountains in the East Sea: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. Three islands in Kunming Lake—Nanhu Island, Tuancheng Island, and Zaojiantang Island—were built to represent these mountains. The lake’s layout was modeled after the West Lake in Hangzhou. Many features in the palace also imitated famous places in China, such as Lake Tai, Yueyang Tower, and Yellow Crane Tower. The centerpiece was the "Great Temple of Gratitude and Longevity," and a long corridor with artistic decorations was built. However, the palace was not meant for daily living or government work, so the Qianlong Emperor only visited it briefly.

As the Qing dynasty weakened after the Daoguang Emperor’s reign (1820–1850), the Summer Palace fell into disrepair. During the Second Opium War, British and French forces invaded the Summer Palace and nearby Old Summer Palace in 1860, destroying and burning them. This happened as part of an invasion to force the Qing government to negotiate.

Between 1884 and 1895, during the Guangxu Emperor’s reign (1875–1908), Empress Dowager Cixi reportedly used up to 22 million silver taels—originally meant for the navy—to rebuild the Summer Palace for her 60th birthday. Other sources say the amount was smaller. Construction focused on areas near Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The palace was renamed "Yiheyuan" (Summer Palace) in 1888. In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, the Summer Palace was damaged again by the Eight-Nation Alliance. It was restored two years later.

In 1912, after the last emperor, Puyi, abdicated, the Summer Palace became the property of the former Qing imperial family. Two years later, it opened to the public with ticket sales. In 1924, after Puyi was removed from the Forbidden City, the Beijing government took control and turned it into a public park.

After 1949, the Summer Palace briefly housed the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party. Some key figures, like Liu Yazi and Jiang Qing, also lived there. Since 1953, major restoration work has been done, and the Summer Palace is now a public park and tourist attraction.

In November 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World Heritage Site. In late 2006, the Chinese government began distributing commemorative coins to honor the Summer Palace as a global cultural treasure.

Attractions

The Summer Palace is centered around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Kunming Lake covers about three-quarters of the area. Most important buildings are arranged along the north–south axis of Longevity Hill, which is divided into the front hill and the back hill. Three small islands are located within Kunming Lake: Nanhu Island, Zaojiantang Island, and Zhijingge Island. The West Dam of Kunming Lake divides the lake into two parts. The East Dam was built during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor. The attractions of the Summer Palace can be divided into six sections: the Halls, Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake, the Farming and Weaving Picture Scenic Area, the Long Corridor, and the Central Axis area. The Summer Palace is one of the most-visited places in China, ranking in the top five. It receives about 10 million visitors each year.

• Eastern Palace Gate (simplified Chinese: 东宫门; traditional Chinese: 東宮門; pinyin: Dōnggōngmén): This is the main entrance to the Summer Palace. Two bronze lions on either side of the gate date back to the Qianlong Emperor's time. The Cloud Dragon Steps in front of the gate are remains from the Old Summer Palace. The sign above the gate has three Chinese characters meaning "Summer Palace," which were written by the Guangxu Emperor.
• Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (仁寿殿; Rénshòudiàn): This hall was where court sessions were held. It was called the "Hall of Good Governance" during the Qianlong Emperor's time but was renamed by the Guangxu Emperor. A well near the hall is called the "Year-Prolonging Well." A rockery behind the hall was designed to look like the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou. Stalactites in the hall are remains from the Old Summer Palace.
• Hall of Jade Billows (玉澜堂; Yùlántáng): This building is located west of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. It was the living quarters of Qing emperors. The Guangxu Emperor was once held here by Empress Dowager Cixi.
• Yiyun Hall (宜芸馆; Yíyúnguǎn): This building is north of the Hall of Jade Billows. It was originally a library during the Qianlong Emperor's time but became the living quarters of Empress Longyu during the Guangxu Emperor's time. It housed stone carvings of calligraphy written by the Qianlong Emperor.
• Dehe Garden (德和园; Déhéyuán): This area includes the three-storey Great Opera Hall, where opera performances were held.
• Hall of Joy and Longevity (乐寿堂; Lèshòutáng): This was the living quarters of Empress Dowager Cixi.
• Long Corridor (长廊; Chángláng): This corridor stretches from the Hall of Joy and Longevity in the east to Shizhang Pavilion in the west. It is 728 metres long and features artistic decorations, including paintings of famous Chinese places, scenes from Chinese mythology, and stories from The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars and The Four Great Classical Novels.
• Hall of Dispelling Clouds (排云殿; Páiyúndiàn): This building is located on the central axis of Longevity Hill. It was originally called the Great Temple of Gratitude and Longevity and was renovated in 1892. It became a place where Empress Dowager Cixi received guests, held ceremonies, and celebrated her birthday.
• Tower of Buddhist Incense (佛香阁; Fóxiānggé): This tower is located on the front hill of Longevity Hill. It was originally meant to be a nine-storey Buddhist pagoda modeled after the Yellow Crane Tower. Construction stopped after the eighth storey was built during the Qianlong Emperor's time. The tower is 41 metres tall, stands on a 20-metre stone base, and is supported by eight ironwood pillars. Empress Dowager Cixi visited the tower to offer incense and pray.
• Sea of Wisdom (智慧海; Zhìhuìhǎi): This structure is located on the peak of Longevity Hill. It is made of colored glass and contains over 1,000 statues of Buddhist figures. It was partially damaged during the Cultural Revolution.
• Stele of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake (万寿山昆明湖碑; Wànshòushān Kūnmínghú Bēi): This stele is located east of the Hall of Dispelling Clouds. It has six Chinese characters written by the Qianlong Emperor.
• Pavilion of Precious Clouds (宝云阁; Bǎoyúngé): This building is west of the Tower of Buddhist Incense. It was originally called the "Bronze Pavilion" and built in 1755. Its doors and windows were stolen by soldiers from the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900. They were later purchased by overseas Chinese and returned to the Summer Palace. As of March 2026, the western courtyards of Longevity Hill, including the Bronze Pavilion, are closed to the public. Staff say there are no plans to reopen this area.
• Stone Boat (石舫; Shífǎng): The Stone Boat is 36 metres long. A wooden boat that once stood here was destroyed in 1860 and replaced with a marble copy that has western-style paddle wheels.
• Oriole-Listening Hall (听鹂馆; Tīnglíguǎn): This hall is located near the Stone Boat. It was used for listening to birdsong.
• Zhichun Pavilion (知春亭; Zhīchūntíng): This pavilion is on the east bank of Kunming Lake, south of the Hall of Jade Billows.
• Wenchang Tower (文昌阁; Wénchānggé): This tower was built to look like a city gate. It served as an important entrance to the Summer Palace from the east and south during the Qianlong Emperor's time. A nearby building called the Wenchang Hall displays cultural artefacts from the Summer Palace.

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Transport

The Beigongmen station on Line 4 of the Beijing Subway is located near the North Gate. The Summer Palace West Gate station on the Xijiao Line of the Beijing Subway is located near the West Gate.