The Summer Imperial Palace is a marvellously spacious park ensemble consisting of residential buildings, temples and pavilions spread along the shores of an artificial lake. The palace is located 20 kilometres from the capital Beijing.
This palace is recognised as a magnificent example of the harmonious combination of imagination and functionality. Pavilions, ceremonial halls, paths and bridges are a kind of frame for the picturesque landscape, and many temples and altars give peace.
The Summer Palace has a vast territory with a total area of the Iheyuan Park - about 290 hectares. All the buildings of the palace complex, considered the main ones, are concentrated in the northern part of the park. A little south of Longevity Mountain is Kunminghu Lake.
The park can be roughly divided into two parts: the park and the palace. Passing through the main gate of the park, you will find yourself in the Zhenshoudian Pavilion, which once housed the residence of Empress Cixi and her son Guangxu. On the eastern side is the Deheyuan Theatre Complex, and on the western side is the 728-metre-long gallery.
In total, there are more than 3,000 structures in the park. Each of the architectural groups has its own characteristics.
Yiheyuan includes three landscape areas: a natural lake, a hill, and palace ensembles. At the same time, the Yuquanshan Mountains enter as a distant background for Yiheyuan. Here, the natural landscape is organically combined with the artificially created garden and park ensemble, making Yiheyuan a remarkable example of local garden and park art.
The pedestrian area of the palace park, which is also its special attraction, consists of Wanshoushan Mountain, Kunminghu Lake, modelled on Hangzhou's Xihu Lake, as well as Houshan Mountain and Houhu Lake.
One of the most important structures of the palace ensemble is the Fosiange Temple, rising in the centre of Wanshoushan Mountain. There are also 6 bridges here on the Xili Dam. The most marvellous among them is the Jade Bridge.
The Dundi Causeway on the east side is connected to the causeway on the west. In its central part is a bridge of 17 arches, the stone pillars of the bridge are adorned with 564 lions.
Iheyuan Park acts as a residence and at the same time a garden for Chinese emperors. The lakes once played a crucial role in the water supply system of Beijing, as they were used to transport water between the capital and its surroundings.
