The Old Summer Palace is adjacent to the Summer Palace. It consists of three gardens, namely Yuanming Garden, Changchun Garden, and Qichun Garden. It is a large - scale imperial palace - garden created and managed by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty over more than 150 years.
Historical Status and Scale
During its heyday, the Old Summer Palace combined Chinese and Western architectural styles, gathering countless rare treasures and art treasures. It can be regarded as the pinnacle of garden art and was also one of the most magnificent imperial gardens in the world at that time. It was not only a place for the imperial family's leisure and entertainment but also embodied the glorious culture and superb architectural skills during the prosperous period of the Qing Dynasty. The buildings in the garden were exquisitely beautiful, and the landscape design was ingenious. There were different forms of buildings such as pavilions, terraces, towers, chambers, corridors, waterside pavilions, studios, halls, bridges, and embankments, which contrasted with mountains, waters, flowers, and trees, forming a picturesque and beautiful scene.
Historical Disaster and Current Situation
However, in 1860, the brutal invasion of the Anglo - French Allied Forces brought a devastating blow to the Old Summer Palace. They burned the main buildings of the Old Summer Palace to ashes, and countless treasures were looted. This once - glorious imperial palace - garden was reduced to ashes in the fire. Today, when tourists come here, they can only see the ruins. They can only pay their respects among these remains, trying to find the once - glorious shadow of the great empire. These ruins stand quietly there, like silent witnesses of history, telling the tragic history and warning people to remember the past, cherish peace, and cultural heritage.
Features of Qichun Garden
There are numerous small scenic spots scattered throughout Qichun Garden. It is a large collection of small water - feature gardens. The water features here are well - arranged, complementing the surrounding vegetation, creating a delicate and charming garden atmosphere. Nowadays, Qichun Garden is the main venue for the annual Lotus Festival in the Old Summer Palace. During the lotus - blooming season, large areas of lotuses are in full bloom in the water. The lotus leaves are lush, and the lotuses are delicate and charming, with colors of pink and white. They contrast with the surrounding ancient building ruins, forming a unique and poetic picture. Tourists can stroll along the lakeside, admire the grace of the lotuses, and feel the wonderful atmosphere of the interweaving of the vitality of nature and the vicissitudes of history.
Highlights of Changchun Garden
Changchun Garden features large - scale water features, and its landscape is magnificent. Among them, the well - known "Great Fountain Ruins" is located here. The "Great Fountain Ruins" is a European - style fountain building with a unique architectural shape and exquisite craftsmanship. Although it has become a ruin today, its former magnificence can still be seen from the remaining structure. The huge carved stones and the well - designed water - jet openings all show its former glory. These ruins witness the combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles in the Old Summer Palace and also reflect the Qing Dynasty's tolerance and integration of foreign cultures at that time.
Beauty of Apricot Blossoms in Spring
In spring, the apricot blossoms in the Old Summer Palace are in full bloom, presenting a picturesque and beautiful scene, just as described in the imperial poem - "When spring is deep, the flowers bloom brightly, like rosy clouds". The apricot blossoms bloom from March to April. When in full bloom, the flowers cover the branches. Seen from a distance, they look like pink - and - white clouds. These apricot blossoms are distributed throughout the garden, and the main viewing places are the Flower God Temple, Mingchun Gate, and Apricot - Blossom Spring Hall. When tourists are in the apricot - blossom forest, when the breeze blows, the petals fall one after another, making people feel as if they are in a dream - like world, making them feel the vitality of spring. At the same time, it also adds a bit of softness and romance to this garden full of a sense of historical heaviness.
In addition, there are also rich cultural resources and supporting facilities around the Old Summer Palace. There are some cultural exhibition halls nearby, which display the historical changes and cultural connotations of the Old Summer Palace through various forms such as pictures, real objects, and models, allowing tourists to have a deeper understanding of the past and present of this imperial garden. At the same time, there are also dining and resting places to provide convenience for tourists. After the tour, tourists can taste Beijing - style delicacies and take a break to relieve the fatigue of the journey. These surrounding facilities provide tourists with a more comprehensive experience during their visit to the Old Summer Palace, enabling people to enjoy a comfortable touring environment while experiencing history and culture. Moreover, the Old Summer Palace often holds various cultural activities, such as historical and cultural lectures, traditional art performances, etc., to further promote Chinese traditional culture and enhance people's awareness of cultural heritage protection.
It is hoped that through these introductions, more people can understand the historical value and cultural charm of the Old Summer Palace and jointly participate in the action of cultural heritage protection.
