Old Summer Palace Ruins Park

China Tourist Attraction
Beijing and surrounding areas
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Yuanmingyuan is located in Haidian District, the western suburbs of Beijing, and is close to the Summer Palace. It was built in the 46th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1709), and is also known as the "Three Yuanming Gardens". It is a collective name for Yuanmingyuan and its attached gardens, Changchun Garden and Wanchun Garden. It is a Qing Dynasty imperial garden, covering an area of 350 hectares (more than 5,200 mu), of which the water surface area is about 140 hectares (2,100 mu). There are more than 100 gardens and landscapes. It is a large royal palace created and operated by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty for more than 150 years. "Yuanmingyuan" was named by Emperor Kangxi. "Yuanming" is the Buddhist name that Emperor Yongzheng has been using since he was a prince. When Emperor Kangxi gave the garden to Yinzhen (later Emperor Yongzheng), he personally named the garden "Yuanmingyuan" for this reason. Emperor Yongzheng explained that the meaning of the two characters "Yuanming" is: "Round and divine, it is the time of a gentleman; bright and illuminating, it is the wisdom of a man of great talent." This means that "round" refers to the perfection of personal morality, surpassing ordinary people; "bright" refers to the political achievements that are bright and illuminating, perfect and wise. Yuanmingyuan inherited China's excellent gardening tradition of more than 3,000 years. It has both the elegance and magnificence of palace architecture and the euphemism and variety of Jiangnan water town gardens. At the same time, it has absorbed the European garden architecture form, integrating garden architecture of different styles into one, making people feel harmonious and perfect in the overall layout, reflecting the essence of ancient Chinese gardening art, and it was the most outstanding large-scale garden at that time. Emperor Qianlong said it was "a place of heavenly treasures and earthly spirits, a place where emperors can enjoy themselves, and there is no place better than this." Yuanmingyuan is not only famous for its gardens, but also a royal museum with a very rich collection. The halls in the garden are decorated with countless red sandalwood furniture and display many rare cultural relics from home and abroad. Wenyuan Pavilion in the garden is one of the four major royal libraries in the country. Precious books and cultural relics such as "Sikuquanshu", "Gujin Tushujicheng" and "Sikuquanshuhuiyao" are stored in various places in the garden. Yuanmingyuan was once famous for its grand regional scale, outstanding construction skills, exquisite architectural landscapes, rich cultural collections and profound national cultural connotations. It was praised as "the model of all garden art" and "the garden of all gardens". In October 1860, the tenth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, Yuanmingyuan was looted and burned by the British and French allied forces. In 1979, the Yuanmingyuan site was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Beijing. In 1988, the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park was built. Only the mountain-shaped water system, garden pattern and building foundations remain. The rockery and stone stacking and carving remains can still be seen. A garden history exhibition hall was built on the site of the "Western Building" for people to pay tribute to, which makes people reflect on the pain.

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Philosophy related to the heritage

Philosophical interpretation of the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park from different perspectives of Eastern and Western philosophy can reveal its deep meaning in historical memory, cultural heritage and personal reflection. From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, the Yuanmingyuan Ruins embody the Taoist idea that "things will turn around when they reach their extremes". The once glorious royal garden is now in ruins, witnessing the historical law of prosperity and decline, reminding people to remain humble and cautious in the face of changes in prosperity and decline. The sense of social responsibility in Confucianism is reflected here, emphasizing the inheritance of historical culture through the protection of ruins and educating future generations to remember historical lessons. The concept of Zen is reflected in the fact that visitors can gain spiritual inspiration through the ruins, feel the tranquility and wisdom brought by historical precipitation here, and achieve inner balance and purification. The ruins park is not only a remembrance of the past, but also a warning to future generations, inspiring people to cherish peace and development. The Western philosophical perspective provides different dimensions of thinking. According to phenomenological theory, the Yuanmingyuan, as a space that carries collective memory and personal experience, is jointly constructed by the experience and consciousness of visitors. Each visitor's experience here is unique, giving this place rich personal meaning. The pragmatic view is that the ruins park is not only to commemorate history, but also an important place to promote education and cultural exchange. It helps the public understand historical events and their impact by displaying the ruins and the stories behind them, so as to better cope with the cultural challenges of modern society. In the framework of existentialism, the Old Summer Palace prompts people to think about the relationship between personal identity and social responsibility. Facing this ruins, tourists may reflect on the impact of war and destruction on human civilization, and realize that everyone has the responsibility to maintain peace and development, make rational use of cultural heritage, and promote social progress. In summary, whether from the perspective of Eastern or Western philosophy, the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park is a cultural bridge connecting the past and the present, the material and the spiritual. It is not only a remembrance of history, but also an inspiration for future actions, reminding us to cherish cultural heritage, inherit historical wisdom, and actively contribute to social harmony and development.

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