Yuanmingyuan is a large-scale royal garden in the Qing Dynasty, known as the "Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens", and its ruins are important historical witnesses in Beijing. As a "garden of ten thousand gardens", Yuanmingyuan's historical background carries the peak achievements of royal gardens in the Qing Dynasty, and its cultural value integrates Chinese and foreign landscaping art and historical memory. It is a very special existence in the cultural heritage of China and even the world.
I. Basic information
• Address: No. 28 Tsinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing.
• Tickets: 10 yuan/person for adults; minors, the elderly over 60 years old, etc. are free. If you want to visit the Western Building Ruins and other scenic spots, you need to buy a separate site ticket for 15 yuan/person, or you can directly buy a 25 yuan/person joint ticket (including large tickets and site tickets).
• Opening hours: roughly 7:00-19:30, the peak season may be extended, subject to the official announcement on the day.
II. Historical background: changes from the royal palace to the ruins
The development process of Yuanmingyuan ran through the middle of the Qing Dynasty, witnessing the heyday and decline of the dynasty. The core can be divided into three stages:
1. Construction and Expansion (1707-1860): The Peak Construction of the Royal Garden
• Origin: It was built in the 46th year of Kangxi (1707). At first, it was a private garden given by Kangxi to the emperor's fourth son, Qin Zhen (that is, the later Yongzheng Emperor). It was named "Yuanmingyuan", which means "round and into the god, bright and universal", which is the expectations of the monarch's virtue in Confucian culture.
• Expansion peak: After Yongzheng ascended the throne, it was upgraded to a royal palace for large-scale expansion; the Qianlong Dynasty was the golden period of Yuanming Garden, which not only improved the landscape of the garden, but also added Changchun Garden (1745) and Qichun Garden (1760), forming a pattern of "Yuanming Three Gardens", with a total area of 350 hectares (equivalent to 5 Forbidden City).
• Functional positioning: It is not only a "summer palace" (the four emperors of Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang and Xianfeng live and work here for about half a year for half a year), but also a cultural treasure trove for collecting rare treasures and highlighting imperial power - the park contains copies of the Complete Books of the Four Libraries, calligraphy and painting of all dynasties, bronzes, jade, etc. Counting national treasures, it can be called the "Royal Museum of the Qing Dynasty".
2. Catastrophe and Burning (1860-1900): the devastating blow to civilization
• The first burning (1860, Second Opium War): After the British and French allied forces invaded Beijing, they carried out a large-scale robbery of Yuanmingyuan in the name of "retaliation against the Qing government for taking hostages", and then set it on fire. The fire lasted for three days and three nights. The wooden buildings in the park turned into ashes, the brick and stone structures collapsed, and a large number of cultural relics were looted (it is estimated that more than 1.5 million cultural relics were lost, scattered in many national museums and private collections around the world).
• The second destruction (in 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China): When the Eight-Nation Alliance occupied Beijing, Yuanming Garden was looted again. The remaining building components and trees were demolished and cut down by soldiers and local exiles. The lakes in the park were filled in, some sites were changed to farmland, and the garden pattern was further damaged.
• Subsequent abandonment: During the Republic of China period, the cultural relics in the park continued to be stolen, and the ruins were gradually reduced to ruins. Only some brick and stone components (such as the Western Building Ruins) were left to witness the glory of the past.
3. Modern protection and inheritance (after 1949 to the present): from ruins to cultural heritage
• After 1949, the government protected the Yuanmingyuan site and prohibited destruction; in 1988, it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit; in 2000, it was selected into the World Heritage List (as an integral part of the "Beijing Royal Garden").
• Today's Yuanmingyuan is open to the public in the form of a "site park". The core positioning is "historical witness, cultural inheritance, patriotism education base". At the same time, through AR/VR technology, archaeological excavation and other ways, the public can understand its historical origin.
III. Cultural value: the peak of Chinese and foreign landscaping art and the carrier of historical memory
The cultural value of Yuanmingyuan far exceeds that of ordinary gardens, with artistic, historical and spiritual values. It is a model of multicultural integration:
1. Artistic value: the "culmination" of Chinese classical gardens
• The landscaping philosophy of "the unity of heaven and man": Yuanmingyuan takes the waterscape as the core (waters account for about 40%), imitates the rivers and lakes of the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, and combines with the open terrain of the northern plains to form a landscape of "mountains surrounded by water, twists and turns and deep". The rockeries, bridges, pavilions and pavilions in the garden all coexist in harmony with the natural environment, reflecting the Taoist ideas of "Taoism and Nature" and Confucianism of "Middle Harmony". It is the highest realm of Chinese classical gardens "although made by man, it seems to be opened from heaven".
• Integration of north and south garden styles: The garden not only has the majestic atmosphere of the northern gardens (such as the open water surface of Fuhai and the solemn pattern of the Zhengda Guangming Hall), but also absorbs the exquisiteness and flexibility of the gardens in the south of the Yangtze River (such as the Lion Forest imitates the Lion Forest in Suzhou, and the Fenghe of Quyuan draws on the West Lake in Hangzhou), concentrating the essence of gardens all over China.
• The first large-scale integration of Chinese and foreign landscaping art: The "Western Building Ruins" in Changchun Garden is the first attempt to introduce Western architectural styles into the royal garden of China. It was designed by Italian missionary Lang Shining and French missionary Jiang Youren, integrating Baroque architecture, Gothic fountains and Chinese stone carving elements (such as the Great Water Method) Han white jade components, the zodiac beast head fountain of Haiyan Hall, broke the barriers of Chinese and Western garden art, and is a physical witness of Chinese and foreign cultural exchanges in the 18th century.
2. Historical value: the "living fossil" of Qing Dynasty society
• Witness of royal life and politics: Yuanmingyuan is not only a garden, but also a microcosm of politics, economy and culture in the Qing Dynasty. The Zhengda Guangming Hall in the garden is the place where the emperor rules and holds ceremonies. The Qinzheng Qinxian Hall is the place where the emperor reviews the petitions. All kinds of palaces, study rooms, stages and temples reflect the daily life and religious beliefs of the royal family, which provides an important physical basis for the study of the court system, etiquette and culture of the Qing Dynasty.
• Cultural treasure trove of cultural relics collection: Yuanmingyuan was once the largest royal museum in ancient China, collecting cultural relics from the Xia and Shang Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including bronze, calligraphy and painting, porcelain, jade, ancient books, etc. Although most of the cultural relics have been lost, the only remaining documents and a small number of returned cultural relics (such as the head of the twelve zodiac animals) can still reflect the collection level and cultural aesthetics of the Qing Dynasty.
• Historical coordinates of modern China: The burning of Yuanmingyuan is one of the beginnings of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society in modern China. It is not only the destruction of a garden, but also a symbol of the decline of a dynasty and the robbery of civilization. It has become an important historical site for the Chinese people to remember history and oppose aggression.
3. Spiritual values: the symbol of patriotism and cultural inheritance
• An important base for patriotism education: the current situation of the ruins of Yuanmingyuan visually shows the aggression and atrocities of imperialism, stimulates the national self-esteem and patriotism of the Chinese people, and becomes the spiritual symbol of "don't forget the national shame and revitalize China".
• Exploration of cultural inheritance and restoration: The protection and restoration of Yuanmingyuan (such as site cleaning, archaeological excavation, digital restoration) reflects the respect and inheritance of cultural heritage. Through AR technology, the "rebirth of ruins" and VR technology restore the past landscape, which not only allows the public to understand the original historical appearance, but also avoids the destruction of the historical value of the site by excessive restoration, and provides the "Yuanmingyuan model" for the protection of world cultural heritage.
• Common warning of human civilization: The fate of Yuanmingyuan is not only a historical tragedy in China, but also a loss of human civilization. It warns the world that cultural heritage is the common wealth of all mankind and needs to be protected by all countries. It opposes aggression and destruction, highlighting the theme of the times of "peace, development, cooperation and win-win".
IV. Traffic Guide
• Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Exit B of Yuanmingyuan Station, and you can walk to the South Gate, which is the most convenient public transportation mode.
• Public transportation: You can take buses No. 331, 432, 498 to the east gate of Yuanmingyuan.
• Self-driving: There is a parking lot in the park, but the parking space is tight on holidays and during the tourist season. It is recommended to leave as soon as possible or choose other means of transportation.
V. Main points of view
• Western Building Ruins: It is the symbol of Yuanmingyuan, including the remaining Han white jade carving architectural components such as Dashui Law, Guanshui Law, Haiyan Hall, etc. It is the first large-scale attempt to imitate Western architecture and garden fountains in China's royal garden.
• Fuhai Scenic Area: It is the largest water surface in the park, symbolizing the "East China Sea" in ancient mythology. In summer, you can take a boat tour of the lake. The Yaotai Ruins of Pengdao in the Fuhai Sea is based on the myths and legends of "Penglai Fairy Island". Although the building has been destroyed, the pattern still exists.
• Qichun Garden and Changchun Garden: Qichun Garden has an open water surface and beautiful bridge shape, which is a good place for strolling and resting. In addition to the Western Building, Changchun Garden also has many traditional Chinese garden landscape sites built by waterscapes, reflecting the landscaping technique of "interest by water".
VI. Tour route
• 2-hour joint ticket line: South Gate → Jianbi Pavilion → Hanqiu Pavilion → Xianren Chenglu → Sankong Bridge → Ginkgo Avenue → West Entrance of the Ruins → Western Building Ruins → East Entrance of the Ruins → Panoramic Sandbox → Lion Forest → East Gate Exit.
• 2.5-hour walking line: Zhengjue Temple → Chunzezhai → Sanyuan Junction → Ginkgo Avenue → West Entrance of the Ruins → Western Building Ruins → East Entrance of the Ruins → Panoramic Sand Plate → Lion Forest → East Gate Exit.
• 3 hours by boat: East Gate → East Gate of the Ruins → Western Building Ruins → West Entrance of the Ruins → Fahui Temple → Zelan Hall → Panoramic Shapan Wharf → Haiyue Kaili → Kingfisher Bridge → Sanyuan Junction → Xianren Chenglu → Hanqiu Pavilion → Jianbi Pavilion → South Gate Exit.
VII. Food recommendation
• Restaurant in the garden: Yuanmingyuan Restaurant is located in the scenic spot, with a beautiful environment. The dishes are mainly Cantonese cuisine, and at the same time, it integrates specialties from other places, such as white-cut chicken, roast goose, etc. In Yuanming Garden, there are also canteens selling fried noodles, bean paste, fried liver and other Beijing snacks, as well as cafes serving coffee, milk tea, pizza, pasta, etc.
• Nearby restaurants: Four Seasons Minfu Roast Duck Shop is famous for its authentic Beijing roast duck. The roast duck skin is crispy and tender, with sweet noodle sauce, cucumber strips and green onion segments, which tastes wonderful. Huang Jihuang's three-juice stewed pot (Yuanmingyuan store) is located on the 5th floor of Baiwang Shopping Mall, Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District. It features three-juice stewed pot, and the price is affordable. Ma Zhenzong Ramen (Yuanmingyuan Store) is opposite Baiwang Mall on Yuanmingyuan West Road. The ramen tastes strong and the soup is rich. Sanyuan Meiyuan (Xingyuehui Store) is an old dairy store in Beijing with a long history. Double-skinned milk, almond tofu and other dairy products are worth a try.
VIII. Accommodation recommendation
• Holiday Inn Express Beijing Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park: It is about 1.4 kilometers away from Yuanmingyuan, adjacent to Beijing Sports University and Agricultural University, with convenient transportation. The hotel provides express check-in/check-out services, fitness center, etc.
• Qiuguo Smart Hotel Beijing Shangdi Agricultural University Branch: 1.8 kilometers away from Yuanmingyuan, excellent location, equipped with air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave oven and other facilities, room service and 24-hour front desk service.
• Holiday Inn Express Beijing Shangdi: 3.5 kilometers from Yuanmingyuan and a 10-minute walk from Shangdi Subway Station (Line 13). The hotel offers free parking and a business center. The rooms are equipped with cable TV, electric kettles, etc.
• Yanshan Hotel: 4.7 kilometers away from Yuanmingyuan, with large rooms and new facilities, affordable prices, not far from the subway station, convenient to travel.
IX. Practical tips
• You can rent an official audio guide or listen to the explanation through the official applet to gain a deeper understanding of the history behind the site.
• The park is vast, and it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
• If you want to experience AR Ruins Rebirth, VR "Dream Back to Yuanmingyuan" and other projects, remember to bring a power bank, which consumes power quickly.