Old Summer Palace

Old Summer Palace
Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Old Summer Palace
Location	Beijing, China
Architect	Qianlong Emperor
Built	1707-1709, 1725-1774
Demolished	1860

Old Summer Palace. The Old Summer Palace, also known as the Yuanmingyuan, was a complex of palaces and gardens in Beijing, China, built during the Qing dynasty as a summer resort for the Qianlong Emperor and other Chinese emperors, including the Kangxi Emperor and the Tongzhi Emperor. The palace was designed by the Qianlong Emperor in collaboration with Jesuit missionaries, such as Jean-Denis Attiret and Giuseppe Castiglione, who introduced European architecture and landscape gardening techniques to China. The Old Summer Palace was also influenced by the designs of the Summer Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the Palace of Versailles in France.

History

The Old Summer Palace was built in 1707-1709, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, and was expanded and renovated by the Qianlong Emperor in 1725-1774. The palace was designed to be a symbol of the power and wealth of the Qing dynasty, and was used as a summer resort by the Chinese emperors and their families, including the Cixi Emperor and the Guangxu Emperor. The palace was also used for diplomatic receptions and ceremonies, such as the reception of the Macartney Embassy in 1793, led by George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, and the signing of the Treaty of Kulja in 1851, between China and Russia. The Old Summer Palace was also a center of learning and culture, with a large library and a collection of art and artifacts, including works by Qiu Ying and Wen Zhengming.

Architecture

The Old Summer Palace was a complex of palaces, gardens, and lakes, designed in a combination of Chinese architecture and European architecture styles, with influences from the Garden of Versailles and the Park of the Villa Borghese in Rome. The palace was built with a combination of materials, including marble, granite, and wood, and featured intricate carvings and decorations, such as the works of Giuseppe Castiglione and Jean-Denis Attiret. The palace was surrounded by a large wall, with several gates, including the Gate of the Palace of Established Happiness, and was divided into several sections, including the Palace of Established Happiness and the Garden of Clear Ripples. The Old Summer Palace was also home to several famous landmarks, including the Bronze Pavilion and the Xiyang Lou, which was designed by Jean-Denis Attiret and Giuseppe Castiglione.

Destruction

The Old Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860, during the Second Opium War, by British and French troops, led by James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and Charles de Montauban, in retaliation for the Treaty of Tianjin and the execution of European prisoners, including Harry Smith Parkes and Henry Loch. The destruction of the palace was a major blow to the Qing dynasty, and marked the beginning of the end of the dynasty's power and influence, leading to the Xinhai Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of China by Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang. The destruction of the palace was also widely condemned by European intellectuals and artists, including Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens, who saw it as an act of vandalism and a loss of cultural heritage, comparable to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria.

Restoration

After the destruction of the Old Summer Palace, the site was left abandoned and neglected, until the 1980s, when the Chinese government began a restoration project, led by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Beijing Municipal Government. The restoration project aimed to rebuild and restore the palace to its original state, using traditional materials and techniques, and was supported by UNESCO and other international organizations, including the World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The restoration project was completed in 2000, and the Old Summer Palace was reopened to the public, with several exhibitions and museums, including the Museum of the Old Summer Palace and the Beijing Museum.

Tourism and Cultural Significance

Today, the Old Summer Palace is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year, including Chinese tourists and foreign tourists, who come to see the palace's beautiful gardens and lakes, and to learn about its history and cultural significance, through guided tours and exhibitions, such as the China National Museum and the Palace Museum. The Old Summer Palace is also an important cultural and historical site, and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with other famous sites, such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The palace is also a symbol of Chinese culture and history, and is celebrated in Chinese literature and art, including the works of Cao Xueqin and Wu Jingzi, and is an important part of Chinese national identity, along with other national symbols, such as the Chinese dragon and the Great Wall of China. The Old Summer Palace has also been the subject of several films and documentaries, including The Last Emperor and The Opium Wars, and has been featured in several books and articles, including The Cambridge History of China and The Journal of Asian Studies.