Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relics protection unit of China, and a patriotic education base.

Yuanmingyuan is situated in Haidian District in the western suburbs of Beijing, next to the Summer Palace. It was initially constructed in the 46th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1709) and is also referred to as the “Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan,” encompassing Yuanmingyuan along with its supplementary gardens, Changchunyuan and Wanchunyuan. This imperial garden in the style of a Qing Dynasty temporary palace spanned 350 hectares (over 5,200 acres), with water surfaces covering about 140 hectares (2,100 acres). It featured over a hundred scenic garden landscapes and was a large-scale imperial garden created and maintained by Qing emperors over the course of 150 years.

The name “Yuanmingyuan” was given by Emperor Kangxi. “Yuanming” was the Buddhist name consistently used by Emperor Yongzheng since his days as a prince. When Emperor Kangxi bestowed the garden upon Yinzhen (later Emperor Yongzheng), he personally inscribed the name “Yuanmingyuan,” inspired by this. Emperor Yongzheng explained that the meaning of the two characters “Yuanming” is: “‘Yuan’ (round, complete) means virtue so refined it enters the realm of the divine—exemplifying the timing and balance of a noble person; ‘Ming’ (bright, luminous) means illumination that shines universally—symbolizing the wisdom and clarity of an enlightened person.” In other words, “Yuan” refers to moral perfection beyond ordinary people, while “Ming” refers to political achievements that radiate brilliance and embody perfect wisdom.

Yuanmingyuan inherited over 3,000 years of outstanding Chinese gardening traditions. It blended the grandeur and elegance of imperial architecture with the subtle charm of gardens found in the water towns of southern China. At the same time, it incorporated European garden architectural styles, unifying diverse design elements into a harmonious and perfectly proportioned whole. Its overall layout conveys a sense of unity and aesthetic excellence, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese garden design and standing as the most exceptional large-scale garden of its time. Emperor Qianlong described it as: “Truly a place blessed by heaven and earth, an imperial pleasure ground beyond compare.” Yuanmingyuan was not only famous for its gardens but also served as a royal museum with an extraordinarily rich collection. The halls were adorned with countless pieces of rosewood furniture and displayed numerous rare cultural relics from both China and abroad. The Wenyuan Pavilion within the garden was one of the four major imperial libraries in the country. Precious books and artifacts such as the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu), the Complete Collection of Illustrations and Writings from the Earliest to Current Times (Gujin Tushu Jicheng), and the Essential Compilation of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu Huizhai) were preserved throughout the garden. Yuanmingyuan was once world-renowned for its vast scale, exceptional craftsmanship, exquisite architectural complexes, abundant cultural collections, and profound national cultural significance. It was hailed as “the model of all garden arts” and the “Garden of Gardens.”

In October 1860, during the 10th year of Emperor Xianfeng’s reign, Yuanmingyuan was looted and burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces. In 1979, the ruins of Yuanmingyuan were designated as a key cultural relics protection unit of Beijing. The Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park was established in 1988, preserving only the mountain contours, water systems, garden layouts, and building foundations, with rockeries, stone arrangements, and remnants of carvings still visible. On the former site of the Western-style palaces, a park history exhibition hall has been built to commemorate and reflect on this tragic history.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· 35th Batch of National AAAAA-Level Tourist Attractions (January 2020)

· Third Batch of Key Cultural Relics Protection Units of China