This Map provides a clear overview of most structures, palaces, towers and pavilions within the Beijing Summer Palace Park (YiHeYuan; Literally "Gardens of Nurtured Harmony"), located in the North-Eastern section of the Haidian District. The Map is however NOT complete and omits several sections of the extensive Palace Gardens on the South- and West sides of Kunming Lake. Miniature impressions of these parts are included in the set-in box.
The first structures within the Park date from the year 1750 AD during the Qianlong Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD - 1911 AD) when the Palace was started as the "Garden of Clear Ripples". It grew into the main Imperial Summer Retreat after the burning of the Yuanmingyuan Summer Palace in 1860 AD. The Beijing Summer Palace Park was declared a (UNESCO) World Cultural Heritage Site in 1998, and remains the single most splendid example of preserved Chinese Imperial Palace Garden Architecture in the world today. (The other examples are Beihai Park (Beihai Gongyuan) in Beijing and "Fleeing the Heat Mountain Villa" (Bishu Shanzhuang) in Chengde (Jehol), Hebei Province). The extensive Palace Garden Park covers an a total area of 2.9 square kilometers and includes the largest hand-dug lake in the world, Kunming Lake.
Browse the Map to find the names and location of each Palace, Pavilion or Monument within the Palace Park or refer to Yiheyuan - Summer Palace Map 2 for an alternative. Follow the links where available to more information and photos on each subject of interest.
