The "Three Hills and Five Gardens" is a collective name for the imperial gardens in the western suburbs of Beijing, stretching from the Western Hills to the Wanquan River area. It encompasses Changchun Garden (the Garden of Everlasting Spring), Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park, Jingyi Garden (the Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure) on Xiangshan (Fragrant Hills), Jingming Garden (the Garden of Tranquility and Brightness) on Yuquanshan (Jade Spring Hill), and Qingyi Garden (the Garden of Clear Ripples) on Wanshoushan (Longevity Hill), among others. The area also includes imperial bestowal gardens, private gardens, and temple gardens. Since the Liao and Jin dynasties, the eastern part of the Western Hills of Beijing has been characterized by rolling mountains and overlapping peaks, numerous lakes, and abundant springs. The harmonious interplay of mountains and water created a natural landscape reminiscent of the canal towns in southern China. Consequently, successive dynasties built imperial retreats and temporary palaces in this area. During the Qianlong reign, the water system of the Western Hills was extensively managed to increase the flow of the Jade River, meet the capital's water needs, prevent floods, and develop rice cultivation in the western suburbs. These improvements to the region's river and lake network laid a crucial foundation for the further development of the area's scenic gardens. With their unparalleled splendor, the "Three Hills and Five Gardens" shine brilliantly in the history of world landscape and garden architecture. Their historical and cultural value is far more than that of mere "landscapes" for imperial amusement—they represent the culmination of traditional Chinese garden theory and practice. They are a concentrated embodiment of imperial aesthetic philosophy and a reflection of the politics, economy, and culture of their time—a living chronicle of history and culture expressed through the medium of gardens.
Brief Introduction of Changchun Garden (the Garden of Everlasting Spring)
In 1687, the 26th year of the Kangxi reign (1687), Changchun Garden (the Garden of Everlasting Spring) was fully completed. Built on the site of the former Qinghua Garden owned by Li Wei of the Ming Dynasty, the garden was deeply favored by Emperor Kangxi. He bestowed upon it the name "Changchun," symbolizing perennial vitality, harmonious natural forces, and auspicious governance, and personally authored the Imperial Inscription of Changchun Garden.
According to the Qing-dynasty gazetteer Rixia Jiuwen Kao,, Changchun Garden was situated facing south. Its southern section consisted of palace buildings for conducting state affairs and residential purposes, while the northern section was primarily a garden of watery landscapes. It is regarded as the first imperial garden retreat in Beijing's western suburbs to integrate court functions with leisure and landscape design. Covering an area of approximately 900 mu (about 150 acres), its main structures were organized into three routes — central, eastern, and western — each forming its own system while being interconnected. The central route, from south to north along the central axis, included the Main Gate, the Hall of Nine Classics and Three Affairs (Jiujing Sanshi Hall), the Hall of Spring Radiance (Chunhui Hall), the Hall of Everlasting Spring for the Empress Dowager (Shouxuan Chunyong Hall), the Rear Screen Hall (Houzhao Hall), the Cloud-Edge Pavilion (Yunya Pavilion), the Tower of Refreshing Breezes (Yanshuang Tower), and the Pavilion of Flying Kites and Leaping Fish (Yuanfei Yuyue Pavilion). North of the pavilion were the Lilac Dyke, the Orchid Dyke, the Peach Blossom Dyke, the Front Lake, and the Rear Lake. The eastern route mainly included the Residence of Tranquility and Serenity (Danning Ju), Temple of the Dragon King (Longwang Miao), Sword Mountain (Jian Shan), the Studio of Profound Reflection (Yuanjian Zhai), the Studio of Hidden Artifice (Cangzhuo Zhai), the Lodge of Great Simplicity (Taipu Xuan), the Clear Stream Book House (Qingxi Shuwu), and the Enmu and Enyou Temples. The main structures on the western route included the Studio of Savoring Fragrance (Wanfang Zhai), the Studio of No Idleness (Wuyi Zhai), the Guan Yu Temple (Guandi Miao), the Goddess Temple (Niangniang Miao), the Hall of Concentrated Spring (Ningchun Tang), the Courtyard of the Pearl Stamens (Ruizhu Yuan), the Pavilion for Viewing the Waves (Guanlan Xie), and the Pavilion of Gathered Phoenixes (Jifeng Xuan). West of the main garden, beyond the Great West Gate, was the West Garden, which featured four lakes with buildings such as the Taoyuan Book House (Taoyuan Shuwu), the Place for Observing Virtue (Guande Chu), and the Dew-Receiving Pavilion (Chenglu Xuan) scattered along their shores. This area served as the residence for the young princes.
An official who once witnessed it described the garden: "Its walls were not more than ten feet high. Within the grounds, lush greenery abounded, and vibrant red flowers bloomed in profusion. The hills were gentle and nearly smooth, and it seemed that the master did not favor great peaks or rare-looking rocks. The pavilions and pillars were elegant and unadorned, free from ornate paintings and intricate carvings." From this, it is clear that despite its imperial status, Changchun Garden was noted for its restrained elegance and natural simplicity.
Changchun Garden emphasized its garden landscape by featuring simple architecture. Most buildings were small in scale and had rounded, tile-roofed ridges without colorful paintings. The garden walls were built of "tiger-skin" stone, and the artificial hills were made of gently mounded earth, without using precious lake rocks. The garden contained many ancient trees and vines left over from the Ming Dynasty, as well as plantings of wintersweet, lilac, magnolia, peony, peach, apricot, and grape. It was also home to sika deer, white cranes, peacocks, and bamboo partridges scattered throughout the woods, creating a scene of tranquil beauty. This pursuit of a natural and simple garden style influenced later imperial palaces such as the Chengde Mountain Resort and Yuanmingyuan (before its expansion during the Qianlong reign). The garden also had official posts for its management, including the Minister-Director, Department Director, and Manager. Li Xu, the maternal grand-uncle of the famous literary figure Cao Xueqin, once served as the Minister-Director of Changchun Garden.
Changchun Garden was the first large-scale imperial garden that Emperor Kangxi built for himself in the western suburbs of Beijing. The spring water here was sweet to drink, making it a truly superb place for convalescence and nourishment. In addition to hosting major celebrations, Emperor Kangxi often held court there, setting a precedent for the Qing Dynasty's practice of "governing away from the clamor" of the Forbidden City. According to detailed statistics compiled by later generations, from 1687, when he first visited the garden, until his death in 1722, he spent a total of 36 years visiting the garden annually to reside and manage state affairs. Over these 36 years, he stayed at Changchun Garden a total of 257 times for more than 3,800 days, averaging seven stays and 107 days per year. The shortest stay was 29 days, and the longest was 202 days. This demonstrates the immense importance of Changchun Garden during the Kangxi reign.
Today, the former site of Changchun Garden is occupied by the middle school campus of the Affiliated High School of Peking University, faculty and staff housing of Peking University, and a new dormitory area for Peking University also named Changchun Garden. During the construction of Beijing's Fourth Ring Road, the remains of a garden gate foundation were discovered. In 1981, the gateways of Enyou Temple and Enmu Temple were designated as cultural heritage sites in Haidian District.
Brief Introduction of Yuanmingyuan Park
Located in eastern Haidian District and the western suburbs of Beijing, Yuanmingyuan Park, according to the Qing-dynasty gazetteer Rixia Jiuwen Kao, began construction in the 48th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1709). It was once a garden bestowed by Emperor Kangxi upon his fourth son, Yinzhen (later Emperor Yongzheng). The name "Yuanming" was chosen to represent the virtues of adhering to the principle of balance and moderation, as well as embodying intelligence and wisdom.
After Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he expanded the original bestowed garden, which was mainly divided into three parts: First, the garden's central axis was extended southward, and a palace area was constructed to the south of the original garden, strictly imitating the symmetrical layout along the central axis of the Forbidden City. This included the newly built Main Gate, flanking outer court offices, duty offices for various government bodies, and the Grand Secretariat, forming the main architectural complex where the emperor would "govern away from the clamor" at Yuanmingyuan. Second, the original garden was expanded to the north, east, and west, creating winding streams and islets, with additional pavilions, terraces, and towers. This section became the core of what would later be known as the "Forty Views," personally named by Emperor Qianlong. Third, Fuhai Lake and its surrounding architectural complexes were constructed.
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, in addition to making partial additions and alterations to the original Yuanmingyuan Garden, he also incorporated the Changchun Garden and Qichun Garden into its area, effectively forming the layout of the "Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan." During the Jiaqing reign, the focus shifted to the restoration and expansion of Qichun Garden, making it one of the primary imperial residences. By the Daoguang period, as state affairs declined and financial resources became limited, the Qing court continued to renovate and decorate the Three Gardens. After more than 150 years of construction and development by the Qing imperial family, Yuanmingyuan became renowned worldwide for its vast scale, superb craftsmanship, exquisite architectural clusters, rich cultural collections, and profound cultural significance. It was hailed as "the pinnacle of all garden arts," and the French writer Victor Hugo praised it as "a model of ideal and art."
In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), Anglo-French allied forces invaded Beijing and looted Yuanmingyuan, plundering its cultural relics and setting fire to the Three Hills and Five Gardens. Although Emperor Tongzhi intended to restore it, the project was ultimately halted due to financial difficulties, and the materials were repurposed for other constructions. After the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion, the site suffered further damage from bandits and looters, eventually turning into a ruin.
The Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan contained over a hundred "gardens within the garden" and scenic architectural complexes. It brought together the features of several famous gardens from the regions south of the Yangtze River, blending the essence of ancient Chinese garden art. Using the artistic technique of the "garden within a garden," it infused poetic and picturesque charm into its ever-changing scenery.
The Three Gardens of Yuanmingyuan contained over a hundred "gardens within the garden" and scenic building complexes, showcasing a full range of garden architecture types: halls, chambers, pavilions, terraces, towers, waterside pavilions, studios, lodges, and corridors. At its zenith, the architectural styles of Yuanmingyuan encompassed nearly every possible planar layout and form of ancient Chinese architecture. It featured both simple, elegant single-eave, rounded-roof buildings with grey tile roofs and magnificent palace-style structures with double eaves covered in colorful glazed tiles. The complex included orderly courtyard layouts with one or two main halls and flanking wings, as well as flexible, varied building groups. The main building types included halls, chambers, pavilions, terraces, towers, multi-storied pavilions, waterside pavilions, corridors, studios, lodges, houses, boat-like structures, residences, halls, bridges, sluice gates, walls, pagodas, temples, Daoist abbeys, village dwellings, and market streets—a complete array. The architectural forms were incredibly diverse: in addition to the common rectangular, square, circular, '工' (a Chinese character)-shaped, concave, hexagonal, and octagonal forms, there were many unique and novel shapes, such as crescent, swastika (卍, a traditional geometric symbol), scroll, cross, '田' (a Chinese character), carpenter's square, plum blossom, triangular, fan-shaped, and even interlocking rings and "fangsheng" patterns—truly an inexhaustible variety. The buildings not only absorbed the merits of palace architecture from previous dynasties but also broke free from the constraints of official architectural norms in terms of site planning, exterior design, and group composition, resulting in diverse and eclectic styles. Furthermore, the garden's layout was designed to follow the natural contours of the land, creating a myriad of forms. The various scenes within the garden were interlinked and layered, creating a rich, colorful, and naturally harmonious overall beauty. The French missionary Jean-Denis Attiret vividly described it: "The architecture of Yuanmingyuan is varied and asymmetrical, breaking from convention. Each small palace seems as if it were made from a peculiar model, placed haphazardly, with no two being alike. Everything is so fascinating that one cannot take in the entire scene at a single glance; one must study it bit by bit, with care."
The garden scenery of Yuanmingyuan was predominantly themed around water, deriving its charm from it, with many scenes directly inspired by the ambiance of famous water landscapes in Jiangnan. The Rear Lake area featured nine small islets encircling the lake, symbolizing the "Nine Provinces (Jiuzhou)" in traditional Chinese geography. The small gardens or scenic groups on each islet had their own distinct characteristics while also complementing one another. Shangtian Guangguang on the northern shore presented a vista reminiscent of climbing Yueyang Tower to overlook the vastness of Dongting Lake. Tantang Dangdang on the west bank closely resembled the scene of viewing fish at Jade Spring in Hangzhou, with a description noting: "A pond was dug as a paradise for fish, with thousands of colorful carp swimming beneath the surrounding houses." Wanfang Anhe, located in the western part of the garden, featured buildings constructed in the middle of a lake in the shape of a swastika, providing a cool environment in summer and warmth in winter. Across the water, the opposite shore displayed a splendid tapestry of exotic flowers. Shuiming Mingse, situated in the northern part, employed Western hydraulic techniques to channel water into rooms to power fans, creating an effect described as: "The woods rustle, the waters chill; a breeze through the grove stirs all sounds, a mountain bird sings a single note."
Penglai Yaotai, located at Fuhai Lake, was inspired by the mythical Penglai Isles. It symbolized the three legendary mountains — Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang. On the islet, halls and pavilions were built that, from a distance, looked like "five golden halls and twelve jade towers." Alluding to the legend of Xu Fu seeking the elixir of life at sea, the eastern lake was named "Fuhai" (Sea of Fortune).
Yuanmingyuan, which Emperor Qianlong praised as a masterpiece of garden art — "a place of heavenly treasures and earthly spirits, surpassing all other imperial leisure grounds" — is, without a doubt, a shining pearl in the history of garden development, both in China and the world.
Brief Introduction to Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure (Jingyi Garden)
Jingyi Garden is located on the Fragrance Hill in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing. It is an imperial retreat garden from the Qing Dynasty, built upon a mountainous site. During the Kangxi reign (1662–1722), while visiting the famous scenic spots and ancient temples on the Fragrance Hill, the Kangxi Emperor had the "the Fragrance Hill Palace" built near the Fragrance Hill Temple. In the eighth year of the Qianlong reign (1743), the Qianlong Emperor visited the Fragrance Hill for the first time and was deeply fond of its landscape. He decided to build a mountainous imperial garden on the foundation of the Fragrance Hill Palace. It was completed in the eleventh year of the Qianlong reign and was bestowed the name "Jingyi Garden", with the emperor personally inscribing the names of its Twenty-Eight Scenes. Jingyi Garden covered a total area of 153.3 hectares, with its palace walls meandering along the mountain contours for a total length of about five kilometers. The construction of Jingyi Garden transformed the ancient temple of the Fragrance Hill and the self-contained palace garden into a forbidden imperial retreat.
Relying on the verdant, overlapping peaks of the Western Hills, Jingyi Garden forms a layered depth of field with the Jade Spring Hill and its Jade Peak Pagoda in the distance, creating a backdrop for the imperial gardens of western Beijing and even the entire northwestern suburban plain. From the heights, visitors can overlook the lake and mountain scenery of Jingming Garden and Qingyi Garden from above. Gazing out into the distance, the myriad scenes of the capital unfold in a single sweep, showcasing the overall environmental beauty of northwestern Beijing.
The Fragrance Hill is a spur of the Western Hills, known as one of the "Eight Passes of the Taihang" and poetically reffered to as the "right arm of the Divine Capital". As early as the Tang Dynasty, the Yong'an Temple on the Fragrance Hill was built. In the 26th year of the Dading reign of the Jin Dynasty (1186), the Fragrance Hill Temple was constructed on the original site of Yong'an Temple. By the Ming Dynasty, many additional Buddhist temples had been built, but the Fragrance Hill Temple remained the most magnificent. The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty personally inscribed a plaque for the Laiqing Xuan at the Fragrance Hill Temple. Thereafter, high-ranking officials, noblemen, scholars, poets, believers, and the general public flocked to the area to worship at the temples and tour the mountain scenery, making the Fragrance Hill a renowned scenic spot in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing.
The completion of the "28 scenes" of Jingyi Garden marked its basic establishment. The Qianlong Emperor held a special fondness for Jingyi Garden and composed a set of poems, Poems on the Twenty-Eight Scenes of Jingyi Garden, to express his love for the hills and landscapes within the garden. The 28 scenes named and inscribed by the Qianlong Emperor are: Qinzheng Hall, Lizhu Tower, Lüyun Fang, Xulang Zhai, Yingluo Rocks, Cuiwei Pavilion, Qing Weiliao, Xunlu Slope, Chanchu Peak, Qiyun Tower, Zhile Gorge, the Fragrance Hill Temple, Tingfa Pine, Laiqing Xuan, Lishuang Gao, Xiangyan Shi, Xiabiao Deng, Yuru Spring, Xuanqiu Forest, Yuxiang Guan, Taiyang Slope, Furong Ping, Xiangwu Cave, Qiyue Cliff, Chongcui Hermitage, Yuhua You, Senyu Tablet, and Geyun Bell.
The Qianlong Emperor cherished Jingyi Garden dearly and visited the Frangance Hill almost every year. Because of its proximity to the capital, the garden required no arduous long-distance travel and was therefore not constrained by seasonal or climatic limitations. It offered opportunities for spring outings, escape the summer heat, autumn appreciation of famed red leaves, and winter enjoyment of one of the "Eight Great Sights of Beijing" — the "Clear Snow on the Western Hills" in winter.
Brief Introduction to the Garden of Tranquility and Brightness (Jingming Garden）
Jingming Garden was originally known as "Chengxin Garden, a mountain palace built on the Jade Spring Hill in the 21st year of the Kangxi reign. In the 31st year of the Kangxi reign, it was renamed "Jingming Garden" by imperial decree. In the 15th year of the Qianlong reign (1750), a large-scale expansion began, re-planning and reconstructing the original complex. Despite the extensive reconstruction, its name "Jingming Garden" was retained. The name was chosen to describe the scenery of Yuquan Mountain — its mountains, waters, forests, and springs. The area was especially celebrated for its distinctive landscape features, summarized as “springs, pagodas, and grottoes.”
The Yuquan Lake is regarded as the life and soul of the Yuquan Hill.According to historical records, the spring emerges from rock crevices, gathers into a pond approximately three zhang (about 10 meters) wide, and forms the scenic Jade Spring Pond, creating a striking natural landscape. The Yuquan Hill is situated between the Wengshan River and the Fragrance Hill. It is a small mountain on a spur of the eastern foothills of the Western Hills, with a graceful shape and lush forests. Its northern and southern peaks are flanked by side ridges, shaping it like a saddle. The hill is rich in unique rocks and secluded grottoes, with springs found everywhere, making it a scenic treasure in the western suburbs of Beijing. The earliest written accounts of scenic development at the Yuquan Hill dates to the Jin Dynasty. Emperor Zhangzong of Jin (Wanyan Jing) established two scenic areas in the outskirts of the capital, Zhongdu. One was Danning Palace, built in the northeastern suburbs on what is now Qionghua Isle in Beihai Park; the other was Furong Palace, located in today's Fragrant Hill-Yuquan Hill area. At this time, "Yuquan Chuihong:(later changed to “Yuquan Baotu” during the Qianlong reign) became famous as one of the "Eight Great Sights of Beijing". In the first year of the Mingchang reign (1190), a new waterway named the "Jin River" was dug to divert water from the Yuquan Hill southeast into the Gaoliang River to supplement the water supply near Danning Palace. Both the Jade Spring water and its scenery were praised by scholars and literati. For example, the poem Yuquan by the Ming dynasty scholar Wang Ying vividly depicted the area's charm, likening the flowing water to a jade rainbow and celebrating its clarity, vitality, and life-giving power. After the Yuan dynasty conquered the Jin, a new capital, Dadu, was built northeast of Zhongdu. Emperor Shizu (Kublai Khan) of the Yuan dynasty had the Zhaohua Temple built on the Yuquan Hill during the Zhiyuan era. During the Zhengtong era of the Ming dynasty, Emperor Yingzong ordered the construction of the Upper and Lower Huayan Temples on the mountain's southern slope, which included the Huayan Grotto and Seven Sages Grotto. 250 meters east of the Huayan Temples was the Jinshan Temple, next to the Yulong (Jade Dragon) Grotto, from which a spring flowed, also known as the Dragon Spring. Above it stood the Wanghu Pavilion, which had fallen into ruin by the late Ming dynasty. The Upper and Lower Huayan Temples were burned down by Mongol Oirat forces in the 29th year of the Jiajing reign (1550). Additionally, at the foot of the mountain were the Chongzhen Temple (Daoist temple) and Guanyin Temple. On the hillside next to the Yuquan was the Putuo Temple, which contained the Lügong Grotto, tradditionally associated with the immortal Lü Dongbin. Besides these Buddhist temples, Daoist abbeys, and grottoes, there were also scenic spots like the Kanhua (flower-viewing) Terrace and the Juanman (curtain-rolling) Tower.
During the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (Fulin), the first Qing emperor to rule after entering the Central Plains, he visited the area multiple times for royal hunts and to stay in temporary residence, and also dispatched eunuchs to oversee its management. In the 19th year of the Kangxi reign (1680), construction of the Yuquan Hill Palace began. After its completion in the 21st year of the Kangxi reign, it was named "Chengxin Garden". In 1692 (the 31st year of the Kangxi reign), it was renamed Jingming Garden, thereafter becoming an exclusive imperial garden. By the Qianlong reign, another large-scale expansion was carried out, enclosing the entire Yuquan Hill and its lakes and rivers within the garden walls. By 1753 (the 18th year of the Qianlong reign), the entire area of Yuquan Mountain and the lakes at its foot were enclosed within the palace walls, becoming a natural landscape garden primarily focused on mountain scenery but also featuring smaller water landscapes. Emperor Qianlong personally named sixteen scenic spots, collectively known as the Sixteen Views of Jingming Garden. After its full completion in 1759 (the 24th year of the Qianlong reign), an additional sixteen scenic sites were added. In 1792 (the 57th year of the Qianlong reign), another major restoration of the entire garden was carried out, marking the zenith of construction at the Yuquan Hill.
Jingming Garden extends approximately 1350 meters from north to south, 590 meters from east to west, covering an area of approximately 650,000 square meters. The garden has six gates in total. The principal is the South Palace Gate, a five-bay structure flanked by three-bay side halls on both the east and west, along with subsidiary side gates. In front of the gate lies a palace forecourt formed by three archways, creating a formal entrance plaza. The East and West Palace Gates have the same structure as the South Palace Gate. Additionally, there are a smaller South Gate, a smaller East Gate, and a gate in the northwest connecting wall. Within the garden, there are more than thirty major and minor scenic spots, of which ten are temples or abbeys. Many of the steove caves and grottoes are also related to Buddhist or Daoist themes, and four different styles of pagodas were built on the mountain, testifying to the garden's strong religious character. It can be imagined that Qianlong's planning concept was clearly to emulate the Chinese tradition of famous mountains housing ancient temples, thereby creating a miniature, landscaped scenic area.
The main peak of the Jade Spring Hill rises more than 50 meters above the ground. Based on the alignment of mountain ridges and the lakes along their base, the entire garden can be roughly divided into three scenic zones: the South Mountain Area, the East Mountain Area, and the West Mountain Area.
Located on the southern slope of the hill, the South Mountain Area represents the architectural core of the garden and is centered on Yuquan Lake. Inside the South Palace Gate are two neat, symmetrical courtyards. The front courtyard's main hall has seven bays and is named "Kuoran Dagong". The rear courtyard's hall is named "Hanwanxiang". This forms the garden's palace zone, facing Yuquan Lake to the north, and aligned on a north-south axis with the Lecheng Pavilion on the lake and the South Palace Gate. Yuquan Lake is the largest body of water in the garden, with three islets arranged within it. The Jade Spring's source is on the west bank of the lake. To the north of the spring is the Dragon King Temple, whose hall hangs a plaque inscribed "Yongze Huangji". South of the Dragon King Temple is the Zhulu Shanfang, built in imitation of the Tingsong Temple on Huishan Mountain in Wuxi. On the hillside of the west bank are two smaller scenic structures, the Kaijin Studio and the Shangyu Tower, as well as two grottoes, the Lüzu Grotto and the Guanyin Grotto. In front of Lüzu Dong is the Zhenwu Temple, with a plaque reading "Chenju Ziyou". To its south is the Shuang Guandi Temple, with a plaque reading "Wenjing Wuwei". Together with Huazang Pagoda crowning the mountaintop, the buildings lining both sides of the lake — set against the mountain and overlooking the water — compose a vivid and harmonious landscape scene.
A group of Buddhist temple buildings — Xiangyan Temple, Pumen Temple (Daoist temple), and an octagonal, nine-story glazed-brick pagoda, the Yufeng Pagoda, modeled after the Jinshan Pagoda in Zhenjiang — built tiered along the mountainside on the main peak, constitute the focal point of the South Mountain Area. On the southern slope of Xiangyan Temple, there are many other grottoes, such as the Luohan Grotto with 500 carved arhat statues, the Huayan Grotto housing a Guanyin statue, as well as the Fumo Grotto, Shuiyue Grotto, and Zisheng Grotto. In front of the Huayan Grotto, the scene Yunwai Zhongsheng (bell sounds beyond the clouds ) was created. East of Yufeng Pagoda is the Liebo Grotto, where the lake's spring flows out from a stone cliff into a channel. On the west bank of the lake stands the Guanyin Pavilion. To the north, by the water, is the Qingyin Studio. To the east is the Xinyuan Pavilion, and to the north is the Hanhui Hall, forming a uniquely secluded and deep small garden of its own. Water from the lake exits through a sluice gate in the garden's eastern wall, flowing into the Yu River and onward to Kunming Lake.
The East Mountain Area, covering the eastern slope and foothills of the Yuquan Hill, is centered around Jingying Lake, which is 10 meters in width and 22 meters in length. Buildings are arranged around the lake, forming a water garden. On the north bank, pavilions, terraces, and corridors are positioned at varying heights in a winding, enclosed layout. Bamboo dominates the planting here, inspiring the name Fenghuang Qingting, which translates as "Clear Sound of Wind in Bamboo Groves". On the east bank of the lake lie a boat dock and a waterside pavilion, the Yanlü Hall. This area is the scene Jingying Hanxu (mirror images containing emptiness). Along the lakebank are the Fenjian Qu (bend of divided reflections) and Xieqin Corridor, leading south to the Shimo Spring. North of Jingying Lake is Baozhu Lake, fed by the Baozhu Spring. On the west bank of the lake are the Hanfan Hall and the Shuhua Fang, from where visitors can follow a mountain path to the summit. The main scenic spot on the summit is the Miaogao Temple, behind which stands a conical five-storied pagoda, the Miaogao Pagoda, another high point in the garden. Further behind is the Gaimiao Studio. On the southern slope of a side peak are grottoes such as the Lengqie Grotto, Xiao Feilai Peak, and Jile Grotto (Ultimate Bliss Grotto). The scene Xiaxue Qinyin (zither sound in a snowy gorge) is a two-courtyard complex built straddling a ravine and perched on rocks, an excellent place for viewing the mountain springs. Scattered across the surrounding hillsides are several small pavilions.
The West Mountain Area consists of the entire region west of the mountain ridge. On the broad, flat ground at the western foothills is built the largest complex of buildings in the garden, including a Daoist abbey, a Buddhist temple, and a small garden. The Dongyue Temple is centrally located, facing west, and consists of four courtyards. The first courtyard is the Shanmen Hall, in front of which is a plaza enclosed by three archways. The second courtyard's main hall is the Renyu Hall, the third is the Yuchen Bao Hall, and the fourth is the rear Taijun Tower. This is a large-scale Daoist structure. According to the imperial text written by Emperor Qianlong: "Mount Tai, the easternmost of the Five Great Mountains, stands a thousand li away from the capital. Seasonal rituals fall under the purview of local officials, while sacrifices to the mountain occur only on special occasions, specifically during great national celebrations or imperial tours." However, the Yuquan Hill is in the capital's suburbs, "its peaks deep and serene, its forests clear and rustling, the source of the Yuquan Lake. Its nourishing moisture seeps and permeates, enriching this divine land, its function of producing clouds and rain as vast as that of Mount Tai… Therefore, it is proper to worship the Eastern Peak on this mountain." He believed that the water gushing from Yuquan Mountain held the same sacred significance as Mount Tai's ability to "bring rain to the world overnight," thus justifying the construction of a Dongyue Temple for seasonal sacrifices and highlighting its importance. South of the Dongyue Temple is the Buddhist Shengyuan Temple, slightly smaller but also with four courtyards, with a glazed-brick pagoda in its fourth courtyard. North of the Dongyue Temple is a small garden named Qingliang Chan Grotto. Its main hall faces south, and surrounding pavilions and terraces are connected by winding corridors, arranged informally among artificial rockeries.
To the right of the Dongyue Temple, turning northeast and following a mountain path, one would find the scene Caizhi Yunjing (path of gathering aromatic herbs), where "mountain seedlings and valley leaves exuded fragrance along the path" — a place filled with birdsong and floral scent.
To the north of Qingliang Chan Grotto lies Hanyi Lake. On its north bank, by the water, stand Hanyi Studio and a small boating dock. From here, following the western foothills of the mountain northward leads to the Chong'ai Pavilion. The tranquil surroundings make this the ideal place to view the morning and evening mists that appear and disappear among the mountains, as described: "the spreading white mist like a ribbon of silk, at times hidden and secluded, at times sparse and open; it is excellent for poetic inspiration, and truly refreshing for an open heart."
East of the Hanyi Zhai is a corner gate of the garden. Here, water channeled from the Fragrance Hill through a stone aqueduct passes through a water gate and merges into the Yuquan water system. Outside the corner gate, a stone-paved imperial road connects south to the South Palace Gate and west directly to Jingyi Garden on the Fragrance Hill.
In 1759 (the 24th year of the Qianlong reign), the former small pond outside the South Palace Gate was expanded into Gaoshui Lake, which was connected to the previously excavated Yangshui Lake. Water from Jingming Garden was channeled through a sluice gate in the southern palace wall into Gaoshui Lake to irrigate the increasingly developed rice paddies nearby. Gaoshui Lake also became a scenic attraction thanks to its water. The Xiandeyue Tower was dismantled from the West Garden of Changchun Garden and rebuilt in the center of the lake, renamed Yinghu Tower. Surrounded by water on all four sides, the Yinghu Tower became a scenic spot outside the walls of Jingming Garden, celebrated for its water views. From the tower, the views of the Yuquan Hill, the Longevity Hill, and the nearby fields and lakes — scenery praised by Qianlong as: "the shadow of Yufeng Pagoda lies near the window, the light of the Longevity Hill appears in the distant mirror." When the sluice gates were opened, boating downstream along the rushing current was also a favored leisure activity. Qianlong commemorated this experience in verse, vividly capturing the movement of water and the unfolding mountain reflections.
In 1860 (the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign), imperial gardens across Beijing's northwestern suburbs were devastated, with Jingming Garden suffering extensive disaster. Most of its buildings were destroyed. Partial restoration was undertaken during the Guangxu era. While residing at the Summer Palace, Empress Dowager Cixi often traveled by boat to visit Jingming Garden for recreation. After the 1911 Revolution, it was briefly opened to the public as a park, and some buildings were restored. Despite the loss of many original structures, the garden's lake-and-mountain landscape remained largely intact, preserving the essential character of this imperial mountain retreat.
Brief Introduction to Qingyi Garden
Qingyi Garden, located on the Longevity Hill, was first built in 1750 (the 15th year of the Qianlong reign), and the construction of the entire garden was completed by the 29th year of the Qianlong reign. In July of the 15th year, the Qianlong Emperor issued an imperial decree officially naming the site Qingyi Garden. It was the last imperial garden to be built in the western suburbs of Beijing during the Qing dynasty. What set it apart from other imperial retreats was that while Yuanmingyuan Park and Jingyi Garden were originally built by his father and grandfather and later expanded by the Qianlong Emperor, Qingyi Garden was based on the natural landscape of mountains and water and was personally planned and constructed by the Qianlong Emperor. Qingyi Garden on the Longevity Hill is a manifestation of the Qianlong Emperor's garden-building philosophy and aesthetic vision.
The planning and construction of Qingyi Garden fully embodied the Qianlong Emperor's governing ideology. In its layout, the front hill's central axis, starting with The Grand Temple for Returning Favors and Extending Life and extending up the mountain slope to the Buddhist Fragrance Pavilion and the Sea of Wisdom Temple, symbolized the Qianlong Emperor's aspiration of filial piety and his grand ambition to rule the nation through this virtue. Scenic spots in the front lake area, such as the bronze Ox, a picture on farming and weaving (Gengzhitu), and the Changguan Hall, reflected the fundamental national policy of "emphasizing agriculture as the foundation of the state and prioritizing farming and sericulture". The Four Great Regions in the rear hill area were modeled after the design of the Tibetan Buddhist Mahayana Temple, reflecting the Qianlong Emperor's belief that promoting the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism is the way to pacify the Mongol regions.
Qingyi Garden on the Longevity Hill differed from the other four gardens with extensive water systems but lacked natural mountains. Jingming Garden and Jingyi Garden featured genuine mountain landscapes and high hills but relatively limited water and a vast lake. Qingyi Garden uniquely combined real mountains and real water, with high hills and a vast lake. Furthermore, its original site had few man-made structures; apart from the Gongde Temple and the tomb of Yelü Chucai, the area was essentially empty. Under Qianlong's direct supervision, thematic planning was overseen by the emperor himself, detailed design was carried out by the renowned Lei family of imperial architects, and construction was supervised by the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Works. Utilizing the country's entire manpower, material resources, and financial strength, it was an imperial garden built continuously for over a decade in one sustained, ambitious effort.
Qingyi Garden highlighted the characteristics of an imperial garden. Its front hill and front lake areas were vast, with grand architecture, vibrant colors, and exquisite materials. It also absorbed the delicate, elegant, comfortable, and livable charm of the gardens of the regions south of the Yangtze River. The Huishan Garden on the east side of the Longevity Hill was a replica of a southern Chinese garden, and several smaller gardens on the west side of the rear hill, such as Gaichun Garden, also emphasized the characteristics of southern Chinese gardens. The delicacy and elegance of southern gardens were in perfect harmony and unity with the grandeur of an imperial garden, reflecting its superb artistry. The Long Corridor and the six bridges on the West Dyke complemented the towering mountain and vast lake, creating a harmonious and unified scene. To the south, the lake served as a boundary without a wall; the vast expanse of fields south of the Xiuyi Bridge was considered part of the garden's view, effectively extending the garden's boundaries infinitely. To the west were the rolling, pale-blue Western Hills. Yuquan Mountain and its yellow-and-white Dingguang Pagoda were reflected in the surface of Kunming Lake, making it seem as if Yuquan Mountain and its pagoda were integral parts of Qingyi Garden. This extraordinary effect of "borrowed scenery" highlighted the imperial grandeur of Qingyi Garden.
In 1860 (the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign), Qingyi Garden was completely destroyed by the Anglo-French forces. In the mid-Guangxu era, Empress Dowager Cixi restored the garden. The work was completed in 1888 (the 14th year of the Guangxu reign), largely preserving the original layout of Qingyi Garden. Following the restoration, the site was renamed the Summer Palace, under which name it is known today.
