Beijing Yuanmingyuan Ticket

The Old Summer Palace, also known as the "Yuanming Three Gardens", is located on the outskirts of Beijing, adjacent to the Summer Palace. It is composed of three areas: Yuanming Garden, Changchun Garden, and Qichun Garden. Construction began in the 46th year of the Kangxi reign (1709). The garden covers an area of over 350 hectares, with a building area of 200,000 square metres, and features more than 150 scenic spots, earning it the reputation of the "Garden of Gardens". Unfortunately, in October 1860, the Old Summer Palace was ransacked and set ablaze by the Anglo‑French forces. It subsequently suffered countless further destructions and lootings, eventually being reduced to ruins. It was not until 1988 that the Chinese government established the Old Summer Palace Administrative Office and began implementing conservation and utilisation measures. In the same year, the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park was established and officially opened to the public.

Today, only the mountain contours, water systems, garden layout, and building foundations of the Old Summer Palace remain, along with some surviving rockeries, stacked stones, and carved remnants. The scenic spots now open to visitors are mainly the remains of Qichun Garden, Changchun Garden, and Fuhai Lake in the Old Summer Palace, including the Zhengjue Temple, the Western‑style Buildings, and the Hanjingtang ruins. Among these, the Zhengjue Temple is the only building that survived both catastrophes in 1860 and 1900 and remains fully intact.

After more than 70 years of decay and destruction, the Old Summer Palace had become wasteland. Currently, most of the verifiable ruins within the three gardens are concentrated around the Western‑style Buildings area. Remaining features include the Great Western Sea (Haiyantang) with its large tin sea, Xieqiqu, the Dashuifa western‑style stone archway and fountain basin, the single‑arch bridge in Qichun Garden, and the Bieyou Dongtian stone boat in the Old Summer Palace. The main attractions now open to visitors are the remains of Qichun Garden, Changchun Garden, and Fuhai Lake, with key sites including the Zhengjue Temple, the Western‑style Buildings, and the Hanjingtang ruins.

Spring scenery of the Old Summer Palace

Autumn scenery of the Old Summer Palace

Winter scenery of the Old Summer Palace