An Imperial Residence

The Old Summer Palace was one of the imperial residences during the Qing dynasty, rivaling the Forbidden City in majesty.

This garden, which would forever leave its mark on Chinese civilization, was established in the 17th century during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1662–1722), the second emperor of the Qing dynasty. In 1677, the emperor decided to restore an old garden from the fallen Ming dynasty, located outside the capital, to escape the summer heat. This garden became known as the Garden of Glorious Spring. Kangxi commissioned the construction of the first palaces, a throne hall, and buildings for officials, along with landscaping works such as the creation of artificial hills.

He gifted an adjacent garden to his son, who would later reign as Emperor Yongzheng (1723–1735). This garden, named Yuan Ming Yuan, or the Garden of Perfect Brightness, became Yongzheng’s main residence and the seat from which he ruled all of China.

Yongzheng’s son, the future Emperor Qianlong (1735-1796), grew up in this enchanting environment. Qianlong invited Jesuit artists to the palace, who constructed European-style buildings and introduced water features and fountains previously unseen in China.

These three emperors—Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong—welcomed artists and poets to enhance the beauty of Yuan Ming Yuan. The gardens continued to serve as the residence of subsequent emperors, including Daoguang and Xianfeng.

Emperor Xianfeng (1850-1861) would be the last Chinese sovereign to reside in the Old Summer Palace. He was forced to abandon it in October 1860 as Franco-British troops advanced on Beijing.

After the sacking of the Old Summer Palace, Empress Dowager Cixi initiated plans to restore the gardens. However, due to the scale of the work and the challenging political and financial circumstances, the project was abandoned. Some materials were repurposed for the construction of another palace, the Garden of Harmonious Old Age, known today as the Summer Palace, where Empress Dowager Cixi later retired.