SituatedinthewesternoutskirtsofHaidianDistrict，theSummerPalaceis15kilometers(9.3miles)fromcentralBeijing.Havingthelargestroyalparkandbeingwellpreserved，itwasdesignated，in1960bytheStateCouncil，asaKeyCulturalRelicsProtectionSiteofChina.Containingexamplesoftheancientarts，italsohasgracefullandscapesandmagnificentconstructions.TheSummerPalaceisthearchetypalChinesegarden，andisrankedamongstthemostnotedandclassicalgardensoftheworld.In1998，itwaslistedasoneoftheWorldHeritageSitesbyUNESCO.
ConstructedintheJinDynasty(1115-1234)，duringthesucceedingreignoffeudalemperors;itwasextendedcontinuously.BythetimeoftheQingDynasty(1644-1911)，ithadbecomealuxuriousroyalgardenprovidingroyalfamilieswithrestandentertainment.OriginallycalledQingyiGarden(GardenofClearRipples)，itwasknowasoneofthefamousthreehillsandfivegardens(LongevityHill，JadeSpringMountain，andFragrantHill;GardenofClearRipples，GardenofEverlastingSpring，GardenofPerfectionandBrightness，GardenofTranquilityandBrightness，andGardenofTranquilityandPleasure).LikemostofthegardensofBeijing，itcouldnoteludetherampagesoftheAnglo-Frenchalliedforceandwasdestroyedbyfire.In1888，EmpressDowagerCixiembezzlednavyfundstoreconstructitforherownbenefit，changingitsnametoSummerPalace(Yiheyuan).Shespentmostofherlateryearsthere，dealingwithstateaffairsandentertaining.In1900，itsufferedagain，beingransackedbytheEight-PowerAlliedForce.Afterthesuccessofthe1911Revolution，itwasopenedtothepublic.
ComposedmainlyofLongevityHillandKunmingLake，TheSummerPalaceoccupiesanareaof294hectares(726.5acres)，threequartersofwhichiswater.Guidedbynature，artistsdesignedthegardensexquisitelysothatvisitorswouldseemarvelousviewsandbeamazedbyperfectexamplesofrefinedcraftworkusingthefinestmaterials.
CenteredontheTowerofBuddhistIncense(Foxiangge)theSummerPalaceconsistsofover3，000structuresincludingpavilions，towers，bridges，andcorridors.TheSummerPalacecanbespanidedintofourparts:thecourtarea，front-hillarea，front-lakearea，andrear-hillandback-lakearea.
Front-HillArea:thisareaisthemostmagnificentareaintheSummerPalacewiththemostconstructions.ItslayoutisquitedistinctivebecauseofthecentralaxisfromtheyardofKunmingLaketothehilltop，onwhichimportantbuildingsarepositionedincludingGateofDispellingClouds，HallofDispellingClouds，HallofMoralGlory，TowerofBuddhistIncense，theHalloftheSeaofWisdom，etc.
Rear-HillandBack-LakeArea:althoughtheconstructionsarefewerhere，ithasauniquelandscape，withdensegreentrees，andwindingpaths.Visitorscanfeelararetranquility，andelegance.ThisareaincludesscenicspotssuchasGardenofHarmoniousInterestandSuzhouMarketStreet.
CourtArea:thisiswhereEmpressDowagerCixiandEmperorGuangxumetofficials，conductedstateaffairsandrested.EnteringtheEastPalaceGate，visitorsmayseethemainpalacebuildings:theHallofBenevolenceandLongevityservedastheofficeoftheEmperor，theHallofJadeRippleswhereGuangxulived，theHallofJoyfulLongevity，Cixisresidence，theHallofVirtueandHarmonywhereCixiwasentertained.
FrontLakeArea:coveringalargerpartoftheSummerPalace，opensupthevistaofthelake.Abreezefluttering，wavesgleamandwillowskisstheripplesofthevastwater.InthiscomfortableareatherearetheEasternandWesternBanks，theSeventeen-ArchBridge，NanhuIsland，andsoon.OnthewesternbankfloatsixdistinctbridgesamongstwhichtheJade-BeltBridgeisthemostbeautiful.
GoodmorningLadiesandGentlemen:
Mynameisxx.Imveryhonoredtobeyoureguide.Idohopeallofyoucouldlikemyguidingandenjoyeverythingonyourpleasantday.ThismorningwearegoingtovisittheSummerPalace.TheSummerPalaceislocatedonthenorthwestsuburbsofBeijing,about20kilometersawayfromthecenterofthecity.Soitwilltakeusabout1hourtogetthere.BeforewearrivedattheSummerPalace,Iwouldliketointroduceyouabriefintroductionofthewoderfulimperialgarden.TheSummerPalaceisthemostbeautifulandthelargestimperialgardenexistinginChinan,anditisthebest-preservedimperialgardenintheworld.In1998,itwasplacedontheListofWorldCulturalHeritagebytheUNESCO.
TheSummerPalacewasfirstbuiltasanimperialgardenatthebeginningof12thcenturyintheJinDynasty.TheconstructioncontinuedtotheYuanandMingdynasties.IntheQingDynasty,thebuildingofimperialgardensreacheditsculmination.DuringEmperorQianlongsreign,thefamousThreeHillsandFiveGardenswerebuiltonthenorthwestsuburbsofBeijing.TheSummerPalacewasapartofitandatthattimewascalledtheGardenofClearRipples.In1860,theAnglo-FrenchAlliedForcesinvadedBeijing.TheThreeHillsandFiveGardenswereburntdowntoashes.
In1888,theEmpressDowagerCixispentthenavyfundhavingtheGardenofClearRipplesrebuilt.AndthensherenamedittheGardenofNurturedHarmony(SummerPalace).
In1900,theAlliedForcesofEightPowersinvadedBeijing.TheSummerPalacewasonceagainseverelydamaged.Itwasrebuiltagainin1902.
In1924,theLastEmperorPuyiwasdrivenoutofthepalace,afterthat,theSummerPalacewasturnedintoapublicpark.
LadiesandGentlemen,pleaselookoverthere,infrontofusisanarchway.ItiscalledEmptinessandthecollectionofexcellence,anditisthefirstsceneryoftheSummerPalace.ThetwoChinesewordsonthefrontsideofthearchwaymeanemptinessandrefertoeverythinginnatureandinthescenery.ThetwowordsonthebacksidemeanCollectionofExcellenceandrefertothetranquilityofthebeautifulsceneryjustwithinthegarden.
(outsidetheEastPalaceGate)
Now,wehavearrivedattheEastPalaceGate.ItsthemainentranceoftheSummerPalace.OntopofthegatethereisaplaquewiththreeChinesecharactersTheSummerPalaceinEmperorGuangxushandwriting.Thegatethatwearenowenteringwasusedbytheemperor,theempressonlyintheolddays.
(InsidetheEastPalaceGate)
Ok,everyone,letsstartourtourfromtheemperorsoffice---theHallofBenevolenceandLongevity.Followmeplease.
(InsidethecourtyardoftheBenevolenceandLongevity)
PassingthroughtheGateofBenevolenceandLongevity,wehavealreadyenteredthecourtyardoftheHallofBenevolenceandLongevity.ThehugerockinfrontofusisTaihuRock.ItwasquarriedfromTaihuLakeinJiangsuProvince,soitwasknownasTaihuRock.Pleaselookaroundthecourtyardandyoucanseetherearefourgrotesqueshapedrocksplacedineachcornerofthiscourtyard,representingthefourseasonsoftheyear.TheTaihuRocksareusuallyusedasdecorationforbeautifyinggardensandtheyarethin,crease,leakandpenetrationincharacters.
ThebronzemythicalanimalbehindtheTaihuRockisknownasSuanniorsomepeoplecallitQilin.AccordingtoancientChinesemythology,thedragonhadninesons,butnoneofthembecamearealdragon.Suanniwasoneoftheninesonsofthedragon.Itwasanauspiciousanimalthatcouldavoidevilspiritsinancientlengeds.Suannihastheheadofdragon,theantlersofdear,thehoovesofoxandthetailoflion.
(InfrontoftheHallofBenevolenceandLongevity)
Well,pleaselookupthetwopairsofincenseburnersintheshapeofadragonandaphoenixinfrontofthehall.Theywereusedtoburnincensestickstocreatetheappropriateatmosphere.Intheolddays,thedragonandphoenixwerethesymboloftheemperorandempress.Accordingtoritual,thedragonsshouldbeplacedinthecenterwhilephoenixesweretoeithersideinfrontofthehall.However,here,thedragonsareofftothesidesandthephoenixesareinthemiddle.ThiswasaproductoftheendofQingDynastywhenEmpressDowagerCixihandledstateaffairsbehindthescreen.
(AttheentranceofGardenofvirtuourHarmony)
WearenowvisitingtheGardenofVirtuousHarmony,whereEmperorQianlongandEmpressDowagerCixiwereentertainedwithBejingOperaperformances.ItmainlyconsistsoftheDressingHouse,theGrandTheaterBuildingandtheHallofPleasureSmile.TheGrandTheaterBuildingwasknownastheCradleofBeijingOperawasuniquelylaidoutandmagnificentlydecorated.Thereare7exhibitionhallswitharticlesofdailyuseondisplayhere.
(InfrontoftheGrandTheaterBuilding)
ThisistheGrandTheaterBuilding.OfthethreemaintheaterbuildingsoftheQingDynasty,theGrandTheaterBuildingisthetallestandlargestone.TheothertwoareChangyinPavilionintheForbiddenCityandQingyinPavilionintheMountainResortinChengde.TheGrandTheaterBuilding,athree-storiedstructure,hasadoubleroofwithupturnedeaves.Itis21metershighand17meterswide.Performancescouldbestagedsimultaneouslyonthreelevels.Thetoponewasasymbolofhappiness,themiddlelevelwasemolumentlevelandthebottomstagewasnamedlongevitystage.Eachlevelhastheentranceandtheexit.Therearesometrapdoorsintheceilingandbelowthefloorforcelestialbeingtoflydownfromtheskyandthedevilstoappearfromtheearthtosetoffacertainatmosphereonthestage.Thereisalsoawellandfivepondsbuiltunderthestageforagoodeffectofwaterscenes.Thestageisopentothreesides.
Well,pleaselookattheconstructionthatstandsrightoppositetheGrandTheaterBuilding,itstheHallofPleasureSmile.TheEmpressDowagerCixiusedbositinsidethehalltowatchandenjoythePekingOpera.
(AlakesidewalkfromtheGardenofvirtuousHarmonytotheHallofJadeRipples)
WearenowstandinginthemiddleofarockerybehindtheHallofBenevolenceandLongevity.Itappearsthattheresnothingspecialahead.However,afterwecleartherockery,wewillreachKunmingLake.ThisisanapplicationofaspecificstyleofChinese
gardening.
Now,wearewalkingalongthebankoftheKunmingLake.Lookoverthere,notfarawayinthelakethereisanislet.ItscalledtheSpringHeraldingIslet.ThepavilionontheisletiscalledtheSpringHeraldingPavilion.Anumberofwillowtreesandpeachtreeswereplantedonthisislet.Inearlyspring,whentheicebeginstomelt,peachtreesareredinpinkblossoms,willowtreesturnatendergreensignalingthattheearlyspringhasreturned.HencethenameHeraldingSpingPavilion.
(InfrontoftheHallofJadeRipples)
ThishallisahallmarkoftheMovementof1898.EmperorGuangxuwasEmperorDowagerCixisnephew.AfterEmperorTongzhidied,EmperorDowagerCiximadehernephew,whowasatthattimefouryearsoldasuccessorinordertocontinueherholdonimperialpower.Shehandledstateaffairsbehindthescreen.AfterEmperorGuangxumanagedstateaffairspersonallyattheageof19,apoliticalconflictoccurredbetweentheconservativesandthereformers.In1898,theReformMovementtookplacewiththeaimofsustainingthecoreprinciplesoftheQingDynastywhilereformingoutdatedlaws.Themovementlastedfor103daysuntilitwassuppressedbyEmpressDowagerCixi.ItwascalledtheHundred-DayReform.Afterthereformfailed,EmperorGuangxuwasputunderhousearresthere.Forthestrictcontrolofhim,EmpressDowagerCixiorderedtobuildmanybrickwallsinthefront,back,andontherightandleftoftheHallofJadeRipples.Atthattimethehallwasentirelysealedup,justlikeaprison.Todayonlythehiddenwallsintheeastandwestannexroomstillmaintainitsoriginalappearance.Itisopentovisitorsastherelicrelatedtothe1898ReformMovement.
(InfrontoftheChamberofCollectingBooks)
ThisistheChamberofCollectingBooks.InChinese,itscalledYiYunGuang.Yunwasakindoffragrantweed.Inancienttimes,itwasusuallyusedastermiterepellentinroomswherebookswerestored.IntheEmperorQianlongsreign,thepurposeofthehallwasforcollectingbooks.Lateritwasconvertedintoaresidence.ThereusedtobetheresidenceofGuangxusEmpressLongyu,andhisfavoriteconcubineZhenfei.
(IntheHallofHappinessandLongevity)
(InfrontoftheGateofInvitingtheMoonoftheLongCorridor)
LadiesandGentlemen,youmayhavevisitedsomeofthebestmuseumsintheworld,suchastheLouvreinFranceandtheMuseumofGreatBritain.NowIwillshowyouaspecialgalleryinthepalacetheLongCorridor.In1990,theLongCorridorwaslistedintheGuinnessBookofWorldRecordsasthelongestpaintedcorridorintheworld.ItwouldbeapityifweleavetheSummerPalacewithoutvisitingtheLongCorridorandtheMarbleBoat.Now,herewego,theLongCorridorfirst!
(StrollingalongtheLongCorridor)
TheLongCorridorstartsfromtheGateInvitingtheMoontotheShizhangGate.Itis728meterslongandconsistsof273sections.TheLongcorridorisoneofthemajorstructuresoftheSummerPalace.SincethecorridorwasdesignedtofollowthephysicalfeaturesofthesouthernslopeofLongevityHill,fourmultiple-eaved,octagonalpavilions(RetainingtheGoodnessPavilion,LivingwiththeRipplesPavilion,AutumnWaterPavilion,ClearandFarPavilion)wereplacedatbendsandundulation,theyrepresentfourseaonsofayear.Thusvisitorswillhardlynoticetheriseandfalloftheterrain.AsamajorpartofthearchitecturalstyleoftheSummerPalace,theLongCorridorservesasaningeniousconnectorbetweentheLakeandtheHill.Scatteredbuildingsonthesouthernslopewerelinkedtocreateaunifiedcomplex.
TheLongCorridoristhelongestcoveredverandainanyChinesegarden.Onthepurlinsandbeamsofthecoveredveranda,thereareover14,000Suzhoustylepaintings.Amongthem,thereare546colorpaintingsrelatingtothescenesofWestLakeinHangzhou,ZhejiangProvince.Besidethecolorfulpaintingsofnaturalscenery,therearealsoscenesofflowers,birds,fish,insects,mythologyandfigures.ThepaintingsoffiguresaremainlyadaptedfromancientChineseclassicalliterature,suchasPilgrimagetotheWest,TheRomanceoftheThreeKingdoms,ThewesternChamber,WaterMargin,andTheDreamoftheRedMansion.
(InfrontoftheGateofDispellingClouds)
Nowweareapproachingthecentralpartofthestructuresonthelakesideslope,theTowerofBuddhistIncensewithintheHallofDispellingClouds.ThecentralaxislinestartsfromthewharfnexttothelaketotheSeaofWisdomontopoftheHill.ThemainarchitecturalstructuresherearetheGateofDispellingClouds,HallofDispellingclouds,TowerofBuddhistIncenseandtheSeaofWisdom,whichaltogetherformasplendidthree-dimensionallandscape.ThelayoutofthisgroupofarchitectureswasbasedonscenesdescribedinBuddhistsutras.ThisgroupofstructuresareamongthemostmagnificentlyconstructedhereintheSummerPalace.Thisisagoodplacetotakingphotos,wewillstayhereforabout15minutes.
NowwearewalkingcontinuelyalongtheLongCorridor,thenextscenewearegoingtovisitisMarbleBoat.
Lookoverthere!HalfwayuptheslopetherestandstheHallofListeningtoOrioles.Itwastheplaceforemperorandempresstoenjoyoperaandcourtmusic.Itissaidthesingingoforiolesisverypleasing.BeforetheGardenofVirtuousHarmonywasbuilt,EmpressDowagerCixienjoyedoperaandmusichere.NowthehallisoneofthemostfamousrestaurantsinChina,featuringimperialdishesanddesserts.
OurtourisdrawingtoacloseafterwevisitedtheMarbleBoat.TodayweonlyvisitedthemajorscenicspotsoftheSummerPalace.Ihaveleftotherspotsofinterestforyournextvisit.IwillnowshowyououtthroughtheRuyiGate.Ourcoachiswaitingforusoutsidethegate.Idohopeyouenjoyedtodaystour.Thankyou.