Summer Palace facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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The Summer Palace in Beijing
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| Location | Haidian, Beijing, China |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iii |
| Inscription | 1998 (22nd Session) |
| Area | 297 ha |
| Buffer zone | 5,595 ha |
The Summer Palace is a famous palace in Beijing, China. It is a huge park with beautiful gardens, lakes, and buildings. Most of the palace grounds are covered by Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.
The Summer Palace is very large, covering about 2.9 square kilometers. Three-quarters of this area is water, mainly Kunming Lake. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its important history and amazing design.
Contents
History of the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace has a long and interesting history. It was first built between 1750 and 1764 by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. He called it the Garden of Clear Ripples. The emperor made the lake bigger and added many improvements to the area.
Sadly, the garden and its buildings were badly damaged. This happened during the Second Opium War, between 1856 and 1860. Later, from 1886 to 1895, Emperor Guangxu had it rebuilt. He then renamed it the Summer Palace. It was used by Empress Dowager Cixi.
The palace was damaged again in 1900. This was during a time of unrest called the Boxer Rising. But it was repaired just two years later. In 1924, the Summer Palace became a public park. Now, everyone can visit and enjoy its beauty.
What You Can See
The Summer Palace is home to many amazing buildings and sights. You can explore grand halls and peaceful temples.
Famous Buildings
Some of the most well-known buildings include:
- The Cloud-Dispelling Hall
- The Temple of Buddhist Virtue
- The Sea of Wisdom Temple
These buildings show off traditional Chinese architecture. They are often decorated with colorful paintings and intricate details.
Natural Beauty
The palace grounds are also famous for their natural beauty.
- Longevity Hill: This hill is 60 meters high and offers great views.
- Kunming Lake: This large lake is perfect for boat rides. It makes up most of the palace's area.
You can walk along the shores of the lake or climb the hill. There are many spots to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Images for kids
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Dragon boats at the Summer Palace
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Marble Boat at the Summer Palace
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Longevity Hill
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Standing atop the Longevity Hill, the Tower of Buddhist Incense is the highest building in the Summer Palace.
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Tower of Buddhist Incense (northern side)
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Tower of Buddhist Incense (southern side)
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A statue of Guanyin inside the Tower of Buddhist Incense (cast in 1574, five metres tall)
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Pavilion of Precious Clouds
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Zhuanlunzang
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Kunming Lake viewed from Longevity Hill
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Kunming Lake with Nanhu Island and the 17-Arch Bridge
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17-Arch Bridge
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View over Kunming Lake towards Jade Spring Hill with Jade Peak Pagoda
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Marble Boat
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Great Opera Hall
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Long Corridor
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Pavilion at the Summer Palace.
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Suzhou Street
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Garden of Harmonious Pleasures
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Hall of Benevolence and Longevity
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Decorated Paifang
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Bronze qilin statue
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Verano para niños
