Summer Palace facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Summer Palace is a palace in Beijing, China. It is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill (60 meters high) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Between 1750 and 1764 the Qing Emperor Qianlong created the Garden of Clear Ripples (Summer Palace), extending the area of the lake and carrying out other improvements based on the hill and its landscape. During the Second Opium War (1856-60) the garden and its buildings were destroyed by the allied forces. Between 1886 and 1895 it was reconstructed by Emperor Guangxu and renamed the Summer Palace, for use by Empress Dowager Cixi. It was damaged in 1900 by the international expeditionary force during the suppression of the Boxer Rising and restored two years later. It became a public park in 1924.

There are many buildings in the Summer Palace including The Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue and the Sea of Wisdom Temple.

Scenery of Longevity Hill
Scenery of Longevity Hill


Images for kids

  • Dragon boats at Summer Palace

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  • Marble Boat Summer Palace

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  • Yi He Yuan - A. Holdrinet

    Longevity Hill

  • Summer Palace at Beijing 15

    Standing atop the Longevity Hill, the Tower of Buddhist Incense is the highest building in the Summer Palace.

  • Tower of Buddhist Incense 1

    Tower of Buddhist Incense (northern side)

  • Tower of Buddhist Incense 2

    Tower of Buddhist Incense (southern side)

  • Guanyin Statue in the Summer Palace

    A statue of Guanyin inside the Tower of Buddhist Incense (cast in 1574, five metres tall)

  • Pavilion of Precious Clouds in the Summer Palace

    Pavilion of Precious Clouds

  • Zhuanlunzang in the Summer Palace

    Zhuanlunzang

  • Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace

    Kunming Lake viewed from Longevity Hill

  • View of Kunming Lake

    Kunming Lake with Nanhu Island and the 17-Arch Bridge

  • Bridge17span

    17-Arch Bridge

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    View over Kunming Lake towards Jade Spring Hill with Jade Peak Pagoda

  • Marble Boat in Summer Palace

    Marble Boat

  • The Great Opera Hall in the Summer Palace

    Great Opera Hall

  • Summer Palace at Beijing 21

    Long Corridor

  • Summer Palace at Beijing 13

    Pavilion at the Summer Palace.

  • Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace

    Suzhou Street

  • Garden of Harmonious Pleasures in the Summer Palace

    Garden of Harmonious Pleasures

  • Summer Palace at Beijing 41

    Hall of Benevolence and Longevity

  • Decorated Paifang in Summer Palace

    Decorated Paifang

  • Bronze Qilin statue

    Bronze qilin statue


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Summer Palace Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.