頤和園位於北京西北郊海澱區，距北京城區15千米。占地約290公頃，頤和園是我國現存規模最大，保存最完整的皇家園林，頤和園原是清朝帝王的行宮和花園
Situated in the western outskirts of Haidian District, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from central Beijing. Having the largest royal park and being well preserved, it was designated, in 1960 by the State Council, as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Site of China. Containing examples of the ancient arts, it also has graceful landscapes and magnificent constructions. The Summer Palace is the archetypal Chinese garden, and is ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world. In 1998, it was listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), during the succeeding reign of feudal emperors; it was extended continuously. By the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it had become a luxurious royal garden providing royal families with rest and entertainment. Originally called "Qingyi Garden" (Garden of Clear Ripples), it was know as one of the famous "three hills and five gardens" (Longevity Hill, Jade Spring Mountain, and Fragrant Hill; Garden of Clear Ripples, Garden of Everlasting Spring, Garden of Perfection and Brightness, Garden of Tranquility and Brightness, and Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure). Like most of the gardens of Beijing, it could not elude the rampages of the Anglo-French allied force and was destroyed by fire. In 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled navy funds to reconstruct it for her own benefit, changing its name to Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). She spent most of her later years there, dealing with state affairs and entertaining. In 1900, it suffered again, being ransacked by the Eight-Power Allied Force. After the success of the 1911 Revolution, it was opened to the public.
Composed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, The Summer Palace occupies an area of 294 hectares (726.5 acres), three quarters of which is water. Guided by nature, artists designed the gardens exquisitely so that visitors would see marvelous views and be amazed by perfect examples of refined craftwork using the finest materials.
Centered on the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors. The Summer Palace can be divided into four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area.
Front-Hill Area: this area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop, on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Glory, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, etc.
Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: although the constructions are fewer here, it has a unique landscape, with dense green trees, and winding paths. Visitors can feel a rare tranquility, and elegance. This area includes scenic spots such as Garden of Harmonious Interest and Suzhou Market Street.
Court Area: this is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials, conducted state affairs and rested. Entering the East Palace Gate, visitors may see the main palace buildings: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the office of the Emperor, the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived, the Hall of Joyful Longevity, Cixi‘s residence, the Hall of Virtue and Harmony where Cixi was entertained.
Front Lake Area: covering a larger part of the Summer Palace, opens up the vista of the lake. A breeze fluttering, waves gleam and willows kiss the ripples of the vast water. In this comfortable area there are the Eastern and Western Banks, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Nanhu Island, and so on. On the western bank float six distinct bridges amongst which the Jade-Belt Bridge is the most beautiful.
頤和園
頤和園是我國現存最完好、規模最宏大的古代園林。位於北京市海澱區境內，距天安門20余公裏，占地290公頃。
頤和園原為封建帝王的行宮和花園，遠在金貞元元年 （1153年）即在這裏修建“西山八院”之壹的“金山行宮”。明弘治七年（1494年）修建了園靜寺，後皇室在此建成好山園。1664年清廷定都北京後，又將好山園更名為“甕山行宮”。清乾隆年間，經過15年的修建工程，將該園改名為“清漪圓”。此時的清漪園，北自文昌閣至西宮門築有圍墻，東、南、西三面以昆明湖水為屏障，園內修建了許多亭臺樓閣，橋廊齋榭，山清水秀，富麗堂皇。鹹豐十年（1860年），英法聯軍瘋狂搶劫並焚燒了園內大部分建築，除寶雲閣（俗稱“銅亭”）智慧海、多寶 琉璃塔幸存外，珍寶被洗劫壹空，建築夷為壹片廢墟。光緒十四年（1888年）慈待太後挪用海軍經費3000萬兩白銀，在清漪園的廢墟上興建起頤和園。光緒二十六年（1900年）頤和園又遭八國聯軍的野蠻破壞，後慈禧又動用巨款重新修復。數百年來，這裏壹直是封建帝王、皇室的享樂之地，解放辟為公園。1961年國務院公布頤和園為全國重點文物保護單位。
頤和園包括萬壽山、昆明湖兩大部分，園內山水秀美，建築宏偉。全園有各式建築3000余間，園內布局可分為政治、生活、遊覽三個區域。政治活動區，以仁壽段為中心，是過去慈禧太後和光緒皇帝辦理朝事、會見朝臣、使節的地方。生活居住區，以玉瀾堂、宜蕓館、樂壽堂為主體，是慈禧、光緒及後妃居住之地。風景遊覽區，以萬壽山前山、後山、後湖、昆明湖為主， 是全園的主要組成部分。
在世界古典園林中享有盛譽的頤和園，布局和諧，渾然壹體。在高60米的萬壽山前山的中央，縱向自低而高排列著排 雲門、排雲股、德輝殿、佛香閣、智慧海等壹組建築，依山而立， 步步高升，氣派宏偉。以高大的佛香閣為主體，形成了全園的中心線。沿昆明湖北岸橫向而建的長廊，長728米，***273間， 像壹條彩帶橫跨於萬壽山前，連結著東面前山建築群。長廊中有精美柁畫 14000多幅，素有“畫廊”之美稱。位於頤和園東北角，萬壽山東麓的諧趣園，具有濃重的江南園林特色，被譽為 “園中之園”。
占全園總面積四分之三的昆明湖，湖水清澈碧綠，景色宜人。在廣闊的湖面上，有三個小島點綴，其主要景物是西堤、西堤六橋、東堤、南湖島、十七孔橋等。湖岸建有廓如亭、知春亭、鳳凰墩等秀美建築，其中位於湖西北岸的清晏舫（石訪）中西合璧，精巧華麗，是園中著名的水上建築。後山後湖，林茂竹青，景色幽雅，到處是松林曲徑，小橋流水，風格與前山迥然不同。山腳下的蘇州河，曲折蜿蜒，時狹時闊，頗具江南特色。在岸邊的樹叢中建有多寶琉璃塔。後山還有壹座仿西藏建築——香巖宗印之閣，造型奇特。蘇州街原為宮內的民間買賣街，現已修復並向遊人開放。擁山抱水，絢麗多姿的頤和園，體現了我國造園藝術的高超水平。