The tour will take 4-6 hours. The route is as follows:

    Outside the East Gate–in front of the Hall of benevolence¹ and Longevity²- in front of Garden of Virtuous³ Harmony-in front of the Grand Theater Building- a lakeside walk from the Garden of Virtuous Harmony to the Hall o Jade⁴ Ripples⁵- in front of the o Jade Ripples- in front of the Yiyunguan (Chamber of Mortal Being)-Hall of happiness and longevity- in front of the Yaoyue (Chamber of Mortal Beings)-Hall of Happiness and Longevity-in front of the Yaoyue (Inviting the Moon) Gate of the Long Corridor- strolling along the Long Corridor- visiting an exhibition of cultural relics⁶- in front of the Hall of Dispelling⁷ Clouds- inside the Hall of Dispelling Clouds- atop the Tower of Buddhist⁸ Incense⁹- on a hilltop leading from the back door of the Tower of Buddhist Incense- on a hilltop leading from the back door of the Tower of Buddhist Incense- inside the Garden of Harmonious¹⁰ Interest –outside the south gate to Suzhou Shopping Street- atop the stone bridge inside the Suzhou shopping street –on the road from the south gate of suzhou shopping street- on the road form the south gate of suzhou shopping street to the marble boat- in front of the ruins of the Garden of complete spring –along the lakeside by the marble boat-boating on the Kunming Lake-leaving out through the East Gate.

    (Outside the east gate)

    Ladies and Gentlemen:

    Welcome to the Summer Palace. (After the self-introduction of the guide -interpreter) I hope this will be an interesting and enjoyable day for you.

    During our tour, you will be introduced to time honored historical and cultural traditions, as well as picturesque¹¹ views and landscapes.

    The construction of the Summer Palace first started in 1750. At that time, the Qing Dynasty was in its heyday¹² and China was a powerful Asian country with vast territories. The monarch¹³ in power then was Emperor Qianlong. With supreme¹⁴ power and large sums of money, he summoned skillful and ingenious artisans from all over the country to carry out this construction work in honor of his mother's birthday. After 15 years and one seventh of the nation's annual revenue spent, the Garden of Clear Ripples was completed and served as a testimony¹⁵ to China's scientific and technological¹⁶ achievements. In 1860, this vast royal garden was burnt down along with the Yuanming Yuan (Garden of Perfection and Brightness) by Angol-French allied¹⁷ forces. In 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi reconstructed the garden on the same site and renamed it the Garden of Nurtured¹⁸ Harmony (Summer Palace). Characterized by its vast scope and rich cultural embodiments, the Summer Palace has become one of the most famous tourist sites in the world.

    This is the main entrance to the Summer Palace-the East Gate On top of the eaves of the door there is a plaque¹⁹ bearing a Chinese inscription²⁰ which means "Garden of Nurtured Harmony", whose calligrapher²¹ was Emperor Guangxu. The gate that you are now entering was used exclusively by the emperor, the empress and the queen mother. All others used the side doors.

    (Inside the East Gate)

    The Summer Palace can be divided into two parts: Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The whole garden covers an area of 290 hectares, of which three- fourths consists of a lake and rivers. This imperial garden features 3,000 room-units and covers an expanse of 70,000 square meters with more than 100 picturesque spots of interest. The layout of the Summer Palace includes three groups of architectures: palaces where the emperor attended to state affairs, resting palaces of the emperor and empress, and sightseeing areas. Entering the East Gate we will come the office quarters. Entering the East gate we will come to the office quarters. The annex²² halls on both sides were used for officials on duty.

    This is the Gate of Benevolence and Longevity. Above the door there is a plaque bearing the same name in both Chinese and Manchurian characters. The gigantic rock in the foreground is known as Taihu rock, or eroded²³ limestone²⁴, quarried²⁵ in Jiangsu Province and placed here to decorated the garden.

    On the marble terrace sits a bronze mythical²⁶ beast, known as Qilin or Xuanni. It was said to the one of the nine sons of Dragon King. A point of peculiar²⁷ interest is that it has the head of a dragon, antlers of a deer, the tail of a lion and hooves of an ox, and is covered with a unique skin. IT was considered an auspicious²⁸ creature that brought peace and prosperity.

    This grand hall is the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. It was built in 1750, and was known as the Hall of Industrious²⁹ Government. Emperor Qianlong ruled that the halls where monarchs³⁰ attended to state affairs would be named after them. After the rebuilding of the Summer Palace, the hall was renamed, suggesting that benevolent³¹ rulers would enjoy long lives.

    The arrangement of the hall has been left untouched. In the middle of the hall stands a throne made of sandalwood and carved with beautiful designs. In the background there is a screen carved with nine frolicking dragons. On either side of the throne there are two big fans made of peacock feathers, two column-shaped incense burners, crane-shaped lanterns and an incense burner assuming the form of Luduan, a mythological³² animal which was suppose to have the power to prevent fire. The small chambers³³ on eight side were where the Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi rested and met officials on formal occasions.

    On the verandah in the foreground of the hall there are bronze statues of dragon and phoenixes³⁵ which served as incense burners on major occasions. They are hollow and smoke comes through holes on their backs. Also on the veranda³⁴ are Tai Ping (Peace) bronze water vats³⁶ made during the reign³⁷ of Emperor Qianlong. As a precaution in case of fire, a fire was lit underneath³⁸ the vats in the winter to keep the water in them from freezing.

    (At the entrance of Garden of Virtuous Harmony)

    we are now visiting the Garden of Virtuous Harmony, where Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi were entertained with Beijing Opera performances. IT mainly consists of the Dressing³⁹ House, The Grand Theater Building and the Hall of pleasure smiles. The grand Theater Building known as the "Cradle of Beijing Opera" was uniquely laid out and magnificently decorated. On September 10, 1984, the Garden of Virtuous Harmony opened its doors to visitors. There are also 7 exhibition halls with articles of daily use on display here. The staff here put up court dresses of Qing Dynasty in order to give the visitor a more vivid impression.

    (In front of the Grand Theater Building)

    This building is 21 meters in height and 17 meters in width and features three tiers of tilted⁴⁰ eaves and stages. All of the stages are connected to a raise, and a winch is installed at the top. A well and 5 ponds were sunk under the ground stage. There are trapdoors in the ceiling for fairies to descend⁴¹, as well as on the floor for demons⁴² to surface. The underground passages also served as a means of improving resonance⁴³ and making the performers' voices more audible. Of the three main theater building of the Qing Dynasty, the Grand Theater Building is the tallest and the largest. The other two are Changyin (Fluent Voice) Pavilion in Chengde, an imperial summer resort. The building played a major part in fostering the birth and development of Beijing opera: since the completion of the Grand Theater Building, many performances were held in it in honor of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

    (A lakeside walk from the Garden of Virtuous Harmony to the Hall of Jade Ripples)

    We are now standing⁴⁴ in the middle of a rockery behind the Hall of Benevolent and longevity. It appears that there's nothing special ahead. However, after we clear the rockery, we will reach Kunming Lake. This is an application of a specific style of Chinese gardening.

    Not far away in the lake there is an islet. It is filled with peach and weeping willow⁴⁵ trees and serves as an ideal place to appreciate the scenery. The pavilion on the islet is called Zhichun (Understanding Spring) Pavilion and is characterized by four- edged, multiple eaved roofs.

    (In front of the Hall of Jade Ripples)

    This group of special and quiet courtyard dwelling⁴⁶ is the Hall of jade Ripples. It was first used by Emperor Qianlong to attend to state affairs. IT was also where Emperor Guangxu of the late Qing dynasty was kept under house arrest.

    This hall is a hallmark of the Reform Movement of 1898, Emperor Guangxu was Empress Dowager Cixi's nephew. After Emperor Tongzhi died, Empress Dowager Cixi made her nephew, who was at that time four years old a successor in order to continue her wielding⁴⁷ of power behind the scenes. When Emperor Guangxu was 19 years old, Empress Dowager Cixi relinquished⁴⁸ power to him but continued to exert considerable influence. In 1898, the Reform Movement took place with the aim of sustaining the corn principles of the Qing Dynasty while reforming outdated⁴⁹ laws. The movement lasted for 103 days until it was suppressed by Empress Dowager Cixi. The emperor's six earnest reformists were beheaded and Emperor Guangxu was placed under house arrest which lasted for 10 years. All the back doors were sealed and a brick was put up behind the wooden partition on each side of the two annexes⁵⁰ of the courtyard. Emperor Guangxu was closely watched by eunuchs. The wall remains⁵¹ intact for tourists to see. Dynasty while reforming outdated laws. The movement lasted for 103 days until it was suppressed by Empress Dowager Cixi. The emperor's six earnest reformists were beheaded and Emperor Guangxu was placed under house arrest which lasted for 10 years. All the back doors were sealed and a brick was put up behind the wooden partition on each side of the two annexes of the courtyard. Emperor Guangxu was closely watched by eunuchs. The wall remains intact for tourists to see.

    (In front of Yiyunguan (Chamber of Mortal Beings)

    This was where Empress and empress dowager of China's feudal⁵² system. However, Emperor Guangxu was not the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The last in the line was Emperor Puyi, who ascended⁵³ the throne in 1908 at the age of three, too young to be married. In 1912, he was forced to abdicate⁵⁴. During the short reign of Emperor Puyi, Empress Longyu handled state affairs on his behalf in the name of Empress Dowager. In 1911, a revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sun succeeded, and the year after, Empress Longyu announced the abdication⁵⁵ of the last emperor of China.

    (In the Hall of Happiness and Longevity)

    The aged⁵⁶ empress Dowager Cixi was so fond of the Summer Palace that she decided⁵⁷ to live here from April through October of every year. This group of buildings served as her residence.

    This group of courtyard dwellings⁵⁸ consists of a forecourt and a backyard with annex courts on each side. The whole compound was basically made of wood, which is ideal for ventilation and lighting⁵⁹. With its quiet and tasteful layout, the Hall of Happiness and Longevity made life very easy and convenient. No wonder one of Empress Dowager Cixi's pleasure boat. On the pier⁶⁰ there is a tall lantern post. Flanking the staircase leading to the main entrance of the hall, there are bronze cranes, deer and vases, symbolizing⁶¹ universal peace. The interior layout is the same as the imperial court, with throne, a large table and incense burners placed in the middle. At mealtime, eunuchs-in –waiting would make a gigantic table out of this table and Empress Dowager Cixi would dine on 128 courses. Because of this more than 1,800 tales of silver would be spent each month on meals. On the east side of the Living Room is the Cloak Room. The bedroom is on its west.

    In front of the yaoyue (Inviting the Moon) Gate of the Long Corridor The famed Long Corridor is ahead. Facing Kunming lake and in the foreground of Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor stretches from Yaoyue (Inviting the Moon ) Gate to Shizhang (Stony Old Man) Pavilion. IT is 728 meters in length and consist of 273 sections and connects four octagonal pavilions. In 1990, it was listed in Guinness Book of World Records.

    (Strolling along the Long Corridor)

    The Long Corridor is one of the major structures of the Summer Palace. Since the corridor was designed to follow the physical features of the southern slope of Longevity Hill, four multiple-eaved, octagonal pavilions (Beauty-Retaining Pavilion, Enjoy-the Ripples Pavilion, Autumn Water Pavilion and Clarity Distance Pavilion) were placed at bends and undulation. Thus sightseers will hardly notice the rise and fall of the terrain⁶². As a major part of the architectural style of the Summer Palace, the Long Corridor serves as an ingenious connector between the Lake and the hill. Scattered⁶³ buildings on the southern slope were linked to create a unified⁶⁴ complex.

    This corridor can also be called a "corridor of paintings": There are more than 14,000 paintings on its beams. Some of them are of birds, flowers and landscapes of the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejian Province. Others present scenes from literary classics. The majority of the landscape painting were done under the order of Emperor Qianlong, who prepared the scenery of South China.

    (By the door leading to the exhibition of cultural relics)

    This group of temple-shaped structures are known as Qinghua (Clarified China) Hall, also known as Arhat Hall during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. The original hall burned down in 1860. After it was reconstructed, it was renamed.

    Qinghua Hall is now used as an exhibition hall displaying rare cultural relics collected in the Summer Palace. The hall consists of 6 exhibition rooms with tens of thousands of articles of treasure on display in turn. Among the exhibits there are bronze ware⁶⁵, porcelain⁶⁶, jade assemblages from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and rare and paintings. There is also a gigantic stone slab⁶⁷, which is more than 3 meters in height and width. It bears the handwritten inscriptions⁶⁸ of Emperor Qianlong is commemoration of the suppression of a rebellion in the Xinjiang region. Only this slab survived when the Angle-French allied forces set fire to the Summer Palace.

    (In front of the Gate of Dispelling Clouds)

    Now we are approaching the central part of the structures on the lakeside slope, the Tower of Buddhist Incense within the Hall of Dispelling Clouds. The Hall of Dispelling Clouds was where numerous palatines kowtowed to Empress Dowager Cixi. It was surrounded by galleries and flanked by annex halls. In the forecourt there is a pool and marble bridges. Starting from the lakeside, there lies in succession a memorial archway, the Gate of Dispelling Clouds, the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. All of these structures are built on a central axis⁶⁹ and each is taller than its predecessor⁷⁰. This was designed to give prominence⁷¹ to the last structure, the Tower of Buddhist Incense, which was a symbol of imperial power. The layout of this group of architectures was based on scenes described in Buddhist sutras. This group of structure is among the most magnificently constructed here in the Summer Palace.

    (Inside the Hall of Dispelling Clouds)

    The original buildings on this site were burned down by the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. A new set of structures was built during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, and was called the Hall of Dispelling Clouds, suggesting that it was a fairyland.

    The hall was built on a high terrace, and has 21 rooms. Inside the hall are a throne, screens, tripods and mandarin⁷² fans. On a platform you will see bronze dragons, phoenixes and tripods. At the foot of the platform there are four bronze water vats, the ancient form of fire extinguishers.

    The 10th day of lunar October was, Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday. On that day, she sat on the throne here to receive congratulations and gifts.

    Now we are going to pay a visit to the highlight of the Summer Palace- the Tower of Buddhist Incense. What we are now standing on is a stone terrace which is 20 meters in height. It has a semi-housed stairway of 100 steps, you will live for 100 years. So, let's go!

    (In the front of the Tower of Buddhist Incense)

    An octagonal structure with three storeys and quadruple eaves, the Tower of Buddhist Incense is the very center of the Summer Palace, and is one of the masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture. The tower is 41 meters in height, and is buttressed⁷³ by 8 solid pillars made of lignum vitae logs. With its complex structure, ingenious layout, towering terrace and convincing grandeur⁷⁴, the Tower of Buddhist Incense was artfully set out by the imperial gardens and beautiful scenery surrounding it. The Tower overlooks Kunming Lake and other picturesque spots within an area of tens of kilometers. On the west side of the Tower stands Baoyunge (Precious Cloud Pavilion). IT is made of bronze and is 7.5 meters in height and 270 tons in weight. It resembles its wooden counterparts in every detail. It is one of the largest and most exquisite⁷⁵ bronze pavilions still on existence in China. Lamas prayed here during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in honor of the monarchs and their families. At the turn of the century 10 bronze windows were spirited abroad. In 1992 an American company bought the windows and returned them intact to China.

    (On a hilltop leading from the back door of Tower of Buddhist Incense)

    Now we can see the long and snaking Western Causeway and a shorter dike⁷⁶ that divides Kunming Lake into three areas that contain South Lake Island, Seaweed-viewing Island and circle city island. The three islands represent three mountains in ancient Chinese mythology⁷⁷, i.e. penglai, Fangzhang and Yingzhou. This peculiar method of incorporating a lake a three mountains within a single garden was a brainchild of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, bearing testimony to feudal monarchs' longing⁷⁸ for longevity. As the legend goes many heavenly elixirs⁷⁹ grew on the three mythical islands. Using artificial building techniques, the ancient Chinese built this masterpiece based on the myth to make the mythical on appear to be accessible to humans.

    (Inside the Garden of Harmonious Interest)

    Setting a garden within a larger garden has been one of China traditional architectural styles. The Garden of Harmonious Interest serves as a fine example of this.

    This Garden was built under the order of Emperor Qianlong and modeled after the Jichang Garden (Garden of Ease of Mind )at the foot of Mount Huishan, Jiangsu Province. It was renamed by his son Emperor Jiaqing in 1811. The existing Garden was rebuilt by Emperor Guangxu. Empress Dowager Cixi used to go fishing here. The Garden features 10 waterfront platforms, pavilions and halls as well as hundreds of galleries

    With all of its structures facing the lake and pools, the Garden of Harmonious Interest is basically a garden of waterscape. Spanning the vast expanse of the lake and pools are five bridges, each quite different from the others. The most famous of them is the bridge known as "Knowing –the Fishing-bridge." It is said that more than 2,500 years ago during the Warring States Period, two philosopher named Zhuang Zi had an interesting argument by the side of a pond.

    Zhang said, "Fish swim to and fro in the water. What happy fish!"

    Hui asked, "You are not a fish. How do you know they are happy?"

    Zhuang replied, "You are not me. How do you know I don't know?"

    Hui signed, "I am not you, therefore, I don't know you. And you are not a fish, so how do you know that fish are happy?"

    Zhang said, "you ask me how I know fish are happy, why do you keeping me the same question?"

    Although The Garden of Harmonious Interest was designed after Jichang Garden, it not only absorbed the original designs, but exceeded it.

    (Outside the south entrance to Suzhou Shopping Street)

    Now lets have a look at longevity Hill. On the back slope of the Hill stands a group of architectures. The centerpiece of structures there are known as the Four Continents and are dedicated⁸⁰ to Buddhism⁸¹. This group was laid out and arranged in accordance with Buddhist cosmology. Aside from a main shrine⁸² and structures embodying⁸³ the Four Continents, there are eight towers representing Minor⁸⁴ Continents. The shrine is surrounded by four Lamaist pagodas⁸⁵ and between the major and minor continents, there two platforms representing the sun and the moon.

    The Qing authority attached great importance to Buddhism. To further strengthen ties with the ethnic⁸⁶ minorities who practiced Buddhism, the monarchs incorporated both Han and Tibetan styles of architecture into this group of temples.

    Further north at the foot of the Four Major Continent lies the Suzhou Shopping Street. Built along the Back Lake of the Summer Palace, this street stretches about 300 meters and features more than 60 stores. It includes restaurants, teahouses, pawnshops banks, drugstores dye houses and publishing houses. In order to recreate the atmosphere of ancient times, visitors will have the chance to exchange their money to ancient style Chinese coins for use here. Storefronts are trimmed with traditional signboards and ornaments⁸⁷. The commercial culture of the mid-18th century has thus been recreated.

    (Atop the stone bridge inside the Suzhou Shopping Street)

    Visitors may be surprise to see that this shopping street is almost the same as that in South China. As a matter of fact, this street was designed after the shops along the canals in Suhzhou. Originally known as Emperor's Shopping Street, it was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. After making several inspection⁸⁸ tours to South China and being duly impressed by its commercial prosperity, Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of this street.

    The imperial shopping street was burnt down by Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. The site remained desolated⁹⁰ until 1987, when reconstruction⁹¹ began. It was opened to the public in September 1990.

    With commercial culture as its hallmark, the Suzhou Shopping Street is a vivid representation of China's traditional cultures.

    (On the road from the south fate of the suzhou shopping street to the marble boat)

    This is the hall of Pines. From it to the west we can walk to the Marble Boat. The path we are taking stretches between Longevity Hill and Back Lake. Monarchs and their cohorts used to stroll along it. Hence it was named Central Imperial Path. Along this path you will see lilacs all around. Hence, this road is also known as the Path of Lilac.

    (In front of the ruins of the Garden of complete spring)

    Quite a few unique structures were burnt down during the reign of emperor Qianlong, among which the Garden of Complete Spring was one of the most famous. The ruined and desolate⁸⁹ courtyard by the roadside was its original site, which remains to be restored. This group of structures cover an area of 4,000 square meters and features a number of halls built on three different levels. All of the structures were connected with galleries and stone staircases. With its natural and ingenious combination of pavilions, a hall, galleries and rooms, the Garden of Complete Spring serves as a fine model for other gardens. Emperor Qianlong frequently visited this compound.

    (Along the lakeside by the Marble Boat)

    Now we have returned from the back of Longevity Hill to the front. There is the famous Marble Boat. This structure is 36 meters in length and its body was made of marble. On top of it is a two storeyed structure. The floor was paved with colored bricks. All of the windows are inlaid with multi-colored glass and the ceiling was decorated with carved bricks. The drainage system channels rain water down through four hollow concrete pillars and into the lake through the mouth of dragon heads.

    According to a book written by Emperor Qianlong, the boat was used for enjoying the scenery and was supposed to be symbolic⁹² of the stability of the Qing Dynasty.

    Halfway⁹³ up the slope there stands the Hall for listening to Orioles. The ancient Chinese liken the warble of an oriole to beautiful songs and melodies, hence the name of the hall which used to be a theater. Now the hall is one of the most famous restaurants in China, featuring imperial dishes and desserts. It is a must for many foreign visitors to have lunch here when then come to Beijing. More than one hundred heads of state worldwide have dined here and the late Premier⁹⁴ Zhou Enlai has held banquets here in honor of state guests. (Sightseers who want to try the restaurant can go boating after they eat. Those who do not can go abroad right away. Those who do not feel like taking the boat can stroll along the Long Corridor to the outside of the East Gate).

    (Boating on Kunmin Lake)

    We are now going to enjoy the lakeside scenery from a pleasure boat. As a main part of the Summer Palace, Kunming Lake covers an area of 220 hectares, or three fourths of the combined space of this summer resort. This natural lake is more than 3500 years old.

    This lake was originally called Wengshan Lake. In 1749 Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of Qingyi Garden, the predecessor of the Summer Palace. Involving nearly 10,000 laborers⁹⁵, the lake was expanded and turned into a peach-shaped reservoir, the first of its kind for Beijing.

    From 1990 to 1991, the Beijing Municipal Government ordered the first dredging of the lake in 240 years. Involving 200,000 men and hundreds of dredgers and other tools, a total of 625,600 cubic meters of sludge was dredged and 205 bombs dropped by the Japanese during the Anti-Japanese War were removed.

    The summer palace set a precedent⁹⁶ for sightseeing by boat. There used to be a large imperial flotilla, of which the "Kunming Merry Dragon" was the most famous. It was destroyed by the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. To make the tour of the Summer Palace a more pleasant one, a large pleasure boat "Tai He" (Supreme Harmony )was built. This double –decked boat is 37.09 meters long,8,59 meters wide and 10.49 meters high. It can travel at a speed of 9 kilometer per hour. Small pleasure boats are also available to tourist.

    Another major spot of interest on the Western causeway is Jingming (Bright View ) Hall. Both its front and rear face the lake. This structure also features three two- storeyed halls of varying heights.

    Our tour is drawing to a close as we approach the shore. Today we only visited the major scenic⁹⁷ areas of the Summer Palace. I have left other spot of interest for your next visit.

    I will show you out through the East Gate. I hope you enjoyed today's tour. Thank you. Good-bye and good luck.

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