It was a summer resort for the emperors in the Qing Dynasty originally named the Garden of Clear Ripples (Qingyi). Destroyed during the Second Opium War of the 1850s, the garden was burnt down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces. It was reconstructed by Emperor Guangxu for use by Empress Dowager Cixi and renamed the Summer Palace(Yiheyuan). In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, the Eight-Power Allied Force ransacked the palace. After another reconstruction in 1903, the garden was restored to its original beauty and magnificence. Although damaged again during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 it was restored and has been a public park since 1924.As the grandest garden in China, it was added to the World Culture Heritage list in 1998.

Using Kunming Lake, the former reservoir of the Yuan dynasty’s capital and Longevity Hill as the basic framework, the Summer Palace combined political and administrative, residential, spiritual, and recreational functions within a landscape of lakes and mountains, in accordance with the Chinese philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature.The site in Beijing is an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of man and nature in a harmonious manner.

Kunming Lake
It is a man-made lake and it's predecessors were called Wengshan Pond and Xihu Lake. They were reservoirs which had been used as sources of water both for the city and irrigation of fields over a period of 3,500 years. 

The Long Corridor
The Long Corridor is the longest garden corridor in China, and one of the oldest structures in the Summer Palace. It is a covered promenade running for 728 meters along the northern shore of Kunming Lake and connecting with a row of buildings at the foot of Longevity Hill.

By Bus: No. 209, 330, 331, 332, 346, 394, 712, 718, 726, 732, 696, 683, 801, 808, 817, 826, arrive at Yiheyuan Donggongmen (East Gate); No. 303, 330, 331, 346, 375, 384, 393, 634, 716, 718, 696, 683, 801, 808, 817, 834, and 5, arrive at Yiheyuan beigongmen (North Gate); No. 374, 437, 704, 992, 481, and 952, arrive at Yiheyuan jiangongmen (Jiangong Gate).

Admission: CNY40 (low season); CNY50 (peak season) 

Opening Hours: 8:00 to 17:30(summer);8:30-16:30(winter)

1) Renshou Hall?Dehe Garden?Yulan Hall?Yiyun Hall?Leshou Hall?Long corridor?Take a boat at Paiyun gate?Walk along the six bridges of West Causeway.

2) Renshou Hall?Dehe Garden?Yulan Hall?Yiyun Hall?Leshou Hall?Long corridor?Paiyun gate?Wanshou Mountain?Paiyun Palace?Suzhou Street