Live Your Best Lives
The Pyramids of Egypt,
The Colosseum in Rome,
Angkor Wat in Cambodia,
There are many wonders of the world that can be listed,
but the Great Wall of China ranks first.
There are many gardens, and the Old Summer Palace is known as the Garden of Gardens...
1. The Origin of Gardens - Tsinghua Garden
Beijing's western suburbs are characterized by rolling peaks, diverse terrain, freely flowing water, and densely distributed springs and lakes. The water from Yuquan Mountain flows from west to east along the mountainside into Kunming Lake, becoming the largest water surface in the western suburbs. During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Li Wei, Marquis of Wuqing, embarked on a massive construction project here, creating the magnificent Tsinghua Garden, known as the most prestigious garden in the capital (the original site was outside the west wall of Peking University, not the present-day Tsinghua Garden). After Li Wei's death, his descendants inherited the garden. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, the garden was destroyed, but a significant portion remains. Xigou Bridge, located to the north, is a representative Ming Dynasty relic, located just inside the west gate of Peking University today.
Unnamed Lake at Peking University
2 Imperial Gardens – Changchun Garden
After the Manchus entered the Forbidden City, they were unable to adapt to Beijing's sweltering summers.
Following a fire in the Forbidden City, they erected high palace walls.
The imperial palace was filled with courtyards nested within courtyards, and the water flowed as stagnant as stagnant water, devoid of life.
In the early years of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Changchun Garden (now the western part of Peking University) was built on the site of Tsinghua Garden.
This was later used by Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong to construct Yuanmingyuan and Qingyi Garden (Guangxu's Summer Palace).
Summer Palace Complex
3. Imperial Gardens – The Five Yuanming Gardens
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, Yuanmingyuan was a gifted garden to the Fourth Prince (Emperor Yongzheng). It roughly encompassed the area later known as Jiuzhou and was renowned for its waterscapes.
After Yongzheng ascended the throne, he elevated Yuanmingyuan to the status of an imperial garden, expanding its area to over 3,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres), five times the size of its gifted garden and more than three times the size of Kangxi's Changchun Garden. In the third year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the Emperor held court at the Old Summer Palace, replacing Changchun Garden as the highest-ranking imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty and continuing in use by successive emperors. During the Qianlong Emperor's reign, the gardens previously gifted to relatives and nobles were renovated, creating a "1+4" garden layout: the Old Summer Palace, Changchun Garden (now the Western Building area), Qichun Garden (now the site of Tsinghua University), Xichun Garden (formed by integrating the smaller gardens between the first three gardens), and Chunxiyuan Garden, four additional gardens, totaling over 6,000 mu. The Jiaqing Emperor and the Daoguang Emperor successively gifted Chunxiyuan and Xichun Garden, forming the three Old Summer Palaces of today.
Inside the restored Qichun Garden
A black swan beside the ruins of the Western Building
4. Xichun Garden – Tsinghua University
During the reign of Emperor Daoguang, Xichun Garden was divided into two parts: the east garden was named Xichun and the west garden was named Jinchun.
During the reign of Emperor Xianfeng, Xichun Garden was renamed Tsinghua Garden. When the British and French allied forces burned the Three Hills and Five Gardens in 1860, Jinchun Garden and Tsinghua Garden were spared. During the Tongzhi reign, over 200 halls and corridors in Jinchun Garden were demolished, and the wood used to rebuild the Old Summer Palace. In 1911, the Office of Studying in the United States moved to Tsinghua Garden, named Tsinghua Academy. In 1913, Tsinghua Academy incorporated Jinchun Garden and other areas, and continued to expand to form today's Tsinghua University.
Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University, Memorial Archway
5. The Burning of the Old Summer Palace – A Cultural Disaster
In 1860, the Old Summer Palace was looted and burned by the British and French forces, leaving behind this cultural disaster.
Renovations were attempted during the reigns of Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the garden was left unattended, and warlords removed numerous Taihu stones and stone components from the garden, such as the Huabiao (Huazhu) and lions seen today at Peking University and the Wenyuan Pavilion stele at the National Library of China.
Ruins of the Western-style Building
During the Republican era, the wooden bridge's pillars and piles were dismantled, and trees of all sizes were cut down.
By this point, the Old Summer Palace was devastated and reduced to ruins.
In 1983, it was designated a heritage park.
After a series of conservation efforts, renovations, and restorations,
the Old Summer Palace we see today is as famous as the Parthenon in Greece, the pyramids in Egypt, and the Colosseum in Rome.
The Old Summer Palace is renowned for its architectural style.
It is the only official imperial garden recorded in official Qing Dynasty documents.
It is also the longest-running, largest, and highest-ranking imperial garden.
Five emperors, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng,
lived here for far longer than they did in the Forbidden City.
Sunset
6. The Beginning of the Great Wall - The Pre-Qin Great Wall
The construction of the Great Wall can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty.
To defend against attacks by nomadic tribes from the north,
the Zhou Dynasty constructed a series of castles, known as liecheng, for defense. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, as nations vied for supremacy, they each built fortifications along their borders, which were first referred to as the Great Wall. To distinguish it from the Great Wall built by Qin Shihuang, historians refer to it as the Pre-Qin Great Wall. Since Qin Shihuang, rulers of all dynasties in the Central Plains have continued to build fortifications, totaling over 100,000 miles. The most significant construction took place during the Qin, Han, and Ming dynasties.
Distant view of Jiankou Great Wall
Overlooking from Zhengbei Tower
7. Qin and Han Dynasties - The Great Wall
In its early stages, the Qin Great Wall was mainly used for maintenance and to connect the walls of the Qin, Zhao, and Yan periods. It was completed by Meng Tian and his troops, along with the military and civilians along the route. Later, a section of the wall stretching from Lintao (present-day Shanni County, Gansu Province) in the west to Liaodong (present-day Liaoning Province) in the east was built, stretching over 10,000 li. This section was later called the "Wanli Great Wall." Nearly one million workers, representing one twentieth of the nation's total population at the time, were mobilized. After Emperor Wu of Han ascended the throne, he drove the Xiongnu to the northern desert, repaired the Qin Great Wall built by Meng Tian, and constructed a new section stretching over 10,000 kilometers, stretching from the northern bank of the Heilongjiang River in the east to Central Asia in the west. This dynasty is the most extensive in terms of wall construction in Chinese history.
Mutianyu Great Wall
8. Ming Dynasty – Inner and Outer Great Wall
The Ming Great Wall is divided into two sections.
The Outer Great Wall stretches from the Yalu River in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, with a total length of over 10,000 li.
The Inner Great Wall stretches from Laoyingbao in Shanxi in the west to Juyongguan in Beijing in the east, with a total length of approximately 2,800 li. The eastern ends of the Inner and Outer Great Walls meet near Mutianyu in Huairou, Beijing. To the north lies the Outer Great Wall, which passes through Yanqing and into Hebei, then northwest to Zhangjiakou, Datong in Shanxi, Piantouguan, and finally Jiayuguan. To the west lies the Inner Great Wall, which passes through Juyongguan (Badaling), exits Beijing at Lingshan and enters Zhuolu in Hebei, then continues to Yanmenguan, Ningwuguan, and Piantouguan in Shanxi, before joining the Outer Great Wall at Baiyangling, east of Piantouguan. To the east lie Daomaguan, Zijingguan, and Juyongguan, known as the Inner Three Passes. To the west lie Piantouguan, Ningwuguan, and Yanmenguan, known as the Outer Three Passes.
North Tower of Jiankou Great Wall
Steps of Mutianyu Great Wall
9. Jiankou Great Wall – Magnificent and Precipitous
The Jiankou Great Wall is located in Huairou, Beijing.
The entire section of the Great Wall is W-shaped, like a bow with an arrow. This is the most precipitous and majestic section of the mountain in Beijing, severely weathered by natural processes, yet still retaining its pristine appearance. Jiankou is an undeveloped area, and climbing is generally prohibited. However, there are always more solutions than difficulties, and experienced outdoor enthusiasts often explore the route first. At 6:00 AM, take the first Huairou bus from Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou North Street, and transfer to the bus to Mutianyu. After getting off at Tianxianyu, begin your day of hiking.
Tianxianyu Village
On a clear day,
the village is already breathtakingly beautiful from the moment you enter.
A 1.5-kilometer walk leads to the rainbow trout farm,
which leads to the trailhead.
After several obstacles at the designated entrance,
Sister Feng and I bravely and wisely explored a new path.
I don't remember the scenery along the way, but the nearly vertical cliffs
climbing them barehanded really added to the drama.
Climbing the cliff with bare hands
The summit is the Zhen (Zheng) North Tower,
the highest point of the Jiankou Great Wall.
Up there, with unobstructed views in all directions,
one look and you're captivated!
Built along the dragon's spine of the mountain, winding its way to the end of your sight,
and then thinking about it stretching all the way to the desert and the North Sea,
what a magnificent and vast project, what a tremendous wisdom of our ancestors.
Broken Walls of Jiankou Great Wall
Walking along the wall, one is met with ruins and broken walls.
Each brick tells the story of its past and its extraordinary significance.
With the sun and moon shining on its glorious history,
the unification and prosperity of the Central Plains dynasties,
the Great Wall has played a vital role.
We should all hold it in high esteem.
The Damaged Jiankou Great Wall
In 2012, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage determined that the total length of the Great Wall of China throughout history was 21,196.18 kilometers, including 43,721 Great Wall heritage sites, including walls, trenches, individual buildings, forts, and related facilities.
10. Other Related Tips
1. If time and conditions permit, you must visit Tsinghua University and Peking University. The charisma of China's premier universities can only be truly experienced in person.
2. Entrance to the Old Summer Palace is 20 yuan, excluding the Western-style buildings.
3. Be sure to catch the first bus to the Great Wall, otherwise you'll miss your transfer and delay. The entrance at the foot of the mountain is guarded starting at 9:00 AM and you won't be able to enter in time.
4. Jiankou is quite challenging, so you need to carefully assess your outdoor fitness tolerance.
5. The northern end of the Grand Canal is located in Tongzhou District. While there aren't many relics to be found, it's worth a visit if you're fascinated by canal culture. A large new cultural park has been built.
Tongzhou Grand Canal Northern End
There's no such thing as a stranger, it's just that we haven't met yet.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read.
A bottle of wine, a river, a person, a world.
If I happen to meet you, unfortunately, it’s because I’m waiting for you.
Photo/Xiuli, Fengjie, Yu Shuwen/Yu Shu
Life|Travel|Food|City|Hanfu
Traveling through thousands of rivers and mountains This is Chongqing
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 2000 yuan, Updated: 2020.06.12
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 800 yuan,
Number of days: 10 days, , Updated: 2022.08.01
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 3000 yuan,
Number of days：4 days, Average cost: 1600 yuan, Updated: 2022.07.03
Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 20 yuan, Updated: 2022.06.30
