SituatedinthewesternoutskirtsofHaidianDistrict，theSummerPalaceis15kilometersfromcentralBeijing.Havingthelargestroyalparkandbeingwellpreserved，itwasdesignated，in1960bytheStateCouncil，asaKeyCulturalRelicsProtectionSiteofChina.Containingexamplesoftheancientarts，italsohasgracefullandscapesandmagnificentconstructions.TheSummerPalaceisthearchetypalChinesegarden，andisrankedamongstthemostnotedandclassicalgardensoftheworld.In1998，itwaslistedasoneoftheWorldHeritageSitesbyUNESCO.
ConstructedintheJinDynasty，duringthesucceedingreignoffeudalemperors;itwasextendedcontinuously.BythetimeoftheQingDynasty，ithadbecomealuxuriousroyalgardenprovidingroyalfamilieswithrestandentertainment.Originallycalled"QingyiGarden"，itwasknowasoneofthefamous"threehillsandfivegardens".LikemostofthegardensofBeijing，itcouldnoteludetherampagesoftheAnglo-Frenchalliedforceandwasdestroyedbyfire.In1888，EmpressDowagerCixiembezzlednavyfundstoreconstructitforherownbenefit，changingitsnametoSummerPalace.Shespentmostofherlateryearsthere，dealingwithstateaffairsandentertaining.In1900，itsufferedagain，beingransackedbytheEight-PowerAlliedForce.Afterthesuccessofthe1911Revolution，itwasopenedtothepublic.
