Yuanmingyuan
Built in the first half of the 18th century, the huge Yuanmingyuan complex consists of three parks and is eight times bigger than the Vatican city. Years ago, it was the emperor's summer residence holding magnificent palaces, romantic mansions and arbours, temples, pavilions, picturesque fountains, stunning paintings, and for some time even a mosque - allegedly a gift from the Emperor Qianlong, the his beloved, Uighur Princess Rong. The European part, Xiyanglou, designed by Italian Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglioni and created by Chinese craftsmen, was a perfect affair between Eastern and Western art.
Today, all that remains is ruins.
French and English troops brought an end to the magnificent Palace on 18 October 1860, allegedly in retaliation for the Chinese persecution of prisoners. The fire they set off had been consuming the complex for three days. Only European style buildings partially survived, as they were made of stone. The losses were too great, and the position of China in the nineteenth century too lamentable to rebuild the park from scratch, so the summer palace was moved nearby, to a much smaller complex Yiheyuan.
One of the most beautiful buildings was once the Dashuifa Garden, with several picturesque fountains. One of them was decorated with a statue of a lion, from whose mouths a stream of water burst, another - a deer and a bunch of dogs, another - chrysanthemums. Today, in this place you can admire only fragments of arches, columns and scattered stones. However, the throne, from which the emperor could admire the view of the gardens, has been preserved in a relatively good condition.
For years Yuanmingyuan stood deserted - for visitors opened it only in the 80s of the twentieth century. Today, it is crowded with visitors, both Chinese and foreign, who can rent a vehicle for a few people, take a boat, take a bus or just go for a walk.
