圓明園(Old Summer Palace)

The Old Summer Palace, also known in China as the Gardens of Perfect Brightness(Chinese: 圓明園), and originally called the Imperial Gardens (Chinese: 御園), was a complex of palaces and gardens 8 km (5 miles) northwest of the walls of Beijing, built in the 18th and early 19th century, where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty resided and handled government affairs (the Forbidden City inside Beijing was used only for formal ceremonies). Known for its extensive collection of garden and building architectures and other works of art (a popular name in China was the "Garden of Gardens", 萬園之園), the Imperial Gardens were entirely destroyed by troops from Britain and France in 1860. Today, the destruction of the Gardens of Perfect Brightness is still regarded as a symbol of foreign aggression and humiliation in China.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 圓明園
• 圆明园
• Old
• Summer
• Palace
• yuanming
• yuan

[grasille]

To remember humiliation is not to revenge, but is to understand how important is being strong. We will protect the ruins forever, and the sleeping dragon is awake now.

[mitsuhiko45]

I think people who are the Chinese should watch this film. Although this had been the history , invaders souldn't forget what they had done. They burn the most beautiful building in 1800s. It's very unbelievable.

[Bournetolive]

I think people should calm down a little bit - we need to look to the future while not forgetting the past. Still, we need to remember that revenge would lower ourselves to the level of the British and the French, so instead, we must continue the course of economic development and beat them without ever firing a shot. Oh, and work harder to make the British Museum and Louvre return national treasures taken from the Old Summer Palace.

[Bournetolive]

@pdruiz2005

Yeah, we see the stone remains because they didn't turn into ashes, unlike the Chinese part (which was very large) built from wood which had been completely razed by the fire. And even if there were no European architecture, the Chinese-style canals and bridges (made from stone) would still be present.

[TheUndine27]

@zennnbuddha you shames stupit , do not understand history , how british educate you.you should say sorry and feel shame that you had destroyed human civilation .if barbaric is correct way in british rich police , you should go back to school and ask you british teach if it is right thing that you have done!

[TheUndine27]

you british/Frech ruin the most beautiful world wonder , it is not just pity for chinese , it also pity for the world people who will never see the master piece of western and esatern architectures and human civilaztion .we don't blame you , but you robbers name will mark in every generation 's heart.

[TheUndine27]

as the world people know Gardens and Garden were collection every individual masterpieces large from western and eastern 's even little small things such as jewelry and the most famous master piece of panting,you should feel shame of you barbaric behave ,

[TheUndine27]

just look at you comments , you British obeviously do not want it , but in the history british Colonial other countries development great britain 's economic , that has been said you were good on sicent ,but that doesnt mean british were the most rich country such as China.

[TheUndine27]

@thesoapboxstand

You are fucking uneducated that you don't understand history , you country well know you were robbers and you goverment rely on unfair war to become rich country .and you country want to cover this shameless british/french robbers history therefore they never mention it in you history book, however you now you were barbaric country , who rely on plunder and ruin human civilaztion because western power full country .We feel shame on you small countries rude behavore

[pdruiz2005]

The irony of the Old Summer Palace is that a good portion of it was built along European Baroque lines, with input from European (mostly Italian) architects. Odd how the Qing wanted to copy "barbarian" palace architecture. Hence the preponderance of stone at the site--traditional Chinese buildings are almost all made of wood. If not for European architects, the stone ruins you see today would not be there. History is funny how it works sometimes.

[twenlil]

@gamingspawner

@gamingspawner

No matter how the British and French tried to spin their version of their story to show how civilized they were, the Chinese only know that they were the barbarians who pushed dope to the Chinese people.

"Two robbers breaking into a museum, devastating, looting and burning, leaving, laughing hand-in-hand with their bags full of treasures; one of the robbers is called France and the other Britain." - Victor Hugo.