Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

No. 28, Tsinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park Scenic Area

Yuanmingyuan was first begun in 1707 and, over more than 150 years of construction under six emperors—Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, and others—it grew into a royal garden of approximately 352 hectares, becoming a paragon of its kind. In 1860, the Anglo-French forces looted and burned this unrivaled artistic treasure, reducing it to ruins. In 1988, the ruins park was officially opened to the public; with water surfaces accounting for over forty percent of its area, the original layout of hills and waters remains discernible, bearing witness to its former splendor and沧桑. The Western Mansions Ruins area is the park's most visually striking core. Among the crumbling walls stand the remnants of Dashuifa (the Great Water Clock), Yuanyingguan, and Haiyantang, where the original sites of the Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads remain clearly visible. Set side by side with traditional Chinese garden architecture, these European-style structural elements testify to the unique aesthetics of Qing-dynasty Sino-Western cultural fusion and provide the most vivid on-site classroom for history education. A full-park sand-table exhibition in the garden, combined with VR/AR technology, recreates the garden's appearance at its prime, helping visitors transcend time and space to grasp the garden-making ideal of being "crafted by human hands yet seemingly opened by nature." Fuhai Lake is the largest body of water in the park. In summer, lotus flowers bloom across the vast ponds, and a boat ride across the lake can soothe the somber atmosphere of the ruins. Partially restored areas such as Jiuzhou Qingyan have seen the rehabilitation of certain garden foundations, where the layout and grandeur of the royal garden can still be glimpsed amid the interplay of hills and waters. The Yuanmingyuan Exhibition Hall and the true bronze horse-head sculpture at Zhengjue Temple provide tangible artifact evidence, deepening the sense of historical weight throughout the visit. Since October 2021, the scenic area has been open to the public free of charge. A combined ticket grants access to the Western Mansions Ruins area and the full-park sand-table exhibition. The most convenient route is to take Subway Line 4 to Yuanmingyuan Station, exit at Gate B, and enter through the South Gate. It is advisable to allow 3 to 4 hours for the visit. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather, while July and August are the best months for enjoying lotus blossoms. Early morning or late afternoon light is ideal for photographing the texture of the ruins. When visiting, please respect the heritage site: climbing on the ruins or graffiti on stone carvings is strictly prohibited. Professional filming equipment requires advance permit application. Given the vast size of the park, visitors should wear comfortable shoes and bring their own water and sun protection. Foreign visitors must make a reservation by phone one working day in advance and present their original passport to enter. Maintaining a quiet demeanor throughout the visit is the only way to truly appreciate the national memory and contemplative beauty that this heritage park carries.

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

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