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The Western Building Scenic Area is located in the Beijing Old Summer Palace Ruins Park, in the northwest of Changchun Garden. It consists of more than ten buildings and gardens, including Xieqiqu, Xianfa Bridge, Wanhuazhen, Yangquelong, Fangwaiguan, Haiyan Hall, Yuanyingguan, Dashuifa, Guanshuifa, Xianfa Mountain and Xianfa Wall. The incomplete stone pillars we are familiar with are a scene of Yuanyingguan and Dashuifa. Due to the unique incomplete beauty of Western architecture, it has been widely circulated and has become the symbol of the Old Summer Palace. The Western Building adopts the "Baroque" style of the late European Renaissance, and the gardening form is the "Le Notre" style. At the same time, it absorbs traditional Chinese brick carvings, glazed ornaments and stone stacking techniques. It can be said to be a combination of Chinese and Western styles, which is magnificent. Among them, Haiyan Hall was built in the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), and the 12 well-known zodiac bronze statues are placed in the hall. At each hour, the bronze statue representing this hour sprays water out of its mouth. At noon, the twelve bronze statues spray springs at the same time, which is very spectacular. Unfortunately, this exquisite building was destroyed by the British and French forces in the tenth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign (1860). Today, only some ruins remain. We can only look at these ruins and imagine the spectacular sight of the past.
Attraction Location: "Inside the Old Summer Palace, Haidian District, Beijing, China (北京市海淀区圆明园遗址公园内)"
History: Xiyang Lou, or the Western-style Buildings, was constructed in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty under Emperor Qianlong. It was a unique combination of European Baroque architecture and Chinese landscaping, showcasing China’s openness to Western styles at the time. Unfortunately, it was severely damaged during the Second Opium War in 1860 by Anglo-French forces, leaving only ruins today.
Architecture: The complex originally included palaces, fountains, pavilions, and gardens. Its design featured intricate European-style facades, marble sculptures, ornate fountains, and terraces. The ruins display remnants of fountains, stairways, and colonnades, revealing the grandeur of the past.
Cultural Value: Xiyang Lou symbolizes the fusion of Chinese and Western architectural ideas and the historical trauma of foreign invasions. It is now a protected cultural relic and an important site for studying Qing Dynasty architecture and history.
Other Information: The site is part of the Old Summer Palace (圆明园, Yuanming Yuan), which also includes gardens, lakes, and other historic ruins. Guided tours often explain the European influences, historical significance, and the destruction during the Opium War.
Opening Hours: "April to October: 7:00–19:00; November to March: 7:30–18:00 (local time)"
Ticket Price: "Adult: 10 CNY
Student (with valid ID): 5 CNY
Children under 1.2 m: Free"
Best Photo Spots: "Ruins of the Grand Waterworks Fountain (大水法遗址), Marble Terraces (大理石台阶), European-style Colonnades (西洋柱廊)"
Time Reference: "Morning or late afternoon for the best lighting and fewer crowds"
Other Information: "Wear comfortable walking shoes as the site is extensive; bring water, sunscreen, and a hat during summer"
The most impressive ruins in the Yuanmingyuan site are the huge piles of white marble, which are enough to show the luxury and grandeur of the building in the past. The stone blocks are engraved with exquisite patterns, which are amazing.
It was burned down during the "burning of the Old Summer Palace" in 1860. Between 1977 and 1992, the remains of the Western Building were cleaned up, the base of the palace was cleared, the fountain pool was renovated, the stone pieces of the columns and walls were restored, and the maze "Yellow Flower Array" was restored.
The Western Building is the highlight of the Old Summer Palace. The wooden pavilions that represent Chinese characteristics have almost no trace left, while the stone buildings have only traces of destruction but will last forever.
The ruins of the Western Building are the most shocking. Today, patriotism education has been further sublimated. The looting of the Allied Forces, the secondary destruction of the warlords, and the picking up of bargains by the surrounding people have left us with such broken tiles and ruins.
After entering the Western Building Ruins Scenic Area, I thought I had gone to a fake Old Summer Palace when I saw the ruins in front of me. How could it be different from what was in the book? Later, my friend responded that the forest next to the Western Building Ruins was the original scene in the book, but it was a pity that I didn't have a good guide and didn't see it with my own eyes.
I always thought that this was the place shown in the picture when introducing the Old Summer Palace. Actually, it is not. This place is called Xie Qiqu. I heard that it was the emperor’s restaurant, where they ate and listened to music.
The most important attraction of the Old Summer Palace is the remains of Western-style buildings. Perhaps it is because of this kind of stone buildings that they can be preserved intact, while the Chinese-style wooden structures have long been burned down.
The remaining ruins no longer resemble its original splendor.
The environment is good, it is large and there are many people, but you need to buy a ticket again to visit
You need to buy a separate ticket to enter the ruins of the Western-style buildings in the Old Summer Palace. The remaining pieces of the Western-style buildings are lying on the land. The exquisite patterns carved on them still remain, telling some stories of the past. Such a scene is inevitably solemn.
The entire area of the Western Building scenic area does not exceed 2% of the total area of the three Yuanming Gardens, and is only a small part of the Yuanmingyuan. A Western European missionary who saw it praised the Western Building for its beauty and fun, and said that it had all the magnificent and strange fountains that people could think of. After several disasters such as fire, wood, stone, and soil, an exquisite and magnificent royal garden was completely destroyed in such a brutal way that it could not be repaired.
One of the main attractions of the Old Summer Palace, from the ruins one can imagine how magnificent and splendid it was in the past.
A heavy mood arises spontaneously. Although there are tourists all around, it is visited every moment and is very popular. But it still can't cover up that kind of miserable feeling. Suddenly I feel that the burning of the Old Summer Palace must not be just a big fire, maybe, maybe there was a "bombing". It is so scattered, the charred place has been covered by history, and what I see is actually scattered debris...
I still sigh, the luxury of the ancient royal family is compared with the suffering of the common people. The demise of a dynasty is also inseparable from the people's livelihood. Well, relax! The fun of the ancients is also interesting. In the past, the emperor sat in the middle of this pavilion. The concubine who could reach the end of the maze first would be rewarded by the emperor. The emperor, who was high above, really knew how to have fun. It is said that the Western Building is being renovated and renovated, and it will probably take some time, so before traveling, you still have to make a strategy!
Tickets are sold separately here, 15 yuan for adults and 5 yuan for children.
Through these ruins, we can imagine the emperor's extreme extravagance, the high-standard entertainment facilities that cost the people money and labor, and the incomparable wisdom of the working people. The dilapidated scene displayed in front of us now makes us feel the fragility and incompetence of the great country at that time, and the helplessness of being at the mercy of others.
You need to buy tickets here. Adult tickets are 15 yuan and discount tickets are 5 yuan. You can swipe your card to enter the park, which is very convenient.
You need to buy a separate ticket to enter the ruins of the Western Building. I can't laugh when I enter this infuriating and regrettable land.
There are actually many ruined buildings in the ruins of the Western Buildings, but those of us who have not been to the Old Summer Palace only know one or two. After a tour, it is hard to imagine how the former prosperity turned into ruins.
Putting history aside, the ruins of the Western Building are really beautiful, the sunset is very gentle, and the ground is full of bright yellow flowers and green grass, which set off the abrupt white walls. It is said that the construction of the Great Waterworks cost 100,000 taels of silver. If this silver was spent on military defense, it would have been a different history.
The main part of the Western Building is actually the artificial fountain. The entire area of the Western Building scenic area does not exceed 2% of the total area of the three Yuanming Gardens, and it is only a very small part.
Take a cruise ship, paddle through the lotus pond full of blooming lotus leaves, and arrive at the ruins of the Western Building. I used to think that the ruins in the textbook were all of the Old Summer Palace, but it turns out that the entire Western Building scenic area is only 2% of the three gardens of the Old Summer Palace.
The former grandeur of the Western Building Scenic Area can now only be seen through the ruins, which is such a pity. We must not forget the national humiliation.
Seeing the ruins one by one makes me want to see this breathtaking and unparalleled masterpiece with my own eyes.
Looking at the introduction of Haiyan Hall, I imagine that such a building is a great project, but it's a pity that we can't see it now.
It just so happens that today's weather makes these wreckages look even more desolate...
In the past, the ruins of the Western Building were all open to the public at close range, but now the large fountain has been surrounded by fences to better protect the ruins and cannot be touched at close range. The maze in the ruins is a favorite of children.
The ruins of the Western Building is a garden within a garden, with a separate admission fee of 15 yuan per person. After entering, you can see the crooked ruins. This should be my fifth time to visit the Old Summer Palace. When I came here before, I was too young and had a vague concept of history. I just accompanied friends from other places and came and left in a hurry.
The damned British and French allied forces came to the Old Summer Palace to loot and burn it. Standing on the ruins, I can't imagine how glorious it was in the past. All I can see are broken walls and ruins.
The Western Building is the first European Baroque-style garden built in China. The entire landscape of the Western Building covers an area of 80 mu, accounting for about 1.5% of the total area of the Old Summer Palace. From west to east, it includes the Harmonious Wonders, the Yellow Flower Array, the Bird Cage, the Five Bamboo Pavilion, the Square Exterior, the Sea Tranquility Hall, the Water Storage Building, the Faraway View, the Great Waterworks, the Water Viewing Method, the Line Mountain, the Square River, and the Line Painting. The building materials are mostly white marble, the stone surface is finely carved, the roof is covered with glazed tiles, and it covers an area of about seven hectares. The well-known broken stone pillars are only a scene of the Faraway View and the Great Waterworks. Due to the unique incomplete beauty of Western architecture, it has become the symbol of the Old Summer Palace.
The Old Summer Palace is very vast, and the nearest entrance to the Western Building is the Northeast Gate (near Tsinghua University). The Western Building is not included in the Old Summer Palace ticket, and you need to buy a separate ticket for 10 yuan.