A wintery and snowy introduction to the magnificient Summer Palace museum at the North-
Western outskirts of Beijing City.
Take a photographic tour with novice level Historic explanation of this important Cultural Relic that was home to the Imperial Throne of the later Ching Dynasty (after the Burning of The Old Palace in 1890) and the place from where the most hated and notorious woman in China's history , Empress-Dowager Hsu Tsi ,wielded her Powers.
An extended virtual tour of The Summer Palace Museum , deepening the visitors knowledge of the Summer Palace site and China's history.
New highlights of the Summer Palace including digital photography and sound.
Visit the WenChang Tower and Wenchang Imperial Art Gallery (Museum). New photo's of traditional Ming style decorations and paintings , learn more about Chinese Imperial History and the decline of China's last Dynasty, the Manchu Ching.
Online Bibliography
Includes Sound Bonus
A rough Schematic Overview Map of the Fragrant Hills Area of Haidian and Mentugou Districts in Beijing, marking the locations of the Wofo Temple, Biyun Temple, Fragrant Hills Park and both the Old and New Summer Palaces and their Parks.
Click and Follow the Links to more Information on each specific location !
In 1949 AD Beijing once more became the National Capital of China, the political center of what was to be The Peoples Republic of China, a socialist state.
As the central leadership arrived
in the city the far majority of them first took residence in the Western Hills of Beijing. The entire region, a very large area, was reserved for the Communist Party Elite, and for several reasons all normal residents were moved out. From that time on the Western Hills would be where the Estates from the parties well to do were huddled together, protected by security guards and walls from prying eyes, but also where military airfields, underground bunkers, a secret military headquarters and other still secret facilities were built.
The Communist Party Leadership moved away from the Central Hills in late 1950 AD, taking up residence in the now fully equipped Zhongnanhai Complex, formerly an important section
Enjoying a boat ride across the Kunming Lake at the Yiheyuan Summer Palace. A marvelous experience for any one, Emperor or common citizen.
Throne and thus the Heavenly mandate from succesive Emperors and remained in power until her death in 1906 AD, just after the passing of the Guanxu Emperor.
In the Time of Cixi's Rule, when she was in a way the Empress of China, her retirement Palace was built at Zhongnanhai, which was the place from which she ruled over the Emperor until a Foreign Invasion of Beijing forced them both to relocate to the Yiheyuan Summer Palace.
later it would become Mao Zedong's second Residence in Beijing after 'Liberation'.
Especially famous from this early time, 1949/50, when the new State was being prepared is the so called Fragrant Hills Hotel also known from earlier literature and descriptions as the Fragrant Hills Villa. As the latter shows, it was by no means a Hotel but a luxurious Villa which was located in a particularly beautiful and auspicious section of the Western Hills. This large Villa would become the first residence of Mao Zedong in Beijing after his return to the city as the Victor in the battle for China and political rule. With Mao, most of the other high ranking officials of the Communist Party moved into the complex. Only Zhou Enlai was destined to move to Zhongnanhai at an early stage as he was the one in charge of oversight for the reconstruction of the Zhongnanhai Palace and Garden into the new Headquarters of the New Chinese State.
Buddha, equally renowned historical landmarks so beautifully described by the first foreign visitors to Beijing during the colonial era and the final decline of the feudal Qing Dynasty. Although not often well described in travel guides for the city of Beijing and a
little bit hard to reach by public transport, a visit to the western hills and the various temples can only be worth your while, and at nearly any time of the year.
As for the choice of the western hills for the early Party
Leaderships Headquarters, its secluded position away from the central city combined with its spectacular monuments, historic legacy and sceneries give enough reasons for most visitors to the area.
Haidian District
Monuments and Hotspots
Webstyle produced NavBar
of the Imperial palace of the Emperors. Mao moved to Zhongnanhai in september of 1950, chosing as his official residence -not insignificantly- the former Palace of Empress-Dowager Tzu-Hsi (Cixi aka Jehonella), who had been the de facto last Emperor of the now dead Qing Dynasty. Most people think Cixi's favorite Palace was the Yiheyuan Summer Palace, and that as a concubine and court
lady, she had several different residences throughout her years inside the 'Forbidden City'. However, this leaves out the most interesting part, the part where the Empress-Dowager stole the
Hidden away outside the main city 2nd ringroad, north-west from the City Center in Haidian District is the World Famous Beijing Zoo. Formerly an Imperial Garden, since about the Declaration of the Peoples Republic in 1949 AD it is China's number One and
National Zoo. Now rapidly modernising with markedly improved living quarters for the animals and a huge inland seaquarium, the Zoo is home to a multitude of endangered asian animal species, including the Giant Panda and it's small cousin the Lesser or Red Panda. Don't miss out on the Zoo if you visit Haidian !
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