Located in Haidian, a suburb west of Beijing, the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park is a 5A-level scenic spot and a patriotic education center built on the remains of the Old Summer Palace.
Construction began in 1707 and comprised the Old Summer Palace, the Changchun Garden, and the Qichun Garden. Over 150 years, it was constructed by six generations of emperors and is considered the "Garden of Gardens." In 1860, the British and French forces looted and burned the Old Summer Palace. In 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance again vandalized it, reducing it to ruins. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government implemented protective measures for the ruins, and the Old Summer Palace Ruins Park opened to the public in 1988. It bears witness to the humiliating history of the Chinese nation, serving as a warning to the Chinese people to remember the lesson that "backwardness leads to beatings" and strive for progress.
Enjoy lotus blossoms in summer, play in the snow in winter, and delight in the chrysanthemums in autumn. The Western-style buildings linger with resentment, wondering when a century of hatred will be resolved.