Yuanmingyuan, this site, known as the “Garden of Gardens,” is the remains of a former imperial garden, telling the story of the humiliation of the late Qing dynasty and a treasure of art. Featuring the “Great Water Law” fountain ruins, the shimmering reflections of glazed tiles, and the juxtaposition of European-style columns with Chinese architecture, it witnessed the peak of cultural exchange in the 18th century. The current areas of Kyushu, Fu Hai, and Changchun Gardens showcase the integration of Chinese traditional garden aesthetics with European Baroque styles. The loss of the twelve zodiac bronze heads from the Western Building is a painful memory for the Chinese people, while the remaining stone carvings and foundations still retain the grandeur of the past. This site, built in the 48th year of the Kangxi Emperor (1709), was created by the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Emperors. The destruction of Yuanmingyuan by the British and French forces in 1860 is a tragic event in Chinese history.
