The Summer Palace, as the best-preserved imperial garden in China, features distinctive seasonal landscapes that blend the beauty of nature and culture, showcasing the unique charm of an imperial garden. The following is a detailed introduction to its landscape features in four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter:

Frühling: A riot of flowers, full of vitality

The peach blossoms and willows along the West Embankment: The peach blossoms and willows along the West Embankment complement each other, creating a magnificent spring scene of “peach blossoms in red and willows in green”. The pink and white peach blossoms and weeping willows complement each other beautifully, forming a spring scene in the imperial garden with the distant Buddha Incense Pavilion and Kunming Lake.

Magnolias in full bloom: The magnolias in Leshou Hall are as white as snow, complementing the ancient buildings and adding to the vibrant spring atmosphere.

Other spring flowers: Plum blossoms, peach blossoms, forsythia and other flowers bloom one after another. The flowering period lasts until the first ten days of May, and the spring scenery in the garden is intoxicating.

In summer: Green shade blocks out the sun and the fragrance of lotus flowers spreads everywhere

Kunming Lake Lotus: The initial flowering period begins on July 10th, and the peak flowering period reaches at the end of July. When lotus buds are about to bloom, they are shy and charming; when they are in full bloom, they are beautiful and alluring; and when their branches and leaves are dead, they reveal a desolate beauty. The best time to enjoy lotus flowers is in the early morning and after the rain. The lotus flowers and water droplets complement each other beautifully, making the scene even more lively.

Summer resort: The garden is shaded by green trees, with willows floating along the banks. The chirping of cicadas and the laughter of children interweave, adding a touch of comfort to the summer. Tourists can go boating on Kunming Lake to experience the coolness and tranquility of summer.

The beauty of architecture: The Seventeen-arch Bridge, the Jade Belt Bridge and other royal garden features appear even more ancient and elegant under the shade of greenery, complementing the natural landscape perfectly.

Herbst: The forests are ablaze with colors, and the golden autumn is like a painting

The colorful leaf viewing areas: The Houxi River Scenic Area and the Gengzhi Tu Scenic Area are the distinctive autumn viewing spots in the Summer Palace. The ash, ginkgo and juniper trees along both banks of the Houxi River gradually turn orange and yellow. The colorful leaves and the calm lake surface form a unique autumn scene in the north.

The autumn scenery of the Fun Garden: The Fun Garden is filled with red leaves, the sky is clear and blue, the pool water is deep blue, koi carp are swimming freely, and wild ducks are playing in the water, forming a vivid autumn picture.

The autumn scenery of the entire garden: The area of autumn viewing plants in the Summer Palace exceeds 150,000 square meters, preserving the plant landscape features that have been passed down since the period of the Clear Garden. Visitors can stroll in the garden and experience the tranquility and beauty of autumn.

Winter: Everything is covered in white, and wonders reappear

Golden Light Piercing Through the Holes: Around the Winter Solstice every year, when the sun sets in the west, sunlight passes through each hole of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, creating a spectacular scene of “Golden Light piercing through the holes”. This natural wonder usually occurs around 4 p.m. and lasts for only about 20 minutes. It is a breathtaking view that photography enthusiasts and tourists should not miss.

The snow scene is picturesque: After the snow, the Summer Palace is like a Chinese ink-wash painting. The red walls and green tiles complement the white snow, making it even more ancient and elegant. Visitors can stroll in the garden and feel the tranquility and purity of winter.

Lake bottom wonder: After the water of Kunming Lake is diverted, you can see the pebbles at the bottom of the lake, which has a unique charm.