People and Places of China

Location(s)

Instruction:
Situated at the bottom of the eastern side of Longevity Hill, the Garden of Harmonious Interests, has an exquisite design and distinctive layout. Among the gardens of northern China, its style is the most representative of the classical gardens of southern China.

When Emperor QianLong (1711-1799) conducted an inspection of South China in 1751, he developed a great affection for the JiChuangYuan Gardens in WuXi City, JiangSu Province, and ordered that a similar garden be built in the Summer Palace. He named it HuiShan Garden; this was the precursor to the Garden of Harmonious Interests. In 1811, it was repaired and given its present name. The garden was rebuilt again in 1893 after its destruction in 1860.

Several small bridges span the water, each with its own distinct style. The most notable among them is the Know-the-Fish Bridge, the name of which is derived from an argument about fish between two philosophers of different schools:

Zhuang Zi, one of the philosophers, said: "Look! How happy these fish are!" Hui Zi replied: "You are not a fish. How can you know they are happy?" Zhuang Zi replied: "You are not me, how can you know that I don't know?"

Travel Routine:
If you want to take quiet and relaxing tour of summer palace the routine I Surggest:
Enter from East Gate of summer palace（东宫门）-->visit the political area: The Hall of Longevity and Beneverence（仁寿殿）-->visit living quartar Area: the Hall of Jade Billows(玉澜堂)-->The hall of Longevity & Happiness(乐寿堂)——turn back-->Deheyuan Thertre（德和园）-->The Garden of Harmonious Interests(谐趣园)-->Suzhou Street（苏州街）-->to the west of Longevity hill：Marble Boat(清宴坊/石坊)-->Take a Boat to South lake Island(南湖岛)-->Exit from New Palace Gate(新建宫门)
Time: 2-3 Hours
I dislike to take a Front Hill routine, it is too crowed.

Official Recommended Routine:

One hour route: Dong Gong Men (East Gate)--the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity-Garden of Virtuous Harmony-- the Hall of Jade Ripples-Palace of Yiyun--Palace of Benevolent Longevity-- Yaoyue Gate

1.5-hour route: -the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity--Garden of Virtuous Harmony- the Hall of Jade Ripples-Palace of Yiyun--Palace of Benevolent Longevity--Yaoyue Gate--Long Corridor—Kunming Lake --Pavilion of Precious Clouds

2-hour route: -the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity--Garden of Virtuous Harmony-the Hall of Jade Ripples-Palace of Yiyun-Palace of Benevolent Longevity--Yaoyue Gate--Long Corridor—Kunming Lake --Pavilion of Precious Clouds--Pavilion of Buddhist Fragrance—Suzhou Street

Tel： 010-62865056 ， 010-62881144 — 430
Best time to there: April-October