The imperial gardens first emerged in the late Shang Dynasty in the 11th Century B.C. when large-scale You (meaning imperial bird and animal farms) were set up for hunting. Up to the Qin and Han Dynasties in the 3rd Century B.C., imperial gardens in true sense came into existence after a long period of evolution.

Such imperial gardens could be represented by the Shanglin Garden and indicated by Shenxian (Fairy’s) Island.

Entering the Wei, Jin, the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the bold style of the gardens underwent changes, and luxurious gardens were built for entertainment purposes, while the hunting activities gradually subsided.

In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the imperial gardens began to emphasize beautiful and natural scenery, as represented by the Xiyuan garden built in the Sui Dynasty.

Literature, arts and architectural technology witnessed rapid development in the Song Dynasty, and the imperial gardens advanced to an artistically high level emphasizing refined and condensed beautiful scenes of areas all over the country, as represented by the Genyu Garden in Bianliang City (the present Kaifeng City).

After relatively retarded progress respectively in the Jin (265 A.D. to 420 A.D.), Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the imperial gardens entered their final and most brilliant period of development in the Qing Dynasty.

During the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, many temporary imperial palaces and Jinyuan were constructed, and the imperial garden-making was promoted to an unprecedented high level. The imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty might be represented by the Yuanming Garden, the Summer Palace and the Chengde Mountain Resort.

Famous Imperial Gardens in China

Existing imperial gardens include Beijing’s Bei Hai Park, the Summer Palace and the Royal Garden with the Forbidden City, the Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde district, and the Magnificent Clear Lake in Lintong district, Shaanxi Province. These gardens include the examples of gardens within the Forbidden City proper, gardens in the suburb of the imperial city, and gardens for the monarch in retreat. They are fine examples of the imperial garden, with invaluable artistic qualities. Here lists the top existing Imperial Gardens in China.

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No.1:  the Forbidden City in Beijing
Type: Yuyuan 御园
Add: No.4 Jingshan Front Street,Dongcheng District 65132255

The Forbidden City was originally constructed by the third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yong Le, where 24 emperors once lived successfully. The palace was built between 1406 and 1420, but was burnt down, rebuilt, sacked and renovated countless times, so most of the architecture you can see today dates from the 1700’s and on wards. The Forbidden City, also known officially as the Imperial Palace Museum, is located in the center of Beijing City, It  is  near Tianmen Square, Lama Temple, and Hutong. As one of the top attractions in Beijing, it is the must-see place for tourists white they travel in Beijing.

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No.2: Beihai Park in Beijing
Type: Jin禁园
Address: No.13 Imperial College Stree, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Beihai Park, located in Dongcheng District of Beijing, is an extremely popular attraction among Beijingers and tourists. covering an area of 68.2 hectares, and almost two-thirds of the park is a lake, Beihai  Park is used to be the royal garden of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Emperors. It was completed in 1179, rife with greenery and assorted pavilions, corridors and gardens abound. In summer, Beihai is an ideal place to go to escape from the blazing summer heat. You can paddle around in a bizarre assortment of boats.

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No.3: the Summer Palace in Beijing
Type: Jin禁园
Add: Yiheyuan (Summer Palace) Road, Haidian District, in Beijing

The Summer Palace is located in the northwest suburb of Haidian district in Beijing City. Based on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.It is also the best-preserved and largest-scale royal garden in China. It is one of China’s four famous gardens. During latter-day period, it was seriously destroyed by wars but restored by people repeatedly. In 1998, thanks to its long history and abundant cultural meaning, beautiful and natural landscapes, and excellent protection and management, it is successfully accepted into the world heritage list by UNESCO.

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No.4: Chengde Mountain Resort in Hebei
Type: Ligong 离宫
Address: No. 20, Lizhengmen Road, Shuangqiao District, Chengde City,Hebei Province

Chengde Mountain Resort ,also called Rehe Temporary Palace, is situated north of Chengde and 230 kilometers from Beijing. It covers an area of 564 sq meters (218 sq miles) and was originally built for the royal families to spend the hot summer months.  Chengde Mountain Resort was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and it took 89 years (1703-1792) to complete. It was not only the meeting place of the Qing Dynasty government with foreign envoys and frontier ethnic minorities but also the second political center of the Qing dynasty except Beijing. Nowadays, it is  a key national cultural protection unit in Hebei Province, and it was listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory in 1994.

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No.5: Huaqing Pool in Xian
 

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