Western Style Palaces, YuanMingYuan Park, Beijing (300 photos; 2 videos)

The Western Style Palaces

The Western-Style Palaces (XiYang Lou) were designed by the Jesuits Giuseppe Castiglione and Michel Benoist. They were commissioned by emperor QianLong who wished to include a variety of architectural styles within the gardens. The stone ruins that remain today of the Western-style palaces are a potent reminder of the destruction wrought by British and French troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War

The ruins of the Western Style Palaces are located in the north east of the park and extend far beyond what you can see from the outside. A separate ticket is required to enter the main area of the ruins (15 rmb). The ruins have a special beauty rather like those of the Greek and Roman civilisations.