Changchunyuan(Garden of Eternal Spring)

Located to the east of Yuanmingyuan, changchunyuan had been the private garden of Academician Mingzhu during the early reign of Emperor Kangxi, which was at that time called Ziyi (Self-Enjoyment) Garden by the owner. Aroun 1745 (10th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign), expansion constructions were started and the central and western vistas were completed two years later. In 1751, a supervisor was officially appointed to manage the garden. Later, the Qianyuan Garden was added in the southwest and the European Palaces in the north. During 1766-1772, new sights were constructed in the east. By then Changchunyuan had covered an area of 70 hectares and boasted 20 sights, including gardens fashioned and named after the Shizilin (Lion Grove) Garden in Suzhou, Ruyuan (Garden of Ease) in Jiangning (now Nanjing)and Xiaoyou (Small Paradise) Garden in Hangzhou.

The only painting depicting a panoramic view of Changchunyuan was done by court painters during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It was lost during the 1860 fire and its whereabouts remains a mystery today.

The project to restore Changchunyuan's vista and waterways started in December 1992 and was completed in May 1994.