The New Yuan Ming Palace is located at No. 164 Lanpu Road, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Covering an area of 1.39 square kilometers, the water area of Fuhai Lake is 80,000 square meters. Taking the grand sight of Old Summer Palace in Beijing before it was burned down as the blueprint, the scenic spot selects eighteen scenes from the Forty Scenes of the Old Summer Palace and reconstructs them at a ratio of 1:1. It integrates three major sections: classical royal building complexes, Jiangnan classical garden building complexes and Western-style building complexes, recreating the style of royal gardens of the Qing Dynasty. The scenic spot was laid the foundation in 1992 and officially opened to the public in 1997. Since 2013, free admission has been implemented for day sessions. It is a landmark cultural tourism destination in Zhuhai and also a patriotic education base of Guangdong Province.
History and Culture
The Old Summer Palace in Beijing was first built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty. It was constructed over successive dynasties, embodying the pinnacle of Chinese garden art across generations and known as the "Garden of Gardens". It was burned down in 1860, with a large number of cultural relics lost, leaving a heavy mark in modern Chinese history. The construction of The New Yuan Ming Palace in Zhuhai aims to allow the public to intuitively understand the garden layout of the ancient Old Summer Palace and the court culture of the Qing Dynasty through restored landscapes, serving the functions of historical popularization and patriotic education.
The The New Yuan Ming Palace project was designed with the participation of experts from the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University. Architects, historians, scholars and craftsmen joined together during the construction phase. On the basis of respecting the original drawings, the layout adapts to the local mountain terrain of Zhuhai without damaging the original natural mountain ecology. After completion, the scenic spot regularly launches Qing-court-themed performances and historical explanation programs, spreading the garden culture and relevant historical knowledge of the Qing Dynasty through scene-based displays.
During operation and upgrading, the scenic spot continuously optimizes landscape supporting facilities and enriches cultural exhibition contents. It combines classical garden sightseeing, live performances and research-and-study education. Serving as a leisure park for local residents, it also becomes a visiting place for out-of-town tourists to learn about the garden system of the Old Summer Palace. Different from the commemorative nature of the Old Summer Palace ruins in Beijing, it displays traditional gardening techniques through reconstructed landscapes.
Main Attractions
Hall of Supreme Brightness
The Hall of Supreme Brightness is the core main hall on the central axis of the whole garden and also the largest reconstructed royal building. Built referring to the original layout of the Old Summer Palace, it was the place where emperors of the Qing Dynasty held court to handle state affairs and hosted grand ceremonies. Inside the hall are dragon thrones and screens furnished with Qing court decorations. Real-scene displays including portraits of Qing emperors, the Scenic of Empress Dowager Regency and imperial banquets are exhibited. The building features red walls and yellow glazed tiles with rigorous Dougong brackets, making it the most prominent royal-style photo spot in the garden.
Nine Continents and Peace
Nine Continents and Peace lies to the north of the Hall of Supreme Brightness. It is a residential palace complex for emperors and empresses of the Qing Dynasty, consisting of three courtyards: the Old Summer Palace Hall, the Hall of Selfless Service and the Hall of Nine Continents and Peace. This was the inner residential zone for the royal family. Scenes of royal reading, dining and family banquets are restored here. With elegant courtyards and connected corridors, it is an area to experience the inner court atmosphere of the Qing Dynasty and suitable for Chinese-style costume photography.
Fuhai Lake
Fuhai Lake is the central water area of the entire scenic spot with an open water surface. Many scenic islets scatter around the lake. It was a water space for the Qing royal family to go boating, watch dragon boat races and enjoy fireworks. The water of Fuhai Lake is calm, and visitors can take cruise boats for a lake tour. Lush plants grow along the embankment around the lake. Visitors can overlook waterside buildings such as Pengdao Yaotai and Fanghu Shengjing. It is also a good spot to view garden reflections.
Penglai Fairy Islet
Penglai Fairy Islet is situated in the center of Fuhai Lake. It is an island-style building complex on water inspired by the artistic conception of fairy mountains on the sea. Composed of many palaces and pavilions, it connects with the lakeshore via bridges. Buildings scatter on the island. From afar, it looks like fairy pavilions floating on the water. It is the most representative landscape in the Fuhai area and reproduces the gardening concept of East China Sea fairy mountains from the Old Summer Palace.
Fanghu Wonderland
Fanghu Wonderland is located beside Fuhai Lake. Its main building stretches forward into the water with a mountain-shaped layout, equipped with multi-layer white marble platforms and pavilion groups, presenting a magnificent momentum. Inspired by the image of fairy mountain palaces, this landscape boasts rich architectural layers and complete waterside reflections. It is a large reconstructed ancient building complex with strong visual impact in the garden.
Western Palaces Area
The Western Palaces Area contains European-style landscapes including Yuanyingguan, Great Fountain and Haiyantang. It is the zone combining Chinese and Western garden styles in the garden. Haiyantang features a zodiac animal-head fountain, which sprays water in turn according to the 12 two-hour periods of a day, and all animal heads spray together at noon, recreating the original fountain design. Yuanyingguan adopts a European-style main structure topped with Chinese glazed tiles. The Great Fountain is the landmark structure of Western landscapes with distinctive exotic features.
Upper and Lower Bright Scenery
Upper and Lower Bright Scenery is a Jiangnan-style garden landscape built beside Fuhai Lake with pavilions and a nine-turn bridge. It derives from the poetic line "the sky and water merge into one color". It features a wide view where lake water and sky set each other off. Its gardening technique draws lessons from Jiangnan waterside pavilions with a gentle style, forming a contrast with the solemn royal palaces on the central axis.
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool is a typical Jiangnan waterside garden composed of lotus ponds, winding corridors and pavilions, modeled after the landscape of the same name in West Lake, Hangzhou. It enjoys the best view when lotus flowers bloom in summer. Walkways twist along the water bank, creating a quiet and elegant leisure area in the garden.
Sightseeing Route
Main Gate → Hall of Supreme Brightness → Nine Continents and Peace → Fuhai Lake → Penglai Fairy Islet → Fanghu Wonderland → Upper and Lower Bright Scenery → Curved Yard and Lotus Pool → Western Palaces Area (Haiyantang, Great Fountain, Yuanyingguan) → Exit
Tips for Visiting
- Admission is free for day sessions. It is recommended to complete real-name reservation in advance via the official WeChat public account. The scenic spot gets crowded on holidays, so try to enter in the morning.
- The walking route inside the park is long. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes and you may bring your own drinking water.
- The fountain show at Western Palaces Area has fixed performance times. You may check the schedule ahead of time to catch the show.
- If you want to take ancient-style photos, enter the park after 3 p.m. for soft light and better shooting effects.
- Park sightseeing carts, Fuhai Lake cruises and night light shows are chargeable items for optional purchase.
- Mosquitoes are numerous in summer. Bring mosquito repellent and take sun protection measures.
- You can book the scenic guide service during the tour to better understand the garden layout and relevant historical background.
Notes
- The ancient buildings in the scenic spot are reconstructed landscapes. Climbing railings of halls, stepping on roofs and touching indoor exhibits are prohibited.
- Stay safe near the waterside of Fuhai Lake. Swimming is forbidden. Follow the cruise management rules when taking boats.
- Open flames and flammable and explosive articles are not allowed inside the park. Smoking is prohibited in the whole scenic area.
- Please visit politely. Do not pick flowers and plants, feed wild birds or litter.
- Day sessions and night sessions are managed separately. Tickets must be purchased separately for night light performances, whose opening hours differ from day sessions.
- In case of severe weather such as typhoons and heavy rain, some waterside projects and performances will be suspended temporarily. Check official announcements before your trip.
- Parking spaces in the scenic spot are limited. Public transport is preferred on holidays.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No.1, 13, 62 or 69 and get off at The New Yuan Ming Palace Station, which arrives directly at the scenic entrance.
- Self-driving: Navigate to The New Yuan Ming Palace. Supporting parking lots are available around the scenic spot. You may also park your car at nearby Jiuzhou Avenue or Water Fantasy parking lots.
- Taxi / Online car-hailing: Set the destination as the main gate of The New Yuan Ming Palace (No. 164 Lanpu Road) to get off.
Opening Hours
For The New Yuan Ming Palace, the day session opens from 9:00 to 17:30 on Sundays to Thursdays. Night sessions are available on Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00. Night sessions usually start at 18:30 with light shows and performances included. The specific opening arrangement will be adjusted according to holidays and weather conditions. Please refer to official announcements of the scenic spot.
Tickets
Admission is free for day sessions, while tickets for night sessions start from 30 RMB per person, covering light shows and themed performances. Extra fees are required for cruise boats and other amusement projects inside the garden.
Search the official service account "珠海圆明新园" on WeChat for the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.