150th Anniversary of Looting and Burning of Yuanmingyuan
A ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the looting and burning of Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, was held in Beijing on 18 October 2010. This imperial garden built in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911) was ransacked and destroyed by the British and French forces on 18 and 19 October 1860 during the Second Opium War. Yuanmingyuan, also known as “Garden of Gardens”, was 5 times the size of the Forbidden City. It was renowned for its garden and building architecture. The initial construction began in 1707, during reign of Emperor Kangxi, and the expansion continued for the next 150 years. Find out more in the CNTV Special Feature 150th Anniversary of Looting and Burning of Yuanmingyuan.