Long Corridor

The Long Corridor is one of the best-known sights at the Summer Palace in Beijing, a covered walkway stretching 728 meters (2,388 feet). It was built in 1750 under Emperor Qianlong to give the emperor's mother a sheltered route for strolling through the gardens. The path runs along the north shore of Kunming Lake, following the boundary between the water and the foot of Longevity Hill. Along the corridor you will find notable features such as the Marble Boat at the western end and four octagonal pavilions that symbolize the four seasons. At its center stands the Gate of Dispelling Clouds, which divides the corridor in two halves and is itself richly painted.

The historical significance of the site is closely tied to the turmoil of the 19th century. Like large parts of the Summer Palace, the corridor was badly damaged by arson in 1860 when Anglo-French troops attacked during the Second Opium War. It was not rebuilt until 1886. Today it is part of the Summer Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visitors experience the corridor above all as an open-air gallery of Chinese art. The beams and ceilings are decorated with more than 14,000 paintings depicting scenes from classical literature, legends, historical figures, as well as landscapes and nature motifs. Especially worth seeing are the large murals in the four pavilions, which illustrate famous episodes such as the story of the Peach Blossom Spring, battles from the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and scenes from "Journey to the West" featuring the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. This artful decoration turns a simple walk into an impressive cultural experience.