The only survivor of the Old Summer Palace (historical legend: revealing the survivors of the Old Summer Palace fire)

1. Introduction

The Old Summer Palace is a royal garden of great scale and value in Chinese history and one of the largest royal gardens in the world. However, the Old Summer Palace fire in 1860 caused huge damage to the garden. In this fire, only one person managed to escape and became the only survivor of the Old Summer Palace. This article will reveal the identity of this survivor and his experience in the fire.

2. The Glory of the Old Summer Palace and the Occurrence of the Fire

The Old Summer Palace, located in the western suburbs of Beijing, consists of two gardens: the Old Summer Palace and the Changchun Garden. Built in the 18th century, this garden is a masterpiece of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and the pinnacle of ancient Chinese garden art. The Old Summer Palace covers an area of ​​350 hectares and has many palaces, gardens and lakes. It can be called the treasure of ancient Chinese gardens.

However, on October 18, 1860, the Old Summer Palace was destroyed by the British and French forces. During this invasion, the British and French forces burned down the buildings and precious cultural relics in the park, causing great pain and harm to the Chinese people. According to historical records, the fire was so fierce and the smoke was so thick that the entire Old Summer Palace was swallowed up in a sea of ​​flames.

3. Revealing the identity of the only survivor of the Old Summer Palace

In the Old Summer Palace fire, only one person managed to escape and became a survivor. His name was Aqina, a Manchu who was only 16 years old at the time. Aqina was one of the guards of the Old Summer Palace, and he was performing duties in the garden when the fire broke out.

Aqina was able to survive mainly due to his familiarity with gardens and keen observation. When the fire broke out, he quickly realized that his life was in danger and decided to escape through the tunnel. Aqina used his knowledge of the garden to find a path to the tunnel and successfully escaped from the park. His bravery and wisdom made him the only survivor of the Yuanmingyuan fire.

4. Survivors of the fire: Aqina’s experience

1. The scene when the fire broke out

Aqina was in the Old Summer Palace when the fire broke out perform tasks within. He heard the crackle of the flames and the screams of people, and realized that a disaster had occurred in the park. He quickly decided to look for a way to escape in order to protect his own life.

2. The process of discovering the tunnel

Aqina shuttled through the garden, looking for a way out. In his memory, there was a tunnel leading outside the park, and he decided to try to find this tunnel. After some searching, he finally found the entrance to the tunnel.

3. The difficult process of escape

After Aqina entered the tunnel, he found that the tunnel was narrow and tortuous, with fire approaching and smoke filling the air. He had to crawl forward, always vigilant, lest the fire engulf him. In the process of escaping, he also encountered some difficulties, but he always persisted, until he successfully escaped from the fire.

5. Aqina’s subsequent life

After Aqina successfully escaped from the Old Summer Palace, he was sent to the Royal Hospital for treatment. Although he sustained some injuries in the fire, fortunately, his life was not in danger. After recovering, he continued to serve the Qing Dynasty and gained a certain prestige in later years.

However, Aqina’s life was not satisfactory. His family died in the fire, and he became the only survivor of the family. He also lost his job and property due to the fire and had to face the difficulties of life. Despite this, Aqina still faced the challenges of life and worked hard to rebuild his life.

6. Conclusion

The Old Summer Palace fire was a huge disaster in Chinese history, but Aqina’s survival brought people a glimmer of hope. His bravery and wisdom made him the only survivor of the Old Summer Palace fire and a legendary figure in Chinese history. By revealing the identity and experience of Aqina, we can gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance of the Old Summer Palace fire and the bravery of people in disasters. I hope this story will enable us to cherish and protect our historical and cultural heritage, while also remembering those who have made silent contributions in history.