圆明园位于北京市西北部郊区，海淀区东部。是一座举世文明的皇家园林．原为清代一座大型皇家御苑，占地约5200亩，平面布局呈倒置的品字形，圆明园由圆明园、长春园、绮春园三园组成，总面积达350公顷。
圆明园的陆上建筑面积和故宫一样大，水域面积又等于一个颐和园。
历史上圆明园由圆明、长春、绮春三园组成，占地5200余亩，有著名景群上百处。自清代康熙四十六年（1707年）起，原是康熙皇帝赐给皇四子胤祯（雍正）的“赐园”。1722年雍正即位后，依照紫禁城的格局，大规模建设，役使无数能工巧匠，费银亿万建造经营而成。圆明园曾以其宏大的地域规模、杰出的造园艺术，精美的建筑和丰富的文化收藏闻名于世。其盛名传至欧洲，被誉为“万园之园”、“世界园林的典范”。
译文:
The Ruins of Yuanmingyuan in Beijing
The Yuanmingyuan is located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing where is the eastern part of Haiding District. Being a large royal garden in the Qing Dynasty, it gains worldwide fame. The Yuanmingyuan covers about 3.47 square kilometers with a plane composition of inverted font of “品”（a Chinese character）, consisting of the Yuanmingyuan, the Changchunyuan and the Qichunyuan. The gross area reaches 350 hectares.
The overland area of the Yuanmingyuan is the same size as that of the Palace Museum, and the water area is as that of the Summer Palace.
In history the Yuanmingyuan, the Changchunyuan and the Qichunyuan constitute the Yuanmingyuan. There are hundreds of well-knownscenic spots in the 3.47 square-kilometer areas. It became the “Bestowed Garden” which the Emperor Kangxi granted to his fourth son Yongzhen in the year of 1707. After Yongzhen came into power in 1722, in accordance with the layout of the Forbidden City, it was rebuilt on a large scale with numerous skillful craftmen’s efforts and billions of silver. The Yuanmingyuan was known throughout the world for its huge area, outstanding art of court-yard building, elaborate architectures and abundant cutural collections. In Europe, it was reputed “the most beautiful garden in the world” or “the model of the gardens”.