三山五园的历史犹如一条奔流不息的长河，承载着北京城珍贵的历史记忆。从五园记盛、园居风尚、历史轨迹和发展展望四个角度讲述三山五园究竟是哪三座山、哪五座园，它们在历史上是什么模样，过去的皇室贵族和王公大臣们在这里从事着怎样的活动，以及属于这片土地的文化基因究竟要如何表达和传承。本书专注于以三山五园为代表的北京皇家园林设计历史与理论，深度剖析珍贵史料，形成生动的图文解读。

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Ⅰ Let figures speak: The rarely-known trivial knowledge
Ⅱ Ruins restoration: A comparison across 160 years
Ⅲ Characters: Those who have influenced the THFG
Ⅳ Illustration of history: The millennial time axis of the THFG
Chapter 1 Overall Characteristic of the Imperial Gardens Region
1.1 The Water Yards
1.2 Scale
1.3 Layout Features
1.4 Garden-making procedure
Ⅴ Common plants and animals in imperial gardens
Ⅵ Domestic and overseas sights hidden in the THFG
Chapter 2 Jingyi Yuan and Jingming Yuan-Imperial Palaces Incorporating the Charm of Woods and Springs
2.1 Jingyi Yuan
2.2 Jingming Yuan
2.3 Eight Scenes of Yenching
Chapter 3 Changchun Yuan and Yuanming Yuan-The Heart of the Em pire amid Artificial Hills and Waters
3.1 Changchun Yuan
3.2 Clustering of gardens in Haidian
3.3 Yuanming Yuan
Ⅶ Yuanming Yuan in the eyes of a French missionary who worked for the emperor
3.4 Charngchun Yuan and European Palaces
3.5 The darkest days
Chapter 4 From Qingyi Yuan to Yihe Yuan-Garden Construction Originally Intended for Water Conservancy
4.1 Tracing back to the origin
4.2 Qingyi Yuan
4.3 Ready in shape
4.4 From Qingyi to Yihe
Chapter 5 Garden-based Life of the Imperial Family
5.1 Court at front,life at rear
5.2 Landscape tours
Ⅷ Calendar of the Qing imperial family in the THFG
5.3 Festival celebrations
Ⅸ Lantern Festival agendas and menus at Yuanming Yuan
5.4 Military drill
5.5 Administration and management
CONCLUSION
GLOSSARY
REFERENCES
AFTERWORD