Royal Land Use and Management in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty

Royal land management in the Qing Dynasty's Summer Palace was characterized by strategic planning that balanced landscape value with economic benefits, emphasizing gardens as core elements, farmland as backgrounds, and waterways as connectors. The study reveals a highly authoritative management system under the Imperial Household Department (Neiwufu), detailing revenue, expenditure, and fund flows to support garden construction. By analyzing spatial distribution and land use types, researchers uncovered a dual-system model: directional revenue and expenditure, alongside quota-based systems. This approach ensured sustainable landscape development while maintaining imperial governance structures.

Xiao, Y., & Liu, L. (2021). Royal Land Use and Management in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty. Land, 10(10), 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10101093