Qingyi Garden (now known as the Summer Palace) is a natural garden combining mountains and water, located in the western suburbs of Beijing. It was established in 1750 (the 15th year of Emperor Qianlong) as a place for water conservation and imperial leisure. The garden features many unique and innovative ancient buildings. In 1860, the British and French forces invaded Beijing and set fire to Qingyi Garden, destroying structures including the Wenchang Pavilion. Although it was later rebuilt, it lacked the distinctiveness of the original. The project aims to restore the Wenchang Pavilion to its state before 1860.

The restoration references primarily come from old photographs, the annotated by Mr. Liang Sicheng, and other buildings from the Qianlong period that share similar forms. The current survey drawings are also very important, as the stone platform base would not be destroyed in a fire, meaning their current dimensions are essentially the same as their previous dimensions.