The Summer Palace

About The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a former imperial garden from the Qing Dynasty, located 15 km northwest of Beijing. Originally named Qingyi Garden, it covers approximately 290 hectares (2.9 km²) and is renowned as the "Royal Garden Museum" for its harmonious blend of natural landscapes and classical architecture.

Designed after Hangzhou’s West Lake, it has Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, and meticulously crafted pavilions, bridges, and corridors that reflect traditional Chinese garden artistry.

• When was it built? 1750 (Qing Dynasty), rebuilt in 1888.
• Where is it located? Beijing’s Haidian District, 15km northwest of the city center.
• Why was it built? Summer escape for emperors to avoid Forbidden City heat and enjoy nature.

Summer Palace Ticket Price

• ​Standard Ticket:
• ​Off-peak​ (November 1–March 31): ¥20
• ​Peak​ (April 1–October 31): ¥30

• ​Combo Ticket​ (includes entry to Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street):
• Off-peak: ¥50 | Peak: ¥60

• ​Additional Fees for Key Attractions:
• Tower of Buddhist Incense: ¥10
• Suzhou Street: ¥10
• Dehe Garden: ¥5

• ​Discounts:
• Half-price tickets for students and seniors (60+ with ID).
• Free entry for children under 1.2 meters.

Summer Palace Opening Hours

Main Park Hours

• April 1 - October 31 (Peak Season): Open: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM | Last Admission: 7:00 PM
• November 1 - March 31 (Off-Season): Open: 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM | Last Admission: 6:00 PM

Paid Courtyards Hours

• April 1 - October 31 (Peak Season): Open: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Last Entry: 5:30 PM
• November 1 - March 31 (Off-Season): Open: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Last Entry: 4:30 PM

The "Garden within a Garden" (a smaller, paid area inside the palace) is closed every Monday, so plan accordingly if you want to explore this spot.

Summer Palace Map & Route

Source from China Tour

• ​Classic Route: Start at the North Palace Gate → Suzhou Street → Longevity Hill → Kunming Lake → Marble Boat → Seventeen-Arch Bridge.

• ​Spring Blossom Route: Enter via the West Gate → Mirror Bridge → Lian Bridge → Jingming Tower → Willow Bridge for iconic views of peach blossoms along the West Dyke.

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Summer Palace History

The Summer Palace, or Yiheyuan in Chinese, has a rich history that dates back over 800 years.

Where is Summer Palace Located?

The Summer Palace is situated in the ​western suburbs of Beijing, specifically at ​19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Haidian District. It’s approximately ​15 kilometers from downtown Beijing​ and about ​23 kilometers from Tian’anmen Square, which typically takes around ​55 minutes by car​ (depending on traffic). From ​Beijing Capital International Airport, it’s ​37 kilometers away, roughly a ​47-minute drive.

Summer Palace Nearby attractions:

• ​The Old Summer Palace: Located just ​5.4 kilometers away, about a ​10-minute drive.
• ​Zhongguancun Science Park: Known as "China’s Silicon Valley," it’s ​5.5 kilometers away, around a ​14-minute drive.
• ​Xiangshan Park: About ​12 kilometers away, roughly a ​20-minute drive.

How to Get to Summer Palace

By Metro

The Summer Palace is accessible via Beijing’s subway system, with two main stations serving different gates:

• ​Beigongmen Station (Line 4): Exit from ​A1​ and walk ​400 meters west​ to reach the ​North Palace Gate. This is the most popular route for tourists.
• ​Yiheyuanximen Station (Western Suburban Line): After arriving here, walk ​4 minutes north​ to the ​West Gate

By Bus

Multiple bus routes connect to different gates of the Summer Palace:

• ​East Palace Gate: Bus lines ​331, 332, 346, 303, 584, Night 8. Alight at Yiheyuan Station and walk ​200 meters west
• ​North Palace Gate: Bus lines ​303, 346, 394, 563, 584, Sightseeing Line 3. The gate is ​**<100 meters**​ from the stop
• ​New Palace Gate: Bus lines ​74, 374, 437. Get off at Xin Jian Gong Men Station
• ​West Gate: Bus lines ​469, 539

Buses are affordable but may be crowded during peak hours.

By Taxi/Didi

Taxis offer a direct and comfortable option:

• ​Fare example: From the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace costs ​~¥64​ (21.2 km, 46 minutes)
• ​Key phrases for drivers: Show “请带我去颐和园” (Please take me to the Summer Palace) to avoid language barriers
• ​Payment: Cash, mobile apps (WeChat/Alipay), or Beijing Transportation Smart Card

Note: Avoid rush hours (7–9 AM, 5–7 PM) due to heavy traffic. Taxis can also drop you at gates with parking lots, like ​South Ruyi Gate​ or ​West Gate

For real-time navigation, use apps like ​Baidu Maps​ or ​Amap.

What to Do & See in Summer Palace: 3 Key Areas

The Hall of Benevolent Governance (仁寿殿)

This area was the private space for the royal family, especially Empress Dowager Cixi. It’s where emperors plotted wars, and hosted foreign dignitaries. The throne room here is jaw-dropping—carved dragons twisting on pillars, a ceiling blazed with gold phoenixes, and a throne so high, you’d need a ladder to sit down.

The Hall of Joy and Longevity was Cixi’s residence, filled with her personal items, like her famous peacock feather fans. The Hall of Jade Billows was the emperor’s bedroom—smaller than you’d expect but super elegant.

Longevity Hill (万寿山)

Climbing this hill is like stepping into a Chinese 山水画 (traditional landscape painting). You’ll trudge past temples perched on cliffs, stone lions that look like they’re about to break a world record for staring, and a giant bronze statue of a deity holding a sword (who I’m pretty sure is supposed to scare away evil spirits… or maybe tourists).

At the top, the ​Cloud-Dispelling Hall​ offers panoramic views of Kunming Lake—it’s so serene, you’ll forget you’re breathing in smog. The light turns the lake gold, and the mountains melt into the horizon. It’s worth the climb.

• Take the elevator if your knees can’t handle the 1,000 steps. No shame—I did it.
• Bring snacks. There’s no café up here, and the vendors sell overpriced water. Trust me, I’ve been stranded mid-hill eating a rice cake I bought at 7/11 the night before.

Kunming Lake

This 2-mile-long lake is the Summer Palace’s soul. Rent a paddleboat (or take a massive cruise ship if you want to avoid rowing) and glide past temples, willow-covered banks, and deer grazing lazily. The ​Seventeen-Arch Bridge​ is iconic—perfect for that perfect photo, but trust me, everyone takes it. My go-to? The ​Marble Boat, a whimsical white structure that looks like it’s floating straight out of a storybook. Rent bikes along the lakefront. It’s flat, shaded, and quieter than walking.

Pro Tips

• April for cherry blossoms or October for golden ginkgo trees—it’ll blow your mind.
• Spray bug spray. The mosquitoes are ruthless in summer.

Best Time to Go to Summer Palace

Honestly, the Summer Palace is best in ​spring (April-May)​ or ​autumn (Sept-Oct). Think crisp air, perfect sweater weather, and the whole place looking like it’s straight out of a postcard. Spring brings cherry blossoms and peonies popping off everywhere, while autumn hits you with those fiery red maples around Kunming Lake.

Summer (June-August): It’s busy. Like, elbow-to-elbow crowds, sticky heat, and surprise thunderstorms. But if you’re cool with that, go for it—just grab a hat, a fan, and maybe sneak in early to beat the tour groups.

Winter’s good too. Yeah, it’s chilly AF, but imagine the pavilions dusted with snow, zero crowds, and hot chestnuts from a street vendor nearby. Cozy vibes for days.