Summer Palace
A glimpse of the beauty of ancient Chinese imperial gardens
In December 1998, the Summer Palace (Chinese name: 颐和园) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Summer Palace is the largest existing royal garden in China, covering an area of 3.009 square kilometers, with water accounting for about three-quarters of it. It is full of traditional Chinese culture and is one of the must-see destinations for tourists on their Beijing journey.
The natural beauty of the Summer Palace is mesmerizing. The blue waves of Kunming Lake are rippling and the water is crystal clear. When the breeze blows, the lake surface ripples and sparkles. The weeping willows by the lake, willow branches dancing with the wind. The rolling hills in the distance, and the lake reflect each other, constituting a beautiful landscape painting. We chose to visit Kunming Lake by boat to enjoy the beauty of the Yiheyuan from another angle. Sitting on the boat, feeling the breeze, the mood is extraordinarily comfortable. Along the way, you can see the 17-hole bridge, the Buddhist incense pavilion and other famous attractions, each with a unique charm.
Table of Contents
Highlights of the Summer Palace
The Long Corridor (Chinese name: 长廊)
With a total length of 728 meters, the Long Corridor is the longest covered corridor in Chinese gardens, and in 1992 it was recognized as the longest covered corridor in the world and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Each square beam on the corridor is painted, with more than 14,000 paintings, including landscapes, birds, flowers, fish and insects, characters and stories, making it one of the most notable Summer Palace attractions. The figures in the paintings are all taken from Chinese classics.
The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (仁寿殿)
The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity is the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu live in the Summer Palace during the dynasty, receiving foreign envoys place.
The Tower of Buddist Incense (佛香阁)
The Tower of Buddist Incense is located in the central part of the hillside in front of Longevity Hill, is the largest project in the Summer Palace, for the classical architectural masterpieces. Inside the pavilion is enshrined the “Guiding Buddha” for the royal family to burn incense here.
Tour in the Painting (画中游)
This complex is built against the mountain with a wide view and every step is a moving picture. This spot originated from a dream of Emperor Qianlong. After waking up from the dream, Qianlong still thought about the charming scenery in the dream, so he hurriedly asked the artist to paint the scenery he saw in the dream. He then had this painting used as a blueprint to build the ‘Tour in the Painting’ on Longevity Hill, making it a highlight of this imperial garden.
Qingyan Boat (清晏舫)
Qingyan Boat is a big stone boat, which is the only building with western style in Summer Palace. The stone boat is 36 meters long, and the boat is piled up with marble carving.
Seventeen-Arch Bridge (十七孔桥)
Seventeen-Arch Bridge is located in Kunming Lake, the largest stone bridge in the park. The stone bridge is 8 meters wide and 150 meters long, consisting of 17 holes.
Kunming Lake (昆明湖)
Kunming Lake is the main lake in the Summer Palace, accounting for three-quarters of the area of the park. 1990s by multidisciplinary analysis and research proved that the lake has a history of 3500 years.
The Four Great Continents (四大部洲)
The Four Great Continents are a Han-Tibetan style architectural complex. They were constructed based on ancient Indian philosophical concepts.
How to Get to the Summer Palace
By Bus
- Route 1: Bus 330. Get off at Xinjian Palace Gate Station and enter the Summer Palace from the newly constructed Palace Gate.
- Route 2: Bus 346. Get off at North Gate Station and enter the Summer Palace from the North Gate.
- Route 3: Bus 574. Get off at North Gate Station and enter the Summer Palace from the North Gate.
By Subway
- You can easily reach the Summer Palace from downtown by taking Metro Line 4.
- Get off at Beigongmen Station(北宫门地铁站), and it’s about a 10-minute walk to the North Gate of the Summer Palace.
- Alternatively, you can get off at Yuanmingyuan Station(圆明园地铁站) and walk about 15 minutes to the South Gate of the Summer Palace.
Attraction Information
Hours
- April – October: 06:00 – 20:00 (last entry at 7:00 PM)
- November – March: 06:30 – 19:00 (last entry at 6:00 PM)
Admission
- Tourist Peak Season (April – October): 30 CNY ( ≈ 4 USD)
- Tourist Off-Season (November – March): 20 CNY ( ≈ 3 USD)
Prohibited Items
- No kites, drones, or other airborne objects are allowed in the park.
- Pets are not allowed (only service animals, such as guide dogs, are permitted).
Visitor Services
- The visitor services area has self-guided audio devices available for 20 CNY each (≈7 USD).
luggage Storage
- East Gate Luggage Storage: About 300 meters from the East Gate, open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
- Beigongmen Subway Station Luggage Storage: 50 meters east of Exit C at Beigongmen Subway Station, open from 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
- Both locations offer secure and convenient storage services, usually costing around 10 RMB per day (≈1.4 USD per day).
Practical Travel Tips
- Most attractions at the Summer Palace are located in the northern part, so entering through the North Gate is recommended.
- Avoid the East Gate! It’s crowded with tour groups and often has long lines.
- There are limited food options inside the Summer Palace, so bring some snacks or eat before you arrive.
- The Summer Palace is large with some steep paths, so wearing comfortable shoes is advised.
- There are no streetlights inside the park, so it’s best to leave before dark.
- Visiting both the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace in one day is not recommended, as it’s tiring and you won’t have enough time to explore both thoroughly.
Attraction Surprises
Summer Palace ice rink (颐和园冰场)
Typically from late December to early February, Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace freezes over and opens as a public ice rink. The rink also offers various paid ice activities, including single and double ice bikes, ice bicycles, electric rides, and ice slides, making it a popular destination for Beijing Winter activities.
Super cute ice cream (颐和园文创雪糕)
At the Seven-Arch Bridge in the Summer Palace, there’s a small shop where you can buy cute ice creams shaped like landmarks of the Summer Palace.
Chinese-style fridge magnets (颐和园文创冰箱贴)
Inside the Summer Palace, there’s a cultural shop that sells a variety of fridge magnets featuring iconic landmarks. Prices range from 50 to 120 CNY (7 to 17 USD).
How Visitors Rate the Summer Palace
International tourists
Local tourists from China
However, the afternoon tea was a bit disappointing. The 198 yuan set was neither tasty nor enjoyable, but I guess the main appeal was just having the experience of having tea at the Summer Palace. I strongly recommend not visiting during the peak summer heat; wait until it cools down for a much better experience!
The scenery at the Yiheyuan is as beautiful as a painting and looks great in photos. The Long Corridor was packed with tourists resting on it. It was so hot that we had to find places to rest frequently to avoid heatstroke. So, visiting when it’s cooler is definitely the way to go!
