Beijing · Visitor Guide
Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhé Yuán)
The Summer Palace is China's largest surviving imperial garden, built in 1750 by Emperor Qianlong and rebuilt in 1886 by Empress Dowager Cixi (who infamously diverted navy funds to pay for it). The 300-hectare UNESCO site centers on Kunming Lake (2.2 km², man-made) and Longevity Hill (60 m), connected by covered walkways and ornate bridges. It was the imperial family's summer retreat from the Forbidden City's heat. The Long Corridor — a covered walkway with 14,000+ hand-painted scenes — is the world's longest painted corridor at 728 m.
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Quick Answer
Is Summer Palace worth visiting?
The largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China — 300 hectares of pavilions, Kunming Lake, and the 728 m Long Corridor. Plan 3–4 hours. ¥60.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥60 peak season (Apr–Oct), ¥50 off-peak (Nov–Mar) as of June 2026. Combined ticket ¥60 includes Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, and Suzhou Street. English audio guide ¥20. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 6:30–18:00 (Apr–Oct), 7:00–17:30 (Nov–Mar). Dehe Garden and Tower of Buddhist Incense close 30 min earlier. |
| Recommended duration | 3–4 hours for the main circuit. Full day for a thorough visit. |
| Best time to visit | April–May (spring blooms) and October (autumn light). Arrive at opening (6:30 AM) for mist over Kunming Lake and near-empty walkways. |
| How to get there | Beigongmen Station (Metro Line 4, Exit D) — west gate. Xiyuan Station (Metro Line 4, Exit A) — east gate. 40 min from central Beijing. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | 1750 (Qianlong), rebuilt 1886 (Cixi) |
| Total area | 300 hectares (741 acres) |
| Kunming Lake | 2.2 km² — entirely man-made |
| Long Corridor | 728 m — world's longest painted corridor |
| UNESCO | 1998 |
What to expect
The Summer Palace feels like a Chinese landscape painting come to life. Kunming Lake fills three-quarters of the grounds — its southern shore lined with willows, its waters dotted with pedal boats and dragon-shaped tour boats. Longevity Hill rises on the northern shore, crowned by the octagonal Tower of Buddhist Incense (佛香阁), visible from anywhere on the lake.
The Long Corridor (长廊) is the park's most charming feature: a covered, open-sided walkway running 728 m along the lake's northern edge. Every beam is painted with a unique scene — landscapes, myths, birds, flowers — over 14,000 individual paintings. On a hot summer day, the corridor catches a breeze off the lake, and it is easy to imagine why the imperial family decamped here from the stifling Forbidden City.
The Marble Boat (石舫) at the western end of the Long Corridor is a defiantly impractical structure — a two-story faux-boat built of stone and painted wood that sits permanently in the water. Cixi had it rebuilt in 1893, supposedly to symbolize that Qing power was as unsinkable as a stone vessel. History proved otherwise.
How to get there
Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (北宫门, Exit D) for the north gate, or Xiyuan Station (西苑, Exit A) for the east gate. The east gate is closest to the main palace area and Long Corridor. From central Beijing (Tiananmen area), allow 40–50 minutes.
Best photo spots
- Kunming Lake at sunrise with Longevity Hill reflected — from the eastern shore near the east gate
- The Long Corridor from inside — painted beams receding into the distance
- Seventeen-Arch Bridge (十七孔桥) at sunset — the golden-hour light through the arches
- Marble Boat from the shore — best in morning light
Tips
- Buy the combined ticket (¥60) — includes Dehe Garden and Tower of Buddhist Incense which are the best interiors
- Enter at 6:30 AM (Apr–Oct) for mist on Kunming Lake and no crowds — the first hour is magical
- Bring snacks and water — food options inside are expensive and mediocre
- The pedal boats on Kunming Lake (¥30–60/hr) are a fun way to see the palace from the water
- Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1–7) — the Long Corridor becomes a human crush
Scams to avoid
- Taxi drivers at Xiyuan station claiming the Summer Palace is "under renovation today" and offering a tour to a different site — it is not closed
- Touts selling "VIP skip-the-line" tickets — there is no such thing; the standard ticket line moves within 10 minutes
Frequently asked questions
How is the Summer Palace different from the Forbidden City?
Summer Palace = imperial garden + lake, outdoor, landscaped, relaxed. Forbidden City = imperial palace, indoor/museum, formal, architectural. The Summer Palace was where the royal family went to escape the Forbidden City's confinement. Both are UNESCO sites and both deserve a half-day. Visit the Forbidden City first, then the Summer Palace on a different day.
How much time do I need at the Summer Palace?
3–4 hours for the main circuit: east gate → Long Corridor → Marble Boat → ferry across Kunming Lake → Seventeen-Arch Bridge → south lake island → exit east gate. A thorough visit with Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, and Suzhou Street takes 5–6 hours.
Can I boat on Kunming Lake?
Yes — pedal boats (¥30–60/hr, 4-person) and electric boats (¥60–100/hr) are available from docks near the Marble Boat and the south shore. Dragon-shaped tour boats (¥15 per person) cross the lake from the Marble Boat area to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
Is the Summer Palace worth visiting in winter?
Yes — Kunming Lake freezes over (January–February), locals skate on it, and the snow-dusted pavilions on Longevity Hill are beautiful. Entry is ¥50 (cheaper than peak) and crowds are minimal. The Long Corridor is a wind tunnel though — dress warmly.
Why is the Long Corridor famous?
At 728 m with 14,000+ individually painted scenes on every crossbeam, it is the world's longest painted corridor. Each painting is unique — scenes from Chinese literature, mythology, landscapes, and bird-and-flower studies. It was designed so the empress could walk the length of the lake without sun or rain exposure.
What is the Marble Boat and why does it exist?
The Marble Boat (石舫, Shí Fǎng) is a two-story pavilion built on a stone base in the shape of a paddle steamer, sitting permanently in the water at the western end of the Long Corridor. Empress Dowager Cixi had it rebuilt in 1893 using navy funds — hence the irony: a boat that cannot sail, paid for with money meant for warships. It is a folly that perfectly captures late Qing excess.
Can I combine the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in one day?
Yes — Yuanmingyuan (the ruined "Old Summer Palace") is 2 km east of the Summer Palace's east gate. See Yuanmingyuan in the morning (2 hours, quieter, haunting ruins) then the Summer Palace in the afternoon. But it is a lot of walking — 7+ km total — and the Summer Palace deserves fresh legs and attention.
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