Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

The emperors' lakeside pleasure garden in northwest Beijing — Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor, and temple-crowned Longevity Hill. It's the most beautiful large-scale sight in the city. Get the 60 CNY combo ticket (peak) and give it a half day; the grounds are enormous and the crowds cluster in one strip.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Are the inner sights closed on Mondays?

The park itself opens daily, but some inner attractions (Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, the theater garden) close Mondays outside statutory holidays. If those matter to you, avoid a Monday visit.

When is the Summer Palace least crowded?

At the 6am gate opening it belongs to local walkers and is magical; by mid-morning tour groups own the Long Corridor strip. Late afternoon empties out nicely, and the west causeway (Xidi) is quiet even at peak — most groups never cross it.

How do I get to the Summer Palace by subway?

Line 4 to Beigongmen puts you at the North Palace Gate by Suzhou Street. Entering north means you cross Longevity Hill first and descend to the lake — a great dramatic reveal. Xiyuan station serves the East Gate side.

How much time does the Summer Palace need?

Give it a half day minimum — the grounds are roughly four times the Forbidden City's area, and most of it is lake. Two hours gets you the highlights at a jog; four lets you walk the Long Corridor, climb the hill, and cross to South Lake Island.

Which Summer Palace ticket do I need?

The 60 CNY peak-season combo (50 off-peak) covers entry plus the inner sights — Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Wenchang Gallery. The bare 30 CNY entry ticket leaves you paying at each gate inside; the combo is simpler and better value.

Is the boat across Kunming Lake worth it?

Yes — dragon ferries cross the lake for a modest fee and save a long walk while giving you the classic view of Longevity Hill from the water. In deep winter the lake freezes and locals skate on it instead.

What is the Long Corridor?

A 728-meter covered walkway along the lakeshore, painted with thousands of individual scenes from Chinese literature and legend. It's the busiest artery in the park — walk it early or late and actually look up at the beams.

Summer Palace or Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)?

Different experiences: Yiheyuan is intact imperial splendor; Yuanmingyuan is haunting ruins of the palace European armies burned in 1860. If you have time, they're one subway stop apart — but with one slot, choose the Summer Palace.

Nearby in Ask Beijing

• Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace)Park2.14 km · 27 min walk
• WudaokouNeighborhood5.35 km · 67 min walk
• Fragrant Hills Park (Xiangshan)Park7.56 km · 95 min walk
• Olympic Forest ParkPark10.09 km · 126 min walk
• Olympic Park and the Bird's NestAttraction10.36 km · 130 min walk