Summer Palace Facts
颐和园 — Imperial Summer Retreat
Overview
The Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, combining natural landscapes of hills and water with pavilions, halls, and corridors. It served as the imperial summer retreat for Qing emperors.
- ✓ UNESCO World Heritage Site (1998)
- ✓ Largest preserved imperial garden in China
- ✓ Model of Chinese landscape architecture
- ✓ Summer retreat for Empress Dowager Cixi
Key Features
Kunming Lake (昆明湖)
Area: 220 hectares (3/4 of palace)
- • Boat rides
- • Marble Boat landmark
- • 17-Arch Bridge
Longevity Hill (万寿山)
Height: 60m
- • Tower of Buddhist Incense
- • Pavilion of the Fragrance of Buddha
Long Corridor (长廊)
Length: 728m
Paintings: 14,000+ landscape and story paintings
🏆 Longest covered corridor in the world
Must-See Highlights
- Marble Boat (石舫)Symbol of stability, never floats
- 17-Arch Bridge (十七孔桥)150m, 544 stone lions
- Tower of Buddhist Incense (佛香阁)41m, best viewpoint
- Suzhou Street (苏州街)Shopping street, water town style
Visiting Information
Hours & Tickets
Peak season: 6:00-20:00 (Apr-Oct)
Low season: 6:30-19:00 (Nov-Mar)
Park only: ¥30 (Apr-Oct), ¥20 (Nov-Mar)
Through ticket: ¥60 (Apr-Oct), ¥50 (Nov-Mar)
Boat rides: ¥10-100 depending on route
Tips
- • Enter via East Palace Gate (main) or North Palace Gate
- • Best route: Long Corridor → Tower → Boat across lake
- • Allow 3-4 hours minimum
- • Best photos: Tower of Buddhist Incense viewpoint
- • Avoid weekends and holidays if possible
Best Time to Visit
🌸 Spring
April-May: Flowers, comfortable weather
☀️ Summer
June-August: Lotus flowers, but hot and crowded
🍂 Autumn
Sept-Oct: Best weather, fall colors
❄️ Winter
Nov-Mar: Frozen lake, fewer crowds
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the Summer Palace opening hours?
Peak season (April-October): 6:00am-8:00pm for the park, 8:00am-5:30pm for buildings. Low season (November-March): 6:30am-7:00pm for the park, 8:00am-5:00pm for buildings. Arrive early for the best experience.
Q2: How much do Summer Palace tickets cost?
Park-only tickets: ¥30 (April-October) or ¥20 (November-March). Through tickets (including all buildings): ¥60 (April-October) or ¥50 (November-March). Boat rides cost an additional ¥10-100 depending on the route.
Q3: What are the best photo spots at the Summer Palace?
The Tower of Buddhist Incense offers the best panoramic view. The 17-Arch Bridge with the lake backdrop is iconic. The Long Corridor paintings are colorful and detailed. Early morning light at Kunming Lake is magical.
Q4: Can I take a boat ride on Kunming Lake?
Yes! Boat rides are available from April to October (weather permitting). Prices range from ¥10-100 depending on the route. The ride from the Marble Boat to the 17-Arch Bridge is popular. Book early on weekends.