1Highlights
The Summer Palace is China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden, ~300 ha with water covering three-quarters. Built by Qianlong, rebuilt by Cixi โ this is a palace designed for comfort, not ritual. The Buddha Incense Pavilion atop Longevity Hill overlooking Kunming Lake is Beijing's second-best-known postcard after the Forbidden City.
- Built
- 1750 (Qianlong) / 1886 (Cixi)
- Area
- ~300 ha
- Water
- 75%
- Core
- Buddha Pavilion / Long Corridor / 17-Arch Bridge
- UNESCO
- 1998
- Duration
- 3โ5 hrs
- Best
- AprโMay / OctโNov
- Mon
- Courtyards closed
2Tickets
Peak entry ยฅ30 (park only). Buy the ยฅ60 combo โ it covers the Buddha Pavilion, Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden, and Wenchang Gallery. Buying individually costs more.
| Adult park-only (peak) | ยฅ30 | 1 Aprโ31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Combo (peak) | ยฅ60 | Park + Buddha Pavilion + Suzhou Street + Dehe + Wenchang |
| Combo (off-peak) | ยฅ50 | 1 Novโ31 Mar |
| Buddha Pavilion (alone) | ยฅ10 | Best Kunming Lake panorama from the summit |
| Boat | ยฅ20โ35/person | By route segment |
Mondays๏ผBuddha Pavilion, Dehe Garden, Wenchang Gallery closed. Park open but core sites inaccessible.
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3Getting There
Beigongmen station, Exit D
Beigongmen or Donggongmen
Accessibility๏ผThe Long Corridor and lakeside paths are flat and wheelchair-accessible. Longevity Hill (Buddha Pavilion) has no ramps or wheelchair access โ steep steps only. Visitors with mobility concerns can enjoy the full experience staying at lake level. Wheelchairs for rent at East and North Gates (ยฅ50 deposit, limited supply).
4Route & Photos
Classic route ~5 km, 3โ4 hours. Skip the hill if your knees object โ the Long Corridor and south shore are complete on their own.
Boat schedule: Mid-March to early November (frozen lake in winter). First boat ~9:00, last ~16:30โ17:00. Boats suspended at wind Force 4 or above โ Kunming Lake catches wind hard, check the forecast.
Recommended Route
- 1
North Gate โ Suzhou Street
A mock Jiangnan water town built for Cixi. ~20 min
- 2
Longevity Hill โ Buddha Pavilion
41m octagonal pavilion at the summit โ the best panorama over Kunming Lake. Steep steps, no wheelchair access
- 3
Long Corridor โ Marble Boat
728m, 273 bays โ the longest painted gallery in the world. Walk along the lake to the Marble Boat
- 4
Kunming Lake โ 17-Arch Bridge โ East Gate
South along the east shore. The 17-Arch Bridge โ around the winter solstice the setting sun pierces all 17 arches in a golden streak, a revered photographic event
Best Photo Spots
Buddha Pavilion panorama
Third-level platform: Kunming Lake + 17-Arch Bridge + Western Hills
17-Arch Bridge ยท solstice gold
Late Dec, one hour before sunset, east shore
5Food & Stay
| TingliguanImperial cuisine | ยฅ200โ400 | Converted theatre built for Qianlong's mother. Book ahead |
|---|---|---|
| East Gate areaBeijing cuisine | ยฅ40โ80 | Sijiminfu roast duck, Ziguangyuan |
6Tips & Pitfalls
- ๐ถ Boats seasonal โ mid-Mar to early Nov only. Suspended at wind โฅ Force 4.
- โฟ Wheelchair: Long Corridor + lakeside accessible. No ramp on Longevity Hill. Wheelchair rental at gates.
- โฐ Enter at opening (6:30). Morning light and zero crowds โ the closest to the imperial garden's original atmosphere.
7Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Summer Palace combo ticket worth it?
Yes. The ยฅ60 peak combo covers the park plus the Buddha Incense Pavilion, Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden and Wenchang Gallery โ buying these individually costs more. The ยฅ30 park-only ticket excludes the Buddha Pavilion, which has the best panorama over Kunming Lake.
When do the Kunming Lake boats operate?
Mid-March to early November โ the lake freezes in winter. The first boat is around 9:00 and the last around 16:30โ17:00. Boats are suspended when wind reaches Force 4 or above, and Kunming Lake catches wind hard, so check the forecast.
Is the Summer Palace wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The Long Corridor and lakeside paths are flat and wheelchair-accessible, and wheelchairs can be rented at the East and North Gates (ยฅ50 deposit, limited supply). Longevity Hill and the Buddha Incense Pavilion have steep steps with no ramps โ but staying at lake level still gives a complete experience.
How long does the Summer Palace take?
3โ5 hours for the classic route (North Gate โ Suzhou Street โ Longevity Hill โ Long Corridor โ Kunming Lake โ 17-Arch Bridge โ East Gate), about 5 km. Skipping the hill climb still makes for a complete visit in around 3 hours.
Combine With
Other Beijing sights that genuinely pair well with this one
Before You Go
The practical guides you will actually need here
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All Beijing attractions
Klook
Book tours, tickets and activities in China
Klook lists tickets, tours and activities for many major attractions in China with an English-language booking flow. Product inclusions, available payment methods, reservation steps, ID requirements, voucher redemption and cancellation terms vary by listing and attraction, so check the product page and the attraction's official rules before paying.
- English-language listings for attraction tickets, guided tours and day trips
- Available payment methods are shown on the individual checkout page
- Reservation and real-name ID details vary by attraction and product
- Voucher format and on-site redemption instructions are product-specific
- Read the cancellation policy and official attraction notices before booking
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
GoChinaTravel Editorial Team
Our team of China travel researchers combines on-the-ground contributor insights, official government sources, and traveler community feedback to create the most detailed English-language China guides available. Every guide is fact-checked against primary sources (NIA, 12367, official attraction websites, Railway 12306) before publication.