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HomePlacesBeijingSummer Palace
historicalgardensheritage🔮 Offbeat

Summer Palace

Beijing 80m⚡ Easy
Best Time
September to November, April to June
Difficulty
Easy
Safety
★★★★★
Solo Friendly
Family
Gallery
Loading photos

About Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, featuring Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, and the famous Long Corridor. Spanning nearly 3 square kilometers, it served as the imperial summer retreat for the Qing emperors, harmonizing artificial architectural elements with natural scenery.

💡Why Visit?

Stroll through the beautifully painted Long Corridor and take a boat across Kunming Lake to admire the marble Seventeen-Arch Bridge.

Best For
nature-loverhistory-bufffamilyphotographer
Languages
Mandarin
#unesco#lake#dynasty#royal-park
Build Your Trip

Customize starting city and duration for a tailored plan.

3 Days

Quick Facts

RegionBeijing
CountryChina
Altitude80m
DifficultyEasy
Solo Friendly✅ Yes
Family✅ Yes
Budget StayCN¥140*/night
Budget FoodCN¥50.00*/day
PermitNot Required
Visa & Entry Requirements

Check live entry documents and quarantine rules for China.

Check Entry Restrictions
Co-branded with sherpa°

💎 Hidden Gems Nearby

Museum
The Palace Museum
4.616,730 reviews· 14.2 km
Cultural landmark
Summer Palace
4.69,907 reviews· 0.4 km
Plaza
Tiananmen Square
4.46,725 reviews· 15 km
Place of worship
Temple of Heaven
4.63,802 reviews· 17.4 km
Tourist attraction
Forbidden City
4.62,782 reviews· 14.1 km
Historical place
Great Wall of Badaling
4.61,498 reviews· 45.4 km
Park
Jingshan Park
4.61,455 reviews· 13.5 km

Ratings & reviews from Google Maps

Activities

Summer Palace General Admission

30 CNY in peak season, 20 CNY in off-season

Time

3 hours

Cost

CN¥20.00*–CN¥30.00*

Effort

Easy

Combo Ticket (Admission + Tower of Buddhist Incense + Suzhou Street)

60 CNY in peak season, 50 CNY in off-season

Time

4-5 hours

Cost

CN¥50.00*–CN¥60.00*

Effort

Easy

Kunming Lake Boat Ferry

Scenic ferry ride across the lake

Time

20 minutes

Cost

CN¥30.00*–CN¥40.00*

Effort

Easy

🌡️ Weather & Best Time

Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct

Jun · Partly Cloudy

This destination has a high-altitude climate with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 19°C annually. Best visited during Mar, Apr, Oct.

Temperature range (°C)
Jun
🌥️Partly Cloudy
🌡️
Temperature20° – 32°C
💧
Rainfall54mm
✅Good
✅Good — warm and pleasant
Quality:Best timeGoodOkayColdAvoid

Climate averages based on 10-year historical data · Open-Meteo

When to Visit

💸Best Value
JulAugMar
Crowds Medium Prices Medium

Pleasant weather, lighter crowds — the sweet spot.

🔥Peak Season
SepOctNovAprMayJun
Crowds High Prices High

Busiest months — book stays & transport early.

🌙Off Season
DecJanFeb
Crowds Low Prices Low

Quietest window with the lowest prices.

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How to Reach

Nearest Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
35 km · 50 minutes by road
Nearest Railway Station
Beijing North Railway Station
12 km · 20 minutes by subway Line 4
Nearest Bus Stand
Beigongmen Subway Station (Line 4)
0.1 km · 2 minutes walk to North Gate

Take Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (Exit D) for the North Gate, or to Xiyuan Station for the East Palace Gate.

Local Transport

Cab / Taxi
CN¥250* – CN¥400*/day
Local Bus
Many city buses stop at the North Gate or East Palace Gate.
Walking

Where to Stay

🎒 Deluxe
CN¥140*/night
  • Beijing university district hostel
  • Standard budget room
🏨 Premium
CN¥500*/night
  • Zhongguancun hotel room
  • Express courtyard hotel
✨ Luxury
CN¥1,600*/night
  • Aman Summer Palace
  • Shangri-La Beijing

Local Cuisine

⭐ Glazed Sweet Potatoesstreet
⭐ Peking Duckrestaurant
Tingliguan Imperial Feastrestaurant

Travel Tips

  • Buy the Combo Ticket if you want to climb Longevity Hill and visit Suzhou Street, as it is cheaper than buying them separately inside.
  • Enter through the North Gate (Beigongmen) to walk through Suzhou Street and climb Longevity Hill first, then exit from the East Gate.
  • The park is massive, so allot at least half a day to explore it without rushing.
Things to carry
Passport (required for ticket check)Comfortable walking shoesSun hat and sunglassesWater bottle
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