Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is Beijing's best-preserved imperial garden, organised around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Its operator records that Qingyi Yuan, the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750, destroyed by Anglo-French forces in 1860 and rebuilt from 1886. It was renamed Yihe Yuan in 1888 as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi, damaged again in 1900 and repaired in 1902. The estate later became a nationally protected historic site and a UNESCO World Heritage property, combining political history with classical garden design. Peak-season grounds admission is CNY 30; the combined ticket is CNY 60.

The Summer Palace covers 3.09 square kilometres, three quarters of it water, with about 70,000 square metres of palaces, gardens and traditional buildings. The principal areas are the former palace zone, Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Named highlights include the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Hall of Jade Ripples, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Sea of Wisdom Temple, South Lake Island, West Causeway and Suzhou Street. Several of these are separately ticketed garden-within-the-garden attractions rather than automatic parts of a basic admission route. It covers the grounds and separately charged sites including the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Summer Palace Museum, Tower of Buddhist Incense and Suzhou Street.

Allow four hours for East Palace Gate, the political and residential halls, Long Corridor and the nearer Kunming Lake shore. A full lake circuit, Longevity Hill ascent, Suzhou Street and the Tower of Buddhist Incense can fill an entire day. The grounds exceed three square kilometres and three quarters of the area is water, so gate choice determines walking distance. Separately charged sites stop admission earlier than the main park. They close on Monday except statutory holidays, while the main grounds remain open.

Peak season, April-October: grounds 06:00-20:00 with last entry 19:00; separately charged sites 08:00-18:00 with last entry 17:30. Off season: grounds 06:30-19:00 with last entry 18:00; paid sites Tuesday-Sunday 08:30-17:00 with last entry 16:30. A half day covers the east palace area, Long Corridor and Kunming Lake shore; Longevity Hill, paid inner gardens or a full lake circuit make this a full-day visit. Statutory holidays, severe weather, major meetings and special night programmes can replace the ordinary schedule through a dated notice from the responsible body. East Palace Gate provides the most practical start for the flatter palace and Kunming Lake routes.

Grounds admission is CNY 30 peak season or CNY 20 off season. Combined admission is CNY 60 peak or CNY 50 off season and includes the named garden-within-a-garden sites. Tickets and free reservations use real-name identity details, and the original passport or other registered document is required at entry. Cable cars, internal shuttles, inner scenic sites, temporary exhibitions and premium galleries remain separate unless the product description explicitly includes them. Only partially. The hill, tower and many historic compounds use steep paths and stairs.

For East Palace Gate use Xiyuan station on Metro Line 4. For North Palace Gate use Beigongmen station on Line 4. The West Gate is served by the Xijiao light-rail line. Choose the gate by route; the grounds cover more than three square kilometres around Kunming Lake. Beijing attractions often enforce a specific entrance and a different exit, so the named gate or station matters more than the broad attraction pin. Security screening and identity verification should be included in transfer time.

East Palace Gate and lakeside routes provide the most practical step-free circuit, with visitor centres, toilets and wheelchairs available across Beijing municipal parks. Longevity Hill, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street and many historic halls contain steep slopes, bridges and stairs. Peak-season grounds admission is CNY 30; the combined ticket is CNY 60. It covers the grounds and separately charged sites including the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Summer Palace Museum, Tower of Buddhist Incense and Suzhou Street. They close on Monday except statutory holidays, while the main grounds remain open. Historic stairs, long distances, exposed weather and controlled security routes remain relevant even where visitor centres or transport are accessible.

The Long Corridor, Kunming Lake, Seventeen-Arch Bridge and Longevity Hill produce distinct light conditions. Early morning provides calm water and fewer tour groups, while late afternoon lights the hill from across the lake. Personal photography should keep bridges and covered walkways clear. Raised halls and narrow stairs leave little room for tripods, and drones or commercial shoots need authorization beyond an ordinary park ticket.