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Summer Palace

颐和园
Yí Hé Yuán
Heritage Site3-4 hours6:30 AM – 6 PM94/100 popularity
Beautiful sunset view of the Summer Palace in Beijing, reflecting on calm waters.
The Summer Palace was the Qing dynasty's imperial summer retreat — 290 hectares of designed landscape around Kunming Lake, set against the slopes of Longevity Hill. Originally built in 1750 and rebuilt by Empress Dowager Cixi in the 1880s after Anglo-French troops destroyed it, the complex blends imperial palace architecture with the aesthetics of a southern Chinese garden. Highlights include the 728-meter Long Corridor (the world's longest painted gallery, with 14,000+ scenes from Chinese mythology), the seven-story Tower of Buddhist Incense crowning Longevity Hill, and the famous Marble Boat — Cixi's ostentatious folly funded with money intended to modernize the navy. The lake makes up three-quarters of the park; rent a small electric boat in summer or walk the West Causeway for fewer crowds. UNESCO World Heritage since 1998. Go by 9 AM in summer to avoid the heat and the buses.
Address
19 Xinjian Gongmen Rd, Haidian District, Beijing
海淀区新建宫门路19号

Highlights

  • Long Corridor (长廊)728m painted gallery; spot the 14,000+ scenes from Chinese myth
  • Tower of Buddhist Incense (佛香阁)Climb Longevity Hill for the panoramic Kunming Lake view
  • Marble Boat (石舫)Cixi's ironic monument — built with navy modernization funds
  • Kunming Lake Boat (昆明湖游船)Rent an electric boat in summer; cross to Nanhu Island
  • Suzhou Street (苏州街)Recreated southern Chinese commercial street, behind the hill

For foreign visitors

  • English service: partial english
  • Cards accepted: cash_only
  • Booking / entry: not needed
  • Best time: Spring (April-May) and autumn (Sept-Oct) mornings
  • Wi-Fi: free
  • Transit access: metro direct

Photos

a boat is docked at a dock on a lake
A peaceful view of the Summer Palace in Beijing with clear blue skies and calm waters.
Sunset over a bridge and calm water
Scenic view of the Summer Palace in Beijing surrounded by lush greenery and serene water.
Willow branches frame a tranquil lake at sunset.
Beautiful view of the Summer Palace at sunset with a serene lake and city skyline in Beijing, China.
Sunrise over a tranquil lake with a bridge.
Scenic view of the Summer Palace with tree in foreground, Beijing, China.
A beautiful view of the Summer Palace in Beijing, with boats on the lake during daylight.
A scenic view of the Summer Palace in Beijing with lush greenery and a calm lake under a bright blue sky.
Low angle view of the Summer Palace's Tower of Buddhist Incense in Beijing, China, under a blue sky.
An inner courtyard of Wenchang Gallery in Summer Palace complex in Beijing
Beijing, China: A door at the Boathouses for Imperial Pleasure Barges
View of the Pagoda at The Imperial Summer Palace (Yuan Ming Yuan), Beijing, China, prior to its destruction by the English and French armies. October 1860 Ico

What travelers say (20 reviews)

Amanda K.·TripAdvisor·5/5

Walked the Long Corridor and found a new mythology painting every 5 meters. 728 m, 14,000 scenes. Unreal craftsmanship.

2026-03-25
Ryan F.·Google Maps·5/5

Rented an electric boat for 60 RMB/hour on Kunming Lake. Took us across to Nanhu Island — the view back to Longevity Hill is stunning.

2026-04-08
ImperialGardens·YouTube·5/5

The Marble Boat is a great Cixi story — built with navy modernization funds. The irony hits hard.

2026-02-22
Pavel D.·TripAdvisor·4/5

Huge complex — 290 hectares. Allow a full day. Use the West Causeway to escape the main crowds.

2025-12-15
颐和园票友·Xiaohongshu·5/5

西堤是私藏路线，几乎没人走。从西堤回望佛香阁，景色完爆十七孔桥那边。

2026-03-12
Lily H.·Google Maps·5/5

Climbed Longevity Hill — sweaty but the view of Kunming Lake from the Tower of Buddhist Incense is the postcard shot.

2026-04-15

Videos

The Summer Palace - UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Summer Palace - UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Journey

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