Beijing Summer Palace 2026: Itinerary, Tickets & Rainy Day Tips

Hello everyone!

This is Nihao Lily-li, your travel blogger for the Greater China region.

While this was technically my second visit to Beijing's Summer Palace,

it felt like the very first time after 18 years! (right?)

Before my trip, I diligently researched its history and background,

and meticulously planned my route.

However, once I was there, the sheer scale of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill,

with its interconnected palaces and gardens,

quickly made it clear: if you don't decide on your

entrance and route beforehand, it's easy to miss the most important sights.​

So, I'll be sharing my recommended itinerary, boat routes,

nearby dining spots, and even a shopping guide!

1. Beijing's Summer Palace Basic Information

The Summer Palace is a quintessential garden of the Qing Dynasty imperial family,

featuring palaces, temples, and long corridors centered around Longevity Hill

and Kunming Lake.

It served as both a living space for the imperial family

and a stage for politics and leisure.

During peak season, from April to October,

it operates from 6 AM to 8 PM,

with the last entry at 7 PM.

Separate attractions such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Fo Xiang Ge),

Garden of Virtue and Harmony (Dehe Garden), and Suzhou Street

close at 6 PM,

with last entry at 5:30 PM.

The Summer Palace is also a highly popular destination among domestic Chinese tourists,

and you'll find numerous tours, both for locals and international visitors,

starting bright and early.

Before my visit, I learned that the road leading to the Summer Palace's entrance is a two-lane road,

and I saw reviews mentioning immense weekend traffic, with some visitors spending

two hours just on the road from Beijing's Forbidden City to the Summer Palace...

That's why I aimed to arrive quickly, around 9-10 AM.

2. Beijing Summer Palace Ticket Reservation

During peak season, a standard admission ticket costs 30 RMB,

while a combo ticket includes the basic admission plus access to paid areas like

the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Fo Xiang Ge), Garden of Virtue and Harmony (Dehe Garden), the Summer Palace Museum,

and Suzhou Street.

If you plan to focus mainly on the lake and corridors,

the standard admission ticket is sufficient.

However, if it's your first visit and you want to explore all the key attractions,

the combo ticket offers the most convenience.

Be aware that some of the paid internal attractions are

closed on Mondays!

Foreign visitors can purchase tickets at the

on-site ticket office using their passport.

If you do your homework(?) and prepare beforehand,​

you can simply buy your ticket at the entrance on the day of your visit.

However, if you're on a family trip or

didn't have time to prepare,

I highly recommend booking a Korean-speaking guided tour.

After all, travel is about how much you know...

If you go unprepared, you might find the experience less inspiring,

especially after taking the time to travel there.

3. Summer Palace Routes and Boat Tours

For first-time visitors,

the palace-centric route starting from the East Palace Gate (Donggongmen)

is the easiest to follow.

If you follow the path from

Donggongmen (East Palace Gate) → Renshou Hall → Dehe Garden →

Yulan Hall → Yiyun Hall → Leshou Hall →

Long Corridor (Changlang) → Paiyun Gate,

you can naturally connect and explore

Empress Dowager Cixi's living and political quarters.

The Long Corridor (Changlang) is a beautiful long walkway that stretches along Kunming Lake,

making the walk itself incredibly scenic.

I was walking along, thinking how beautiful it was,

when I overheard a Chinese tour group mentioning that the paintings on the ceiling of the Long Corridor

are another must-see attraction.

It was a moment where I regretted not taking a tour, especially since it was my second time visiting!

Now, we're making our way up to the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Fo Xiang Ge), the heart of the Summer Palace.

I saw some Chinese tourists taking pictures like this, so I followed suit!

When you ascend to Paiyun Gate and the Tower of Buddhist Incense,

you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the lake. However, be prepared for quite a few steep stairs and inclines,

so make sure to climb carefully, haha!

But the view from the top... oh, it's absolutely breathtaking! 🤍

Empress Dowager Cixi definitely wouldn't have climbed these stairs

with her own two feet...

To build this magnificent structure, they used the common people's hard-earned taxes, *that scoundrel*...!

That's what I thought as I was descending.

The cruise boat reduces the walking distance,

and allows you to gaze at Longevity Hill from the lake,

so I highly recommend taking it.

Though the boat ride wasn't long,

the gentle breeze was refreshing,

giving my tired legs a much-needed rest,

and it was the most relaxing moment I had at the Summer Palace.

The official cruise boats operate from mid-March

until mid-November.

Large ferries run from 8:30 AM

to 5:30 PM.

Routes like Shifang – Nanhu Island North Pier,

and Seventeen-Arch Bridge – Shuishangyunxian are 40 yuan for a one-way trip,

and Suzhou Street – Shuishangyunxian is 30 yuan for a one-way trip.

Services may be suspended depending on the weather and wind conditions.

– A person who buys expensive magnets at tourist attractions –

4. Summer Palace Tour Recommendation

On my first visit, I took a tour,

but this time, as it's my second visit,

I briefly studied the history and background using AI.

However, on-site, with each building,

the stories of Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu continue,

and because it's so vast, I realized there would be many places you'd simply pass by

without an explanation.

If it's your first visit, a guided tour

would definitely be helpful.

You won't have to plan your own route,

and you can walk while listening to the history and oral traditions

associated with each building.

If you're traveling with family or children,

instead of just seeing a large garden and being done,

you can learn why this place was created,

who lived in which spaces,

and remember it through captivating stories.

A standalone Summer Palace tour is good,

but the price for a tour that combines it with the Mutianyu Great Wall

is quite attractive.

Check for discounted prices and compare!

5. Recommended Restaurants Near the Summer Palace

After your visit, consider hot pot,

Northeast Chinese restaurants, or Bashuwangpo Shrimp Hot Pot

as dining options.

After finishing my Summer Palace itinerary,

I had a meal at Fulu Hot Pot!

About a 5-minute drive from here,

you'll find Zhongguancun Plaza Shopping Mall,

where you can explore KKV, Holiland, Pop Mart,

and Judydoll Cosmetics all in one go.

If you walk another 10 minutes from there,

you'll connect to U-Mart shopping!

Instead of just visiting the Summer Palace and heading back to your accommodation,

combining dining and shopping on the same day

helped cut down on long commutes.

Morning at Summer Palace → Late Lunch →

Zhongguancun Shopping → U-Mart, this sequence

allows you to make the most of a day's itinerary.

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