Summer Palace Tourist map from willgoto.com
Summer Palace was a royal palace in later Qing Dynasty, only secondary to the Forbidden City ( now the Palace Museum ). Summer Palace is actually not just a royal palace where once Princess Dowager Cixi and the emperor lived and handled court affairs, accepted laudations and received foreign diplomats during their stay in the Summer Palace. It also epitomizes classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. It is the largest royal garden in Beijing, now a good retreat for holiday makers.
Tip # 01: How to time your visit
Normally 3 hours are needed to cruise around Summer Palace itself. With your time on the city transportation included, you are advised to have allocate at least half day in visiting Summer Palace. Summer Palace presents itself with different views for different seasons. Winter sees people skiing on the Kunming Lake; Spring time finds people breathe under fresh trees and flowers; Summer time often sees Summer Palace in a foggy day like a beautiful ”water and mountain” Chinese scroll painting. Autumn is the best time walking around Summer Palace, clear and blue sky with comfortable weather.
Tip # 02: How to get to Summer Palace
Metro Line
Going from the city center to Summer Palace, subway is highly recommended. Take subway line 10 to Bagou station at the end of Line 10, and then get a taxi from outside the station to the New Palace Gate (新建宫门). Or you may just walk for about 1.5km from Bagou Station to the New Palace Gate. Get off Bagou Station, follow your nose, you will meet a river, then turn right and walk along the river bank till the New Palace Gate of Summer Palace. If confused upon which way to go upon leaving the subway, just follow the crowd.
Public Bus:
Buses via the East Gate of the Summer Palace (颐和园正门, 东宫门)
Bus 330、331、332、346、394、712、718、726、732、737、801、808、817、826
Bus 330、331、332、346、394、712、718、726、732、737、801、808、817、826
Buses via the North Gate of the Summer Palace (北宫门)
Bus 303、330、331、346、375、384、393、634、716、718、737、801、808、817、834、Express 5
Buses via the South Gate of the Summer Palace (新建宫门)
Bus 374、437、481、952、704、992
Taxi Fare
A taxi from Beijing city center will cost about RMB 80 and take about 50 minutes without much traffic. As you finish your tour and exit, you will find some taxi drviers are reluctant or even refuse to use the meter, only do a set rate, and most don’t want to go all the way back to Beijing at all, so this can be troublesome.
Tip # 03: Buy a correct entrance ticket
There are two kinds of tickets – Entrance ticket for the garden-like complex and through ticket both for the complex itself also attractions inside the Summer Palace complex.
The ticket prices are divided onto two categories – Low Season ad Peak Season.
Ticket Price
| Prices(RMB ) | ||||
| Low Season | High Season | |||
| Entrance Ticket | RMB 20 | RMB 30 | Note: These prices do not include the admission to the following attractions inside the Summer Palace | |
| Half Price Ticket | RMB 10 | RMB 15 | ||
| Through Ticket | RMB 50 | RMB 60 | ||
| Admissions to the following scenic spots inside the Summer Palace | Garden of Virtue and Harmony | RMB 5 | RMB 5 | |
| Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha | RMB 10 | RMB 10 | ||
| Wenchang Gallery | RMB 20 | RMB 20 | ||
| Suzhou Street&Hall of Serenity | RMB 10 | RMB 10 | ||
Tip # 04: Choose the right entrance gate and tour route
So there are three main entrances to Summer Palace – East Palace Gate (the main gate), North Palace Gate and New Palace Gate (south gate). You should get to know the gate you will go through, especially when you take a taxi or bus. Entering Summer Palace via the different three gates, you will have three different tour routes visiting Summer Palace.
Starting from New Palace Gate Route: New Palace Gate – Bronze Cattle - 17-Arch Briage – Nanhu Isle – Ferry Boat – Marble Boat – Longevity Hill – Long Corridor – the former court area (the East Palace Gate, the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity…) – East Palace Gate ( also the main entrance to Summer Palace.
Starting from East Palace Gate Route: East Palace Gate – the former Court Area (the East Palace Gate, the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity…) – Long Corridor – Longevity Hill – Marble Boat – Ferry Boat – New Palace Gate
Starting from North Palace Gate: North Palace Gate – Suzhou Street – Marble Boat – Longevity Hill – Long Corridor – the former court area – East Palace Gate
Tip # 05: Familiar with its 3-part layout
The three tour routes are centered around the three main parts in Summer Palace:
The Former Court Area; a royal palace where once Princess Dowager Cixi and the emperor lived and handled court affairs, accepted laudations and received foreign diplomats during their stay in the Summer Palace.
Long Corridor and Longevity Hill; The second part features the Long Corridor, the Hall of Dispelling Clouds, the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, the Back Lake, the Suzhou Market and Longevity Hill.
Kunming Lake and Nanhu Isle: The last part is Kunming Lake, which consists of the Marble Boat, Nanhu Island, the Bronze Ox and the beautiful 17-Arch Bridge.
Tip # 06: Prepare for a 3-hour outdoor sightseeing
Visiting Summer Palace needs some a little bit strong legs with a lot walking since Summer Palace is huge. Dress for the Hot or cold weather. The summer in Beijing could be humid and closed, simetimes extremely hot. Also winter could be very cold. So well prepared for the uncomfortable weather both in winter and summer. You are advised to wear your most comfortable shoes. It’s a long walk! Food choice in the complex is poor – typical fast food and snacks. So bring your own.
Tip # 07: Get to know the official notice to the visitors
1. No visitors are allowed to cross, climb, smoke, swim, skate, fish, spit, foul and litter and so on.
2. No visitors are allowed to camp, cook, fish, capture animals and dig plants inside.
3. No visitors are allowed to paint and carve on the buildings, ground, stone, facility and tree, and to pick the flowers and spoil the lawn and trees.
4. The north of pavilion of Wenchang and the east of Jiehu Bridge are fist-level fire-proof non-smoking
5. Expect for hand-powered wheelchairs and baby carriers used by the aged, the disabled, and children, any other vehicle are not allowed to enter without any permission.
6. The professional camera equipments are not allowed to use inside without any permission.
7. Without any permission, don’t perform, sing and make a noise so as to influence and disturb other visitors.
8. The tour guides inside must have guide qualification.
Opening Time:
High Season (From April 1 to Oct. 31)
Open: 6:30-18:30;
Close: 20:00
High Season (From April 1 to Oct. 31)
Open: 6:30-18:30;
Close: 20:00
Low Season (From Nov. 1 to Mar. 31 next year)
Open: 7:00-17:00;
Close: 19：00
Open: 7:00-17:00;
Close: 19：00
After the tickets stop selling, the visitors are not allowed to enter, and to leave on time.
Summer Palace in a foggy day
Ferry boat from New Palace Gate to Marble Boat
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