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Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
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Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

See all things to do
See all things to do
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
4.5
15,027 reviews
#2 of 1,653 things to do in Beijing
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas • Architectural Buildings
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6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
The Summer Palace is the summer resort for the Qing dynasty's royal family.It is covered 3/4 with the water,the rest are hills and palaces.The Long corridor is the longest corridor in the world.From the eastern end ,Moon invited gate you can see it is like straight line ,then it's twisting and turning like in the wonderland.On the right side of the Long corridor ,it is a beautiful lake .
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
How to get there
  • Beigongmen • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
429 within 3 miles
Naoki
9
0.5 mi$$$$ • French
Bo Xing Di Café (Bei JingDaXue)
5
0.6 mi$ • Chinese • Cafe
Chao Hao Wei
2
0.7 miChinese • Cantonese
Chongxue Villa
3
0.7 miChinese • Cantonese
Xiabu Xiabu(Chang Chun Yuan)
8
1.1 mi$
Lv XiangGe Restaurant
1
1.1 miChinese • Szechuan
Tun Yun Xiao Shi (Xing Yue Hui)
4
1.1 miAsian • Taiwanese
XingYuan Chuan Ba
1
1.2 miChinese • Szechuan
Yang DaYe Shabu Restaurant (YiHeYuan)
7
1.3 mi
YunHai Yao Ting Yun XingfuGuan
5
1.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Yunnan
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Attractions
156 within 6 miles
Qingyan Stone Boat
140
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings
Tower of Buddhist Incense(Summer Palace)
261
0.2 miArchitectural Buildings
Seventeen Arches Bridge
121
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings
Nanhu Island
16
0.2 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Garden of Tranquility and Brightness
8
0.2 miArchitectural Buildings
Kunlun Monument
1
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
East Dyke
3
0.2 mi
Spacious Pavilion
5
0.3 miArchitectural Buildings
Multi Treasure Pagoda of Glazed Tiles
3
0.3 miArchitectural Buildings
Kunming Lake
99
0.4 miBodies of Water
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
15,027 reviews
Excellent
9,043
Very good
4,848
Average
1,007
Poor
94
Terrible
37
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada1,784 contributions
Cool December Visit
Dec 2020 • Couples
We visited here in December 2020 and enjoyed our visit. The closest metro is at the North Gate but we found entering the East Gate was the best for walking and seeing everything. We had booked a tour guide in the morning to see the great wall and asked them to drop us off at the East Gate.

Much of this area is wonderful reconstruction and it is a pretty straight forward path to see everything. In December some of the walking paths were closed but the sights were still very nice. It is important to note that there is a temple which is the focal point of many pictures that is closed on Mondays!

Entry to this area is 20 RMB and there are quite a few restaurants you can sit in that have excellent views of the lake and scenery.

We will definitely have to come back here in the summer to enjoy the walk a bit more!
Written December 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Itzik L
Tel Aviv, Israel4,157 contributions
amazing park
Aug 2020
Getting from the Begin Center is possible with a subway coming close to the entrance.
We preferred to take a taxi to get to the area..
Taxi cost about 15 euros from Park Hyatt.
The place is amazing
Huge that you can't see all the museums in one day.
It is worth staying here all day and in between to take a break from going up to one building to another.
There are enough places everywhere to rest and eat something and clean toilets.
Walk around the lake and reach the bridges that cross it at spectacular points.
Take a boat and sail on the lake.
They take a deposit that at the end of the time is returned, there is a separate line for a refund.
There are pedal boats, I preferred them and there are boats with a motor that are of course more expensive.
Take something small to eat and drink and enjoy the magical atmosphere of the place
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PHR67
Beijing, China363 contributions
A nice historic walk
Nov 2020 • Family
The Summer Palace is both a historic museum and a very nice park. If you take the long walk around the entire lake you get about 7 kms of exercise and some splendid views. Come early, especially on weekends, because this place gets crowded when the weather is nice.
Written December 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Melissa
Mortlake, Australia32 contributions
Too busy to enjoy
Mar 2023 • Couples
We visited the Summer Palace as part of our tour. We happened to visit on a Sunday. It was certainly beautiful however so busy that you could not appreciate it. There were people everywhere. We were stuck in a line of traffic of people that you couldn't get out of.
Perhaps a week day would be less busy and allow you to enjoy it more.
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eleanor
44 contributions
Private Tour of Summer Palace was the best!
Oct 2019
We visited during the 70th anniversary month and it was super busy! But Tony our tour guide knew how to get us about to avoid the mass tour groups. He gave us incredible cultural and historical stories and information. I'd recommend taking the boat across the lake, it gave a great view of the grounds. It was great to see but I'd recommend seeing it in May for nicer weather and quieter crowds.
After the Summer Palace he also took us to places the general tourist wouldn't have known about and the Hutongs, silk factory, Temple of Heaven, and to eat Peking duck. Tony picked us up from the hotel, it was raining and he had umbrellas on the ready, he looked after us so well! I'd completely recommend him, he was so flexible and knowledgeable, friendly and good humoured. I'd done a ton of research and was ready to be the tour guide to my family, but our trip wouldn't have been as good without him by far. He'll customise the day around what you want to do and make it a day you won't forget. Here's his details: Tony Niu - tonyniu03@163.com +8613911825633
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jenny Goh
Singapore, Singapore209 contributions
Beautiful place you must visit
Dec 2019 • Family
You can get to Summer Palace via the subway. This place is huge.

I visited Summer Palace 20 years ago and I visited again in winter Dec 2019, this time with my family of 6, and through a different entrance. I guess one can spend a whole day here because there are so many pictures to take! 😂

Sunset is beautiful here. The lake was partially frozen and though it’s cold in the winter, there were many visitors.

Many locals crowded near the bridge and we found that they were trying to capture the lights under it during sunset. So I joined them, squeezing with the local Chinese to take pictures. They could be quite friendly though... 😁Nevertheless there are many sceneries to be taken here during sunset. Absolutely gorgeous and enchanting evening. We stayed till it’s almost dark before leaving. I’ll want to visit again when I go Beijing.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sillypiggys
Sydney, Australia1,097 contributions
Breathtaking in winter!
Jan 2020 • Family
Great place to spend the day and magnificent in the winter months when the Kunming Lake freezes and you can walk or go sledding on the lake. It’s a huge palace so start early if you go in winter as the sun sets early. There are many food and hot beverages stores inside but the best ones are near the Marble Boat. There is also a great convenient store just outside the North Gate (Beijongmen) entry for the traditional Chinese pancakes (well worth a try). Good heater bathroom facilities too which is so important in the winter months. A good day or a few hours is necessary for this place.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Katherine D
Cambridge, MA207 contributions
Architecture and History
Sep 2020
We visited in Sept 2019. I recommend starting on the North entrance and working your way South. There are some good hills in this park, and we definitely got sweaty. Beautiful architecture and landscaping. The royal family had essentially and outdoor art gallery where the wooden overhead beams are painted with different art scenes. We didn't have time, but you can rent a boat to drive yourself around the lake, which sounds fun and relaxing! There is a lot of history and beauty in the place.
Written March 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Daniel C
Middlesbrough, UK164 contributions
An ancient holiday home
Aug 2019
Grab a metro train out to the outskirts of Beijing and you'll find the entrance to the grounds of the Summer palace, what was once the holiday home of the Chinese royals hundreds of years ago. Once you buy your ticket and get in you'll find a bridge across a long river filled with old boats and bright flags; then the bridge will lead you up to the palace as it sits on a high hill. It's not just a palace, it also has a temple filled with golden statues of monks lined up side by side; you'll also find classical architecture such as curved roofs and bright colours like yellow and red, classic Chinese colours. From the palace itself you can see a huge lake with an island in the middle and old bridges that lead to it and boats ferrying people across and then long paths going around the lake. Go down to the lake and you'll see the old bridges with tiny statues of lions lining up along, each one designed beautifully. On the central island you'll see a nice mix of nature and architecture and even a statue of the mythical dragon emperor. Walk around the lake you'll find long and high bridges, huge pagodas painted beautifully, long trees hanging above the water and the cool water itself at the centre of it all. As the name would suggest, summer is the best time to come for a visit.
Written July 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shan_the_explorer
Pasig, Philippines1,077 contributions
Summer place visit
Dec 2019 • Couples
Going here, we took line 4 to Xiyuan station exit C. Turn left upon exit then go straight.

We were lucky that there were no que for purchasing of tickets or I guess it was really off-peak season. We rent audio guide for RMB 40 and RMB 50 as deposit.

There are bus station near summer palace which is about 500 meters only away from the palace. Via subway, it was more than 1km walk so wear very comfortable shoes as the place is really rally huge. We spent 4 hours in the palace but we still can't tour the entire place because aside from it's really huge, boats were not in service(winter).

We just visited half of the palace. I suggest not to avail the audio as it was not that useful anyway since you can't tour the entire place by winter.

It was still worth the visit, summer palace is really beautiful and vast.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) (Beijing) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) is open:
  • Sun - Sat 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
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