Summer Palace Guide: Beijing's Imperial Garden, Kunming Lake & Longevity Hill

The Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhéyuán) is the single most beautiful day in Beijing. The Qing emperors built it as a retreat from the Forbidden City — a vast imperial garden with 3/4 of the area covered by Kunming Lake, a 728-meter covered corridor (the longest in the world), and Seventeen-Arch Bridge that connects the lake shore to Nanhu Island.

It’s the best place in Beijing to escape crowds: even on peak summer days, you can find quiet sections of the garden, sit on a lakeside rock, and watch the locals fly kites or practice calligraphy with water on the pavement. The Winter Palace is for history; the Summer Palace is for breathing.

Plan your visit

• Entry: ¥30 standard (¥15 with foreign passport). Combo with Suzhou Street (the recreated Qing shopping street inside the park): ¥40.
• Hours: 6:30-18:00 (April-October), 7:00-17:00 (November-March). Last entry 1 hour before close.
• Subway: Beigongmen Station (Line 4) is the north gate, 5 min walk. Xiyuan Station (Line 4) is the east gate. Xinjian Gongmen Station (Line 16) is the west gate.
• Best time: Early morning (7-9 AM) for soft light and few tourists. Late afternoon (4-6 PM in summer) for the sunset over Kunming Lake from the Long Corridor.
• Allow 4-6 hours if walking + boat. Half-day (3 hours) if just hitting the highlights.

The 4 must-see sections

Long Corridor (长廊, Chángláng)

728 meters long, 273 painted sections, ~14,000 individual paintings depicting Chinese history, mythology, and landscapes. Each painting tells a story — the emperor and empress could identify each scene. The corridor connects the Hall of Cloud-Rising (勤政殿) to the Longevity Hill area. Walk the full length at least once; the paintings reward close attention.

Kunming Lake & Seventeen-Arch Bridge (昆明湖, Kūnmínghú)

The lake covers 220 hectares (3/4 of the park). In summer, dragon-boat races and pedal-boat rentals fill the water. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge connects the eastern shore to Nanhu Island — the white marble bridge is the most-photographed single structure in the park. Best photo spot: from the bridge looking back at Longevity Hill with the Tower of Buddhist Incense at the top.

Longevity Hill & Tower of Buddhist Incense (万寿山, Wànshòushān)

The hill rises 108m above the lake. The Tower of Buddhist Incense (佛香阁) is the central building — a 41m wooden pagoda on a 20m stone base, the most imposing structure in the park. Climb the hill for the panoramic view (100+ steps). The Suzhou Street (recreated Qing-era shopping street) is at the back of the hill — small, photogenic, and a quick stop.

Seventeen-Arch Bridge details

The 17 arches symbolise the emperor’s bridge between the mortal world and the afterlife. The lions on the balustrades (544 in total) are each carved in a slightly different pose — legend says no two are identical. Photogenic at any time, but the most beautiful light is mid-afternoon when the sun is behind you and the bridge catches full illumination.

Practical tips for foreign visitors

• Bring your passport — the ¥15 discount requires it. Photocopies won’t work at the gate.
• Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The park is 2.9 km² with significant elevation change (lake to hilltop). Plan 4-6 hours and bring water.
• Boat rentals (pedal boats, dragon boats) are at the East Dock and South Lake Island. ¥40-60/hour, no reservation needed. Closed in winter.
• Restaurants inside the park are overpriced and touristy. Eat before or after.
• Avoid weekends if possible. Weekday mornings are 70% less crowded.
• Combine with the Old Summer Palace (圆明园) if you have a full day — the ruins are 10 minutes away by subway, and the contrast between the rebuilt Summer Palace and the destroyed Old Summer Palace is a powerful history lesson.

Common questions

How is the Summer Palace different from the Forbidden City?

The Forbidden City is the emperor’s working palace (formal, political, walled). The Summer Palace is his retreat (informal, scenic, open). If the Forbidden City is the office, the Summer Palace is the country house. The Summer Palace has more variety: lake, hill, garden, corridor, islands, boat rides, ancient trees. The Forbidden City is buildings only.

Can I see the Long Corridor paintings clearly?

Yes — the corridor is covered and lit naturally through lattice windows. The paintings are ~30cm tall, painted directly on the wood beams. Bring binoculars if you want to read the smaller scenes; otherwise walking slowly and looking up is enough.

Is it worth visiting in winter?

Yes — the lake freezes (no boats), but the Longevity Hill snow scene is the most iconic Beijing winter photo. Crowds are 80% smaller than summer. The corridor paintings are easier to see in winter light.

How do I get from central Beijing (Tiananmen area)?

Subway Line 4 from Xidan or Xuanwumen to Beigongmen, 30-40 min total. Or DiDi for ¥60-80 (40 min in traffic).

Verified August 2026 by TravelHubChina Editorial. We re-check prices and policy details monthly so the data doesn’t drift.