Beijing: Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven Self-Guided Tickets

Two UNESCO Sites, One Day, No Guide Talking in Your Ear

You get timed-entry QR code tickets to both the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven Park, explore the imperial gardens and sacred complex independently, and return to your hotel on your own schedule. No guide, no group, no fixed itinerary. Just two of Beijing's most significant sites and the freedom to linger where you want.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Summer Palace2h · entry included
2. Temple of Heaven2h · entry included

Visit Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

• Take taxi to Summer Palace
• Explore Summer Palace grounds
• Take taxi to Temple of Heaven
• Visit Temple of Heaven complex
• Return to hotel independently

The experience

The sound of water lapping against the marble embankment at Kunming Lake hits you before you see it. You're standing in the Summer Palace, one of the largest imperial gardens in China, and the scale of it (the pavilions reflected in the water, the bridges arching over nothing, the way the whole thing seems to breathe around you) makes sense only when you're actually there, moving through it on your own time. This isn't a guided tour where you're herded to the photo spot and moved along. You book your entrance tickets online, get your QR code from the local supplier, and walk in whenever you want. The Summer Palace spreads across gardens centered on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, with the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity anchoring the east palace gate side. You can spend an hour here or five. There's no schedule telling you otherwise.

After the Summer Palace, you take a taxi across Beijing to the Temple of Heaven, a completely different kind of space. 279 hectares of park wrapped around a complex of religious buildings that were built to express something very specific: the relationship between earth and heaven, laid out in Confucian geometry so precise it almost feels like a language you can read in stone. The temples themselves are massive and intricate, but what stays with you is the emptiness around them, the way the buildings sit in all that space. You move through it at your own pace, no one explaining the symbolism, no one rushing you to the next stop. The whole day is yours to shape.

The logistics are straightforward. Your ticket includes the entrance fees for both sites and the booking service charge. You'll need your passport details at the time of booking (name, number, date of birth, country), and you'll carry your valid passport with you on the day. Public transportation is available nearby if you want to skip the taxi, though most people don't bother. Dress code is smart casual. You make your own way back to your hotel whenever the day feels done.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to the Summer Palace.
• entrance fee to the Temple of Heaven Park.
• QR code booking service charge.
• self-guided access to both sites.

Options for this experience

5 options

Temple of Heaven: admission tickets onlyGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00This option includes only the ticket charge for the Temple of Heaven. No car, driver, or tour is provided.

Admission only for the Summer PalaceGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00This option includes only the Beijing Summer Palace ticket charge. No guide, car, or tour is provided.

Temple heaven+summer paticketsGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00This option includes tickets to the Beijing Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace only. No guide, car, or driver is provided.

See 2 more options

Temple of Heaven and Great WallGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00This option for the Temple of Heaven and Mutianyu Great Wall includes entrance fees for the two sites only. No guide, driver, or cable car is included.

Private tour covering two sitesGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00This option includes entrance tickets for the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, a private car, a driver, and English-speaking guide service.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to20h before

AgesAdult (7 to 59 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ws China Trips

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Beijing's two most significant imperial and religious sites without a guide's commentary or a fixed schedule. You move through each at your own rhythm and decide how long to stay.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

Do I need a guide for this ticket?

No. This is self-guided entry only. You explore both sites at your own pace with no tour service included.

How do I get my tickets?

Book online in advance and receive a QR code from the local supplier. You scan it at the entrance of each site.

What's included in the price?

Entrance fees for both the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven Park, plus the booking service charge.

How long does this take?

That's up to you. Most people spend 2–3 hours at each site, but you can visit for as long as you want.

How do I get between the two sites?

You arrange your own transport. Taxis are readily available, and public transportation options are nearby.

What do I need to bring?

A valid passport. You'll need your passport details at booking and must carry it with you on the day.

Is there a dress code?

Yes, smart casual dress is requested.

Can I visit just one site instead of both?

The ticket covers both sites, but you control your own itinerary, so you can choose to visit one or both.