Beijing: Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Fast-Track Entry

Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace: Walk Past the Lines, Into 600 Rooms of Dynasty

You arrive at Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace, scan your QR code at the gate, and skip directly past the queues that can stretch for hours during peak season. You explore at your own pace through 92 ancient buildings and centuries-old gardens: no group, no schedule, no guide. The ticket is your only inclusion, but it's the one that frees up your entire afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Visit Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

• Enter Temple of Heaven with ticket
• Explore ancient buildings and pine trees
• Visit Summer Palace at your pace
• Walk along the Long Corridor
• Enjoy views of the lake

The experience

The moment you arrive at either gate, you're holding a QR code instead of standing in a queue that can stretch for hours during peak season. Beijing's two most visited imperial sites (the Temple of Heaven with its 92 ancient buildings and the Summer Palace with its three-quarter water gardens) draw thousands daily, and on-the-spot tickets often sell out by mid-morning. A pre-booked entrance ticket means you scan, you enter, you move at your own pace through centuries of Ming and Qing architecture without the negotiation of arrival time or the gamble of availability.

The Temple of Heaven sits surrounded by hundreds of years of pine trees, the entire complex designed as a place where emperors acted as intermediaries between heaven and earth, offering sacrifices for good harvests. You walk through 600 rooms across the architectural grounds: the most complete royal sacrificial complex still standing in China and the largest celestial sacrificial site in the world. There's no rush, no guide talking over your head, no group waiting for stragglers. You stop where the light hits the courtyards, you sit on the stone terraces as long as you want, you read the plaques or you don't.

The Summer Palace takes a different shape: three-quarters water, the rest hills and palaces built as the Qing dynasty's summer retreat. The Long Corridor, the longest in the world, runs from the Moon-Invited Gate and shifts from what looks like a straight line into something that twists like you've stepped into another landscape entirely. On one side, the lake stretches wide and still. With your ticket already secured, you're not timing yourself against closing hours or other visitors. You move through the gardens and pavilions at the rhythm that actually lets you see them.

Buy one ticket or both (they're separate purchases), and you're done with the logistics. Public transportation stops nearby either site, and the entry itself is wheelchair accessible, so getting in and moving through is straightforward. What you're paying for isn't a guide or a group experience. It's the thing that actually matters: not waiting.

What’s included

• Temple of Heaven entrance ticket with QR code entry (or Summer Palace entrance ticket, purchase separately if you want both).
• self-paced exploration of all open areas and buildings at each site.
• wheelchair-accessible entry and pathways.

Options for this experience

2 options

Summer Palace Entry Ticket24 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 18:00Duration: 3 hours. No guide included; move at your own pace. Children under 6 and seniors over 60 are admitted free; show your passport to enter directly. QR code: you will receive it 4-5 days ahead of your visit. Leave an email address or WhatsApp number so the QR code can be sent to you.

Temple of Heaven Ticket19 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00Duration: 2 hours. No guide included; explore at your own pace. Children under 6 and seniors over 60 enter free; show your passport to go straight in. QR code ticket: it will be sent to you 4-5 days before your visit. Provide an email address or WhatsApp number to receive the ticket.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day24 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 18:00

AgesAdult (19 to 59 years) · Child (7 to 18 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lily's tour service

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Beijing's two largest imperial sites without losing half the day to ticket queues, and who prefer exploring at their own pace over following a guide. The pre-booked QR code is what makes this work during peak season, when same-day tickets often run out.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 18 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

Can I buy tickets for both the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace together?

No, you need to purchase them separately. Each site requires its own ticket.

How do I use the QR code when I arrive?

Present the QR code you receive upon booking confirmation at the entrance gate. Staff will scan it and you'll enter directly without waiting in the ticket line.

What time can I enter, and how long can I stay?

Entry times depend on each site's operating hours. Once inside, you can stay and explore at your own pace for as long as the site remains open.

Is there a guide included with the ticket?

No, this is self-paced entry only. You explore the sites independently without a guide.

Are the sites accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, both the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller at both sites.

What's the difference between the two sites?

The Temple of Heaven is an imperial sacrificial complex with 92 ancient buildings surrounded by pine forests. The Summer Palace is a royal retreat with gardens, pavilions, and a large lake, featuring the world's longest corridor.

How far apart are the two sites?

They are separate locations in Beijing. You would need to arrange your own transportation between them if visiting both on the same day.