Beijing: Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Skip-Line Tickets

Two Imperial Palaces, No Queue: Beijing's Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Tickets

You skip the ticket-counter line at two of Beijing's most visited imperial sites by showing your QR code at entry. The Temple of Heaven ticket includes access to the main complex and its scenic areas. The Summer Palace ticket covers the gardens and palaces, with optional add-ons available on-site. Both attractions are wheelchair accessible, open daily except Mondays at the Temple of Heaven, and operate from early morning until early evening depending on the season.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temple of Heaven2h
2. Summer Palace2h

Visit Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

• Enter Temple of Heaven park
• Explore Temple of Heaven attractions
• Enter Summer Palace park
• Explore Summer Palace attractions

The experience

"You come at nine in the morning, you wait two hours just to get inside," our guide mentioned while we stood at the gate. "With the QR code, you walk straight through." That's the whole point of booking the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace tickets in advance: Beijing's two largest imperial attractions pull thousands of visitors daily, especially during holidays, and the line at the ticket window can swallow your entire morning. You get a QR code sent after booking. Show that at entry instead of your passport or voucher, and you're in.

The Temple of Heaven sits in the southeastern part of central Beijing, a complex of Confucian religious buildings where Ming and Qing emperors came each year to pray for a good harvest. The park gates open at 6:00 am (6:30 in winter), and the attractions inside run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, though admission stops at 5:30 pm. It's closed Mondays. The Summer Palace is a different kind of space: lakes, gardens, and pavilions spread across what was the imperial garden during the Qing dynasty. Gates open at 6:00 am (6:30 in winter) and close at 8:00 pm, with attractions running 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Both sites are fully wheelchair accessible, and you can buy tickets for specific scenic spots inside the Summer Palace when you arrive if you want to go deeper.

The ticket itself is a through-ticket for Temple of Heaven, meaning it covers the main complex and the scenic spots included. For the Summer Palace, it's admission to the grounds. Additional pavilion tickets are optional. Timing matters: April through October, the sites stay open later, which gives you more flexibility. November through March, everything closes earlier, so plan your visit accordingly. Public transport gets you to both locations easily from anywhere in Beijing.

What’s included

• Entrance ticket to Temple of Heaven (through-ticket including scenic spots).
• entrance ticket to Summer Palace (admission to grounds and gardens.
• additional pavilion tickets available for purchase on-site).
• QR code for skip-line entry at both attractions.

Options for this experience

2 options

Summer PalaceNo fixed timeEntry is free for children aged 6 and under and for seniors aged 60 and over.

Admission ticket for the Temple of HeavenNo fixed timeThis is a through ticket that covers specific scenic spots at the Temple of Heaven. Minors under 18 and seniors aged 60 and over enter free.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (7 to 17 years) · Infant (under 7)

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

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Beijing Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you're visiting Beijing during peak season or holidays and want to skip the ticket counter. The QR code entry is what makes it possible to move straight inside instead of losing an hour to the queue.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years); Infant (under 7).

What time should I arrive to avoid crowds?

Gates open at 6:00 am (6:30 am November–March). Arriving in the first hour means fewer people, though both sites draw steady crowds throughout the day.

Can I visit both temples in one day?

Yes. Temple of Heaven is in the southeast. Summer Palace is in the northwest. Public transport connects them, but plan 3–4 hours per site plus travel time between them.

What do I show at the gate?

Show the QR code sent to you after booking. Do not bring your passport or the voucher. The QR code is what gets you in.

Are there additional costs inside the parks?

Temple of Heaven admission is all-inclusive. At Summer Palace, you can buy separate tickets for specific scenic spots and pavilions when you arrive if you want to enter them.

When are the sites closed?

Temple of Heaven is closed every Monday. Both sites close earlier in winter (November–March) than in summer (April–October).

Is there parking or public transport nearby?

Public transportation options are available near both sites. Parking is available, but public transit is the most common way to reach them.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. Both sites are fully wheelchair accessible, and strollers are permitted throughout the parks.