Summer Palace Beijing: Combined Ticket & Interior Gardens

The Summer Palace's Hidden Gardens Open at Dawn

You get entry to the Summer Palace's main grounds plus five interior attractions (Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, Wenchang Gallery, and Danning Hall) with flexible arrival between 6:30am and 3:30pm on your chosen date. The QR code arrives by email. Bring it and your passport to the gate. Children under 6 and seniors 60+ are free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Summer Palace main entrance

• Enter Summer Palace main gate
• Stroll around Kunming Lake
• Admire exterior architecture
• Explore Longevity Hill area
• Visit pavilions and bridges

The experience

Longevity Hill rises above Kunming Lake in soft morning light, its pavilions and bridges reflected in still water. This is the Summer Palace in Beijing, and it's been drawing visitors for centuries. The combined ticket gets you past the main gate and into the interior spaces most people miss: Dehe Garden, the Tower of Buddhist Incense climbing above the treetops, Suzhou Street with its recreated merchant shops, and Wenchang Gallery. You enter anytime between 6:30 and 3:30pm, which means you can arrive early when the crowds are thin or slip in during the afternoon lull. Once inside, you stay as late as the park closes, usually 5:30pm in summer, 4:30pm in winter.

The Summer Palace isn't small. Over 3,000 structures dot the grounds: pavilions, towers, covered corridors that wind for what feels like miles, stone bridges arching over the lake. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, it's technically called "The Museum of Royal Gardens" because the whole place is a lesson in how Chinese landscape design works. Every view is framed, every path leads somewhere that matters. The combined ticket is the difference between walking the perimeter and actually understanding what you're looking at. Without it, you see the exteriors and the lake. With it, you're inside the spaces where the imperial court actually spent time.

The main entrance ticket works if you want to wander the grounds, sit by the water, and photograph the architecture from outside. But the combined ticket opens the paid interior venues, and those are where the detail lives. Dehe Garden is intimate; the Tower of Buddhist Incense commands views across the whole park; Suzhou Street is a small shock, a street of Qing-dynasty shops frozen in time. Inside gardens close on Mondays, so plan around that if you're visiting mid-week. Children under 6 and seniors 60+ enter free. Just bring a passport to show at the gate. The ticket you book is a QR code sent to your phone: reference numbers and barcodes won't work, so keep that code handy.

Tickets release 7 days in advance, so you'll need to book a week ahead. Once confirmed, your entry date is locked in: tickets are only valid for the day you choose. Public transport gets you there easily, and the park is wheelchair accessible if you need that. Summer Palace Beijing operates year-round, but the hours shift: April through October the gates open at 6am and the interior gardens close at 5:30pm. November through March it's 6:30am opening and 4:30pm for the gardens.

What’s included

• Your combined ticket includes admission to the Summer Palace main grounds, Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, Wenchang Gallery, and Danning Hall.
• You receive a QR code by email valid for your chosen date.
• Children under 6 and seniors 60+ enter free with a passport shown on-site.
• The ticket allows flexible entry between 6:30am and 3:30pm, with park access until closing time (5:30pm in summer, 4:30pm in winter).

Options for this experience

2 options

Main entry, without access to the inside gardens5 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 16:00Ticket only, without a guide: A valid QR code will be provided once the ticket is issued. The ticket covers the main gate only, not the inside gardens and halls. Admission is free for children under 7 and for seniors aged 60 and over, who only need to show their passport at the entrance.

Combined Ticket5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:00Ticket only, without a guide: Use the QR code we provide. Includes a combined ticket covering the main gate as well as the inside halls and gardens. Admission is free for children under 7 and for seniors aged 60 and over, who should present their passport on site.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to12h before

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel China Guide

Is this one for you?Right for anyone wanting to see the Summer Palace's interior gardens and royal spaces without arranging tickets on-site: the combined ticket covers five paid attractions that most visitors miss, and the flexible entry window lets you time your arrival around Beijing's crowds and heat.

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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.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the main entrance ticket and the combined ticket?

The main entrance ticket covers the general park area and lake views only. The combined ticket adds access to five interior sites: Dehe Garden, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, Wenchang Gallery, and Danning Hall.

When can I enter the Summer Palace?

You can arrive anytime between 6:30am and 3:30pm on your booking date. The park itself stays open until 5:30pm (April–October) or 4:30pm (November–March). Interior gardens close at 5:30pm or 4:30pm depending on season.

Are the inside gardens open every day?

No. Inside gardens are closed on Mondays. Plan your visit for Tuesday through Sunday if you want access to the interior attractions.

Do I need to print my ticket?

No. You'll receive a QR code by email. Show the QR code on your phone at the gate. Reference numbers and barcodes are not valid.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Tickets release 7 days in advance. You must book at least a week before your intended visit date.

Is anyone admitted free?

Children under 6 and seniors 60 and older enter free. Bring a passport to verify age at the gate.

How do I get to the Summer Palace?

Public transportation options are available nearby. The park is also wheelchair accessible.

Can I use my ticket on a different date?

No. Tickets are only valid for the specific date you select at booking.