Summer Palace Beijing: Skip-the-Line Tickets & Kunming Lake

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  • Summer Palace Beijing: Skip-the-Line Tickets & Kunming Lake
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1/10
Duration3h–4h
GroupPrivate
Live guideEN
Book up to1d before

The Long Corridor holds 8,000 painted scenes, and you walk through all of them

You skip the entry queue with a mobile QR code ticket and spend your time actually exploring: walking the world's longest painted gallery, crossing the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, taking a boat on Kunming Lake, and climbing the Tower of Buddhist Incense for panoramic views. The combo ticket unlocks Suzhou Street and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony if you want a deeper dive. Tickets arrive digitally and scan straight at the gate.

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Explore more: Summer Palace Tickets »

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Summer Palace highlights

  • Enter via New Palace Gate
  • Stroll the Long Corridor
  • Walk across Seventeen-Arch Bridge
  • Take boat ride on Kunming Lake
  • Climb Tower of Buddhist Incense
  • Discover Suzhou Street
  • Relax in garden teahouses
  • Exit at North Palace Gate

The experience

The Long Corridor stretches 728 meters along the water, and every panel is painted. That's the kind of detail that stops you mid-step at the Summer Palace in Beijing. You're not just walking through a garden. You're moving through a painted encyclopedia of Chinese history, one brushstroke at a time. Your QR code ticket gets you past the entry lines and straight into that experience, which matters because the Summer Palace draws crowds, especially in summer, and skipping the queue means you actually get to notice things instead of just shuffling forward.

The standard ticket covers the main grounds: Kunming Lake itself, the pavilions that ring it, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge (the one that appears in every Beijing postcard), and the gardens that connect them. If you want more, the combo option adds the Tower of Buddhist Incense (climb that and you're looking out over the entire palace and Beijing's skyline at once), plus Suzhou Street, which is a reconstructed traditional market street, and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony. The suggested route enters at the New Palace Gate, follows the lake, hits the key sights, and exits at the North Palace Gate, which takes most of the day if you're not rushing.

Your ticket arrives as a QR code through the booking platform. Scan it at the gate, no paper needed, and you're in. If something goes wrong with the confirmation, the support team reaches out via WhatsApp to sort it. Seniors 60 and over get free admission with a passport, so if that's you, mention it when you book. The palace is wheelchair accessible, and strollers work fine if you're traveling with small children. Public transport gets you there, it's not remote, so you can decide whether to hire a driver or take the subway depending on what feels right for your day.

What’s included

  • Admission ticket (standard or combo option).
  • QR code entry: no paper ticket.
  • access to Kunming Lake, Long Corridor, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and imperial gardens.
  • Tower of Buddhist Incense (combo only).
  • Suzhou Street (combo only).
  • Garden of Virtue and Harmony (combo only).
  • suggested walking route via New Palace Gate to North Palace Gate.

Options for this experience

3 options
General AdmissionGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:00Main gate entry only: standard entry to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its lovely lake views and imperial gardens.
Combo TicketGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:00Covers extra paid spots: full garden access, including the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street and Dehe Garden.
Private guided tour lasting 3 hoursGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:00Includes a combo ticket. Your guide, who speaks English, will explain imperial rituals, architecture and cultural stories to give you a richer experience.
You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00
Book up to1d before
AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free
GroupPrivate
Live guideEnglish
Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.
Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know
Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Your Beijing Guide

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see Beijing's most famous royal garden without spending the morning in an entry queue. The QR code ticket and skip-the-line access mean you arrive, scan, and start exploring: no paperwork, no waiting, no negotiation at the gate.

Traveler reviews

5.00
1 verified traveler review
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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How do I get my Summer Palace ticket?

Your QR code ticket is sent via the booking platform. Scan it at the gate, no paper required. If there's a delay, support follows up via WhatsApp.

What's the difference between the standard and combo tickets?

Standard covers the gardens, Kunming Lake, and main landmarks like the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Combo adds the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony.

Is there a guided tour included?

No. The ticket is for entry only. You explore at your own pace, though the suggested route (enter New Palace Gate, follow the lake, exit North Palace Gate) helps you hit the main sights.

How long does a visit usually take?

Most visitors spend a full day. The Long Corridor alone is 728 meters, and if you climb the Tower of Buddhist Incense or take a boat on Kunming Lake, you'll want several hours.

Do seniors get a discount?

Seniors 60 and over receive free admission with a valid passport. Mention this when booking.

Is the Summer Palace accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?

Yes, the palace is wheelchair accessible. Strollers work well for small children too.

Can I take a boat on Kunming Lake?

Yes. Boat rides on Kunming Lake are available and offer peaceful views of the temples and pavilions surrounding the water.

What's the best time to visit?

Early morning or late afternoon tend to be less crowded. Summer is peak season, so expect larger crowds if you visit June through August.

Summer Palace Beijing: Skip-the-Line Tickets & Kunming Lake

3h–4h · EN

from US$ 8 per person

5.001 reviewVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
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