Summer Palace Beijing: Timed Entry Tickets & QR Code Access

The Summer Palace's Kunming Lake Waits. Just Scan Your QR Code

You book a timed-entry ticket online, receive a QR code via WhatsApp, and scan your way into Beijing's Summer Palace without waiting in the entry queue. Explore the imperial gardens, Kunming Lake, and the Long Corridor at your own pace, choosing a morning or afternoon slot that fits your schedule. Entry, QR access, and self-guided exploration are all included. You arrange your own transport to the East Gate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit the Summer Palace at leisure

• Prebook ticket online
• Receive QR code via WhatsApp
• Arrive at Summer Palace East Gate
• Scan QR code to enter
• Admire Zhichun Pavilion and Kunming Lake
• Stroll through Long Corridor
• Explore Summer Palace leisurely

The experience

The ticket queue at Summer Palace's East Gate can swallow an hour of your morning. Prebooking online cuts that entirely: you get a QR code sent to your phone the day you visit, scan it at the entrance, and walk straight in. The Summer Palace itself (a UNESCO site sprawling across 290 acres of imperial gardens, pavilions, and the long Kunming Lake shoreline) doesn't rush you. You set the pace, whether that's a slow morning walk or an afternoon visit when the crowds thin out.

The logistics are straightforward but specific. You'll need to send your passport number to the supplier via WhatsApp before your visit (local IDs don't work for international visitors). They send the QR ticket back the same way. Once you're at the East Gate, you scan and go: no printed tickets, no line negotiation. The main sights most people head for are Zhichun Pavilion and the Long Corridor, a covered walkway that runs for nearly half a mile along the water, but the whole place rewards wandering. You're not on a group schedule, so if you want to sit by the lake for twenty minutes or spend an hour in one corner, that's entirely up to you.

One thing to know: free entry applies to children under six and seniors over sixty, but you still need to book a ticket slot and provide ID. International students with a valid Chinese student card also don't pay, though again, the booking process is the same. Public transport gets you there (the Summer Palace is accessible by metro and bus), so you're only paying for entry, not for transport or a guide. Bring comfortable shoes. The palace is big and the paths are uneven in places.

What’s included

• Summer Palace East Gate entry.
• timed-entry QR code ticket sent via WhatsApp.
• self-guided access to imperial gardens, Kunming Lake, Zhichun Pavilion, and the Long Corridor.
• free entry for children under six and seniors over sixty (with valid ID).

Options for this experience

3 options

Main entrance ticket, without a guide.9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Duration: 2 hours. Summer Palace main entrance ticket only. Guide, transportation, and other tickets are not included.

3 QR tickets, without a guide.8 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:30Duration: 3 hours. Includes the Summer Palace main entrance, a ticket to the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, and a ticket to the Pagoda of Buddhist and Incense. No guide is included.

Ticket with Guide7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 3 hours. Includes a private English-speaking tour guide and 3 QR entry tickets. Food, transportation, and other tickets are not included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Child (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 today

Good to know

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

Operated by Authentic China Tours

Is this one for you?Right for independent travelers who want to explore the Summer Palace without a guide or group schedule, and who prefer to skip the entry-gate queue by booking ahead. The QR code system and flexible timing mean you move through the palace on your own terms.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

Do I need a guide for the Summer Palace?

No. This ticket gives you entry and self-guided access. You explore the gardens and lake at your own pace without a guide or group.

How do I get the QR code ticket?

Provide your passport number to the supplier via WhatsApp before your visit. They send the QR code to your phone the day of your visit. Scan it at the East Gate entrance.

Can I use a local ID instead of a passport?

No. International visitors must provide a passport number. Local IDs are not accepted.

How long can I stay inside the Summer Palace?

There's no set time limit. You can spend as long as you like once you're inside: a few hours or most of the day.

Is there a best time to visit?

You choose your entry time when you book, morning or afternoon. Afternoons tend to be less crowded than mid-morning.

How do I get to the Summer Palace?

Public transport (metro and bus) serves the area. You arrange your own transport. This ticket does not include pickup or transfer.

What's included in the ticket price?

Entry to the Summer Palace and access via QR code. The ticket does not include a guide, meals, or transport to the site.