Summer Palace Beijing: UNESCO Garden & Kunming Lake Tickets

290 Hectares of Water & Stone: What the Summer Palace Actually Feels Like

You get entry to the main Summer Palace grounds covering Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor, Kunming Lake and the palace residential areas across 290 hectares. The ticket excludes four add-on attractions (Tower of Buddhist Incense, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Suzhou Street, Summer Palace Museum), but the core experience is complete without them. The site is wheelchair accessible, stroller-friendly, and open to all fitness levels, so you can explore at your own rhythm without arranging separate transport or guides.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit the Summer Palace in Beijing

• Arrive at the Summer Palace
• Explore Longevity Hill
• Walk around Kunming Lake
• Learn about the palace history

The experience

You'll probably think the place is bigger than it sounds. The Summer Palace sprawls across 290 hectares in Beijing's northwest, and three-quarters of that is water: Kunming Lake sits there like it's the whole point, which it kind of is. The ticket gets you into the main grounds: Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor (which is exactly as long as it sounds), the palace residential areas, and the lake itself. It was built in 1750, torn apart by Anglo-French forces in 1860, then rebuilt in 1886, and the UNESCO people decided in 1998 it was worth protecting. That history sits in the stones, but you don't need to know it to walk around and feel something shift.

The layout matters because you can't see it all at once. You move through the Long Corridor (there's a reason it's famous, the painted beams go on forever), and then you're either climbing Longevity Hill or you're down by the water. The palace buildings are smaller than you'd expect if you've seen photos of the Forbidden City, but that's because this place was meant to feel like a retreat, not a seat of power. Kunming Lake takes up most of your view once you're up on the hill. On a clear day you can see across it. On a crowded day, which is most days in summer, you're sharing the view with a lot of other people, so timing matters if you care about that.

The ticket covers the main circuit, but there are add-on spots (the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Suzhou Street, the Summer Palace Museum) that cost extra if you want them. Most people don't, and most people don't need to. The place is accessible if you use a wheelchair or need a stroller. Public transport gets you there, and the grounds are flat enough that you're not fighting elevation the whole time. It's suitable for all fitness levels, which means you can move at your own pace and stop whenever you want.

What’s included

• Entry to the main Summer Palace grounds.
• access to Longevity Hill.
• the Long Corridor.
• Kunming Lake.
• palace residential areas across 290 hectares.

Options for this experience

2 options

Summer Palace Tickets06:30, 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00

Entry tickets plus additional spots06:30, 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00Entry tickets plus additional spots: Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, Summer Palace Museum

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 06:30, 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 75 years) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 6 years): free · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by 湖南新康辉国际旅行社有限责任公司定制分公司

Is this one for you?Right for anyone visiting Beijing who wants to see a major UNESCO site without arranging a guide or transport. The ticket is straightforward, the grounds are self-navigable, and public transport gets you there directly.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years); Child (3 to 6 years): free; Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

How big is the Summer Palace?

It covers 290 hectares, with Kunming Lake making up about three-quarters of the total area.

What does the ticket include?

Entry to Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor, Kunming Lake, and the palace residential areas. The ticket does not include the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Suzhou Street, or the Summer Palace Museum, which require separate payment.

When was the Summer Palace built?

It was originally built in 1750 as the Garden of Clear Ripples, damaged in 1860, and rebuilt in 1886. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998.

Is the Summer Palace accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible and suitable for strollers. Specialized infant seats are also available.

How do I get to the Summer Palace?

Public transportation options are available nearby. You can reach it by subway or bus from central Beijing.

Is the Summer Palace suitable for people of all fitness levels?

Yes, it is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You can explore at your own pace and rest whenever you need to.