Summer Palace

I came here in January 2026. Even though it was quite cold, the afternoon view was beautiful and very enjoyable. The ticket costs 20 yuan and can be purchased at the entrance. I recommend entering through the East Gate, as it is close to Kunming Lake

Beautiful park with expansive grounds. Despite being a popular attraction, you can get away from the crowds quickly if you walk a few more steps. There are just so much to explore here.

Beautiful place. Too huge to cover all in one day. Didn't finish till the lake bridge because too cold. Guide is necessary else it is just a place to stroll around. No need to buy ticket in advanced, there is no particular needed to buy the ticket, there wasn't any queue on ticket on my visit.

颐和园 or Summer Palace was a built by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday in 1750. It was later used as vacation venue by emperors and empresses. Really tranquil to visit and walk about before the crowd starts to arrive which could be as early as 06:30am. Enjoyed the part starting from the Wenchang Tower, near to the Heralding Spring Pavilion facing the Kunming Lake before the Long Corridor, which you could see the Tower of Fragrance of Buddha and the Seventeen-arch Bridge. Along the 728m Long Corridor, do look up at the ceiling and enjoy the painted murals. Indeed a very wonderful imperial garden. If have extra time, may wish to visit the museum situated within the Wenchang Gallery.

Imagine a massive park with a huge lake in the middle, surrounded by temples, bridges, and these beautiful old pavilions that look like they’re straight out of a kung fu movie. It’s peaceful, green, and full of history. One of the coolest things is how the whole place is designed around the themes of longevity and harmony. The main hill is literally called Longevity Hill, and the lake – Kunming Lake – was man-made to symbolize the sea, with the palace representing a mythical island of immortality. Even the decorations, like the cranes and pine trees, are symbols of long life and good fortune. It’s like the whole place is whispering, “Take it easy, live long, be kind.” The Summer Palace was basically the playground of Empress Dowager Cixi, also known as the Dragon Lady. She was one of the most powerful women in Chinese history, ruled from behind the scenes for decades during the late Qing Dynasty. There’s even this long corridor – the Long Gallery – that stretches forever (okay, it’s like 728 meters, but still). It’s covered in thousands of paintings, and rumor has it Cixi used to stroll there to enjoy the lake breeze and keep an eye on things. She even used funds meant for the navy to renovate the palac. All in all, the Summer Palace is a must-see. It’s like a mix of nature, art, and drama – with a bit of imperial gossip thrown in. Just wear comfy shoes. It’s huge.

Summer Palace 頣和园 yiheyuan Beijing is a UNESCO world heritage site built around Longevity Hill and Kuming Lake. The Longevity hill 60 metres (200 ft) high have steep rocks as steps and might be strenuous for some others to climb up.( ✌︎'ω')✌︎ Summer Palace is a place of retreat for the Qing Dynasty Royal family. Once up the Longevity Hill, you will see the Tower of Fragrance of Buddha, Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the massive man-made Kunming lake where the excavated soil was used to built the Longevity Hill. A must visit scenic spot in Beijing for its history, culture and breathtaking scenery.

Joint in with small private group and she explained well in both english and chinese. It was only 3 degree during the touring. Freezing but yet beautiful. I enjoyed the site seeing very much. The whole place took me abour 2 to 3 hours eventhough the landsize was huge but it is mostly covered by lake.

I visited the Summer Palace and it was a very good experience. I really loved the place. This location is highly recommended for people who enjoy exploring historical places, peaceful surroundings, and being close to nature. To reach the palace, you can take a monorail, which feels like a small toy train and offers unique views both inside and outside during the ride. Inside the Summer Palace, you need to walk a lot, but the long walks are worth it. The place is very calm and quiet, with beautiful natural views and different birds around. When I visited, the lake was frozen, which made the scenery even more beautiful. Overall, it’s a great place to relax, walk, and enjoy history and nature together. For more travel content, follow me on Instagram and YouTube: Hrtourer