The Summer Palace is the largest existing royal garden in the world and a famous world cultural heritage.
I. Basic information
• Opening hours: peak season (April 1 to October 31) open at 6:00, stop admission at 19:00, close at 20:00; off-season (November 1 to March 31) open at 6:30, stop admission at 18:00, 1 The park closes at 9:00. The opening hours of the scenic spot courtyard are usually open at 8:00 and close at 18:00 in the peak season; open at 8:30 and close at 17:00 in the off-season.
• Ticket price: peak season tickets are 30 yuan/ticket, off-season tickets are 20 yuan/ticket; peak season joint tickets are 60 yuan/ticket, off-season joint tickets are 50 yuan/ticket. Separate ticket sales in the garden, Dehe Garden 5 yuan/ticket, Summer Palace Museum 20 yuan/ticket, Foxiang Pavilion 10 yuan/ticket, Suzhou Street 10 yuan/ticket.
II. Traffic Guide
• Subway: Take Line 4, Exit C2 of Xiyuan Station to Donggongmen, Exit A of Beigongmen Station to Beigongmen; you can also take the Xijiao Line to Ximen.
• Public transportation: 331, 332 and other routes can be reached to the East Palace Gate; 303, 331 and other routes can be reached to the North Palace Gate; 74, 374 and other routes can be used to the new palace gate; routes 469 and 539 can be reached to the West Gate.
• Self-driving/taxi: You can locate the "East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace" or "North Palace Gate". There are parking lots around, but the parking space is tight in the peak season.
III. Must-visit scenic spots
• Foxiang Pavilion: the high point of the Summer Palace, with an eight-sided three-story four-eaves structure. Climbing to the top, you can overlook Kunming Lake and the panoramic view of the whole park.
• Seventeen-hole bridge: connecting the East Embankment and the South Lake Island, it is named after the 17 bridge coupon holes. There are more than 500 stone lions of different shapes on the bridgehead and railings, and the scenery is beautiful at sunset.
• Corridor: From the Yuemen Gate in the east to the Shizhang Pavilion in the west, it is 728 meters long, and there are more than 8,000 paintings of landscapes, flowers, birds and figures on the beam.
• Suzhou Street: a water street built in the south of the Yangtze River, with water as the street and the shore as the city. There are more than 60 antique pavings along the coast, with a strong ancient atmosphere.
• Harmony Garden: Known as the "Garden in the Garden", it was built in imitation of Wuxi Jichang Garden, surrounded by square ponds, pavilions and pavilions connected by corridors, and there is a view every step of the way.
IV. Travel route
• Classic spring tour route: Donggong Gate - Renshou Hall - Huiquyuan - Leshou Hall (magnolia appreciation) - corridor - stone boat - West Embankment (viewing mountain peach blossoms) - Xiuyi Bridge - Kunming Lake East Bank Road - Gouru Pavilion - Seventeen Holes Bridge - New Palace Gate.
• Classic summer tour route: Beigongmen - Suzhou Street - Four Major Continents - Foxiang Pavilion - Long Corridor - Painting Middle Tour - Gongzhitu Scenic Area (Lotus Appreciation) - Zaojiantang Lake (Lotus Appreciation) - Xiuyi Bridge - Kunming Lake East Bank Road - Kuo Ruting - Seventeen Holes Bridge - Kunming Lake East Bank Road ( Watch the sunset and sunset) - Newly built palace gate.
• Classic autumn tour: Beigong Gate - Suzhou Street - Houhu (autumn appreciation) - Xidi (autumn appreciation) - Yudai Bridge - Tuancheng Lake (bird watching) - West Gate of the Summer Palace.
• Classic winter tour route: Beigong Gate - Four Major Continents - Foxiang Pavilion - Corridor - Stone Ship - West Embankment - Xiuyi Bridge - Kunming Lake East Bank Road - Gouru Pavilion - Seventeen Holes Bridge - South Lake Island (Appreciate Seventeen Holes "Golden Light Through the Cave" Spectacle) - New Palace Gate.
V. Food and beverage recommendation
• Tingyu Pavilion: Located on the west side of the Foxiang Pavilion in the Summer Palace Park, it is an old Chinese brand, specializing in court-style dishes. The famous dishes include Gongmen Fengyu, lotus fish shreds, eight precious fish pot, etc. The restaurant is carved with beams and painted buildings, full of royal style.
• Haiwanju (Zengguang Road Store): It is close to the Summer Palace and is the representative of the old Beijing fried noodles. The noodles are chewy and the fried sauce is salty and fragrant.
• Huguo Temple Snacks (Xisi Store): Provide old Beijing snacks such as donkey roll, Aiwowo, fried liver, etc., which are suitable for replenishing energy after shopping.
• Baijia Courtyard: Located at No. 15 Suzhou Street, Haidian District, it is a garden-style food house in the Qing Dynasty, specializing in court cuisine, government cuisine and Baifu cuisine. Cherry meat, concubine smile and other dishes are full of flavors.
• Square Brick Factory No. 69 Jajang Noodles: At No. 208 Summer Palace Road, its signature Jajang Noodles are hand-rolled. Black pork Jajajang is wrapped in each noodle, with rich side dishes, noodles, sauce, and garlic can also be renewed for free.
• Dehuaju Snacks: Located in Xiyuan Food City, No. 7 Zhongzhi Road, it is a traditional Beijing snack shop opened by Hutong Uncle. Braised noodles, fried sauce noodles, fried enema, etc. are recommended.
• Huifengtang, roast duck, Jinglu cuisine: located at No. 15 Wanquanzhuang Road, it is one of the eight halls of a century-old store in Beijing. It is said that the old Buddha Cixi loves his favorite braised claws and personally inscribed words on his plaque.
VI. Accommodation recommendation
• Yihe Anyan: Located at No. 1, the Palace Gate Street of the Summer Palace, the hotel adopts a traditional Chinese design, perfectly integrating modern comfort with classical decoration style. The guest rooms reflect Chinese aesthetics, and are also equipped with restaurants, bars, swimming pools, libraries and other facilities.
• Jianyijing Garden: Located at No. 18, Xiwa Orchard, Beiwu Village Road, Yuquan Mountain, Haidian District, adjacent to Xiangshan and the Summer Palace. The hotel draws on the aesthetic characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture. There are lotus ponds and wooden planks in the backyard, and most rooms can enjoy golf lawns and garden views.
• Peking University Boya International Hotel: Located at No. 127, Zhongguancun North Street, adjacent to Peking University, within walking distance of the Summer Palace. The hotel is five-star, with atrium garden, swimming pool, gym and other supporting facilities, as well as Chinese and Western restaurants.
• Beijing Chongxue Villa: Located at No. 100 Dayuzhuang, Haidian District, only one road away from the Summer Palace, it is an antique hotel, imitated by a courtyard, with antique rooms and a beautiful surrounding environment.
VII. Other services
• Cruise ship service: The Summer Palace has a number of cruise ship terminals, providing self-driving battery ships, route sightseeing boats and other services. The opening hours are from March 12 to mid-November. For specific ticket prices and routes, please refer to the official website of the Summer Palace.
• Wheelchair service: Free wheelchair rental service is provided in 6 gate areas such as Donggongmen and Xinjiangongmen and Donggongmen Tourist Service Center with a deposit of 500 yuan.
• Tour guide service: including electronic voice tour guide, mobile phone guide and manual explanation service. Electronic voice tour guide is distributed in many gate areas, and manual explanation reception stations are in Donggongmen, Beigongmen and other places.
VIII. Precautions
(I) Precautions for booking and purchasing tickets
1. Book tickets in advance: The number of tourists in the peak season (April-October) is large. It is recommended to make a reservation 1-3 days in advance on the official account of "Summer Palace" or the "Changyou Park" platform. The joint ticket includes core scenic spots such as Foxiang Pavilion and Suzhou Street, which is more cost-effective than buying separate tickets.
2. Carrying documents: You need to show the appointment code and the original ID card to enter the park. Children can enter the park with valid documents such as household registration book or birth certificate to avoid being unable to enter because of incomplete documents.
3. Ticket validity period: Tickets on the same day are only valid on the same day, and you need to buy a new ticket to enter the park again after leaving the park; you can only enter each scenic spot in the joint ticket once, and avoid repeated round trips when planning the route.
(II) Park tour and safety precautions
1. Reasonable planning route: The Summer Palace covers a large area (about 290 hectares). It is recommended to visit the one-way route of "East Palace Gate Entry - North Palace Gate / New Palace Gate Entry" or "North Palace Gate Entry - East Palace Gate Entry" to reduce returns. The core scenic spots such as Foxiang Pavilion, Promenade and Seventeen Holes Bridge are concentrated in the east and south, which can be prioritized.
2. Pay attention to safety protection: the lakeside and the stone steps are slippery, especially on rainy days or in winter, you need to slow down; you need to wear life jackets when taking the boat, abide by the safety regulations of the cruise ship dock, and do not stand or shake on the boat at will.
3. Civilized tour: do not touch cultural relics, do not depict buildings, no smoking and littering in the park; avoid using flash when shooting (some cultural relics exhibition areas have clear tips), and respect the tour experience of other tourists.
(III) Time and Service Notes
1. Understand the opening hours: There are differences in the opening hours of different seasons and different scenic spots (for example, Foxiang Pavilion closes at 18:00 in the peak season and 17:00 in the off-season). It is recommended to arrive at the core scenic spots 1 hour in advance to avoid missing the visiting time.
2. Use of service facilities: Free wheelchairs and strollers need to be rented at the Gate Tourist Service Center with ID card and deposit. The number is limited, and it is recommended to borrow early. Electronic guides can be rented at the East Palace Gate and the North Palace Gate to help you gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the scenic spot.
3. Responding to special weather: do a good job of sun protection during the high temperature in summer and carry drinking water with you; if it snows in winter, the West Embankment, Seventeen Holes Bridge and other areas may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to check the announcement of the park in advance.
The beauty of the Summer Palace is not only the amazing moment, but also the flow of the four seasons, each with its own style, and each season can make people meet different surprises. Spring to the Summer Palace is a feast of flowers. A summer trip to the Summer Palace is the coolness of a lotus. The Summer Palace in autumn is a golden picture. The Summer Palace after the winter snow is a simple poem.
If you have a chance to come to Beijing, you must come to the Summer Palace. You don't have to hurry, you don't have to deliberately look for the so-called "check-in points", just slow down, let the wind of Wanshou Mountain brush your cheeks, let the water of Kunming Lake come into view, and let the painting of the corridor enter your heart. You will find that here, every step is a scenery, every moment is a gift of time, and this garden will inadvertently imprint its unique gentleness and magnificence in your memory.