- Address: 19 Xinjian Gongmen
- Hours: Open daily from April 1 to October 31: 6:30am - 6pm, from November 1 to March 31: 7am - 5pm
- Admission: 30RMB
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
The Summer Palace - also known as Yiheyuan - was built in 1750. In those days, it was called the Garden of Clear Ripples, and was a lakeside oasis where the royal court could escape the dust and heat of the Forbidden City in summer.
It was razed twice by foreign armies and completely rebuilt, most extensively by Empress Dowager Cixi in the 19th century. To fund her projects, she's said to have diverted a bunch of money destined for the Chinese navy. Ironically, one of her grand schemes was a marble boat that sits at the edge of the lake.
The grounds were declared a public park in 1924. These days, the 290 hectares (716 acres) of the 'Gardens of Nurtured Harmony' are madly popular with both tourists and locals.
The gardens are liberally scattered with temples, covered walkways, pavilions and bridges. Longevity Hill, one of the garden's main features, was constructed from the earth excavated when the lake was extended.
Practical Info
The Summer Palace is located 12km (7.5 miles) northwest of the city centre. You can get there by taking the underground rail to Wudaokou, then jumping on bus 375. You can also arrive by canal boat, or take a taxi (the ride will take about half an hour).
Tours & Tickets
Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven
See all the classic Beijing sights on a full-day sightseeing tour covering Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Along ... Read more
Location:
Beijing, China
Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
Beijing Historical Tour including the Summer Palace, Lama Temple and the Panda Garden
Explore Beijing's amazing history and culture on this seven-hour tour to the Lama Temple, the zoo to see China's famous pandas and the historic Summer Palace. ... Read more
Location:
Beijing, China
Duration: 7 hours (approx.)
4-Day Private Tour of Beijing: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Peking Duck Dinner
Discover the most popular attractions in Beijing on this multi-day, all-inclusive tour of the city with a private guide. On this stress-free Beijing tour, ... Read more
Location:
Beijing, China
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
11-Day Splendors of China: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Chongqing with Yangtze River Cruise
Experience the splendors of China over 11 fantastic days! Highlights include the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ... Read more
Location:
Beijing, China
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
