The Summer Palace is one of the famous imperial gardens in China. It is renowned for its beautiful landscape and ingenious architecture. It is known as a model of Chinese classical gardens and is one of the must-see attractions when traveling to Beijing . In order to help you better visit the Summer Palace, this article provides you with a very practical guide to the Summer Palace , so that you can easily appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Select the best Explore China’s cities.
The Summer Palace was originally called Qingyi Garden. It was built in the 15th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1750). It was later used as the retirement home of Empress Dowager Cixi. After several ups and downs and renovations, it still retains its charm. The Summer Palace scenic area is mainly composed of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Its architectural design and layout are exquisite, and it cleverly integrates the man-made landscape with the surrounding natural scenery. It has the grand and magnificent momentum of a royal garden, and is full of natural interest. It brings together the essence of traditional Chinese garden art. It is the largest and most complete existing royal garden in China, and it is also the best-preserved royal palace in Beijing. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1998. In addition, the park also houses many precious cultural relics and is one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units in China.
1. Map of the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace covers an area of 297 hectares, which is very large. If you don’t know the Summer Palace and don’t plan your tour route in advance, you may not be able to explore its charm in depth. If you like Chinese garden architecture, it is recommended to focus on Longevity Hill; if you prefer natural scenery, it is recommended to focus on Kunming Lake. In order to let you better understand the attractions of the Summer Palace, the following is a map of the Summer Palace for your reference:
Summer Palace Scenic Area Map
2. Introduction to the must-see attractions in the Summer Palace
1. Wanshou Mountain
Wanshou Hill is 58 meters high and the buildings are built on the hill. It is the location of some important buildings in the front and back hills of the Summer Palace. The Tower of Buddhist Incense is located in the center and is extremely majestic. The Paiyun Hall stands tall at the foot of the mountain , and around it stand magnificent Buddhist buildings and various gorgeous pavilions. It can be said to be a concentrated display of Chinese classical garden architecture.
Travel tips: Wanshou Mountain is mainly for appreciating various traditional Chinese buildings, among which the Tower of Buddhist Incense is the most prominent and the Hall of Dispelling Clouds is the most magnificent, which are worth checking in; while the landscape of the back mountain is full of mountain and forest wildness, and its architecture is cleverly integrated with the surrounding natural beauty to form exquisite small gardens. In addition, if you are interested in Buddhist culture, Xumi Lingjing is worth exploring.
View of the majestic Buddhist Incense Tower from afar
2. Kunming Lake
Kunming Lake is the main lake in the Summer Palace and occupies the largest area. The water is clear and the view is extremely broad. There are three small islands in the lake, with various classical buildings of unique shapes distributed on them.
Tour guide: Boating is the best way to visit Kunming Lake. You can enjoy the picturesque scenery of Kunming Lake and the exquisite classical architecture of Longevity Hill from afar. In addition, the West Bank of Kunming Lake is full of green waves and weeping willows, and the natural scenery is open and extremely charming, especially the lotus scenery in summer is extremely beautiful.
The lotus scenery of Kunming Lake
3. Renshou Hall
The Renshou Hall was originally the Qinzheng Hall, where the emperors from the Qianlong to Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty governed the country. Its architectural decoration and furnishings are all in the specific form of royal palaces and are extremely luxurious.
Travel tips: The main purpose of Renshou Hall is to appreciate the architecture and furnishings inside and outside the hall, and to understand its unique cultural history.
4. The Long Corridor
The Long Corridor is located at the foot of Wanshou Mountain. It is over 700 meters long and is the longest existing corridor in Chinese classical gardens as well as the longest corridor in the world. It was listed in the Guinness World Records in 1992.
Travel tips: The most classic attraction of the corridor is the various exquisite paintings of figures, landscapes, flowers and birds painted on itsbeams .
5. Seventeen-Arch Bridge
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge has a total length of more than 150 meters and is the longest existing bridge in Chinese classical gardens. It is named after its 17 arches. There are hundreds of stone lions of different shapes carved on the bridge head and railings, and four majestic stone beasts at both ends of the railings.
Travel tips: The Seventeen-Arch Bridge is mainly for appreciating the stone lions of various shapes, enjoying the Kunming Lake up close and the beautiful scenery of Wanshou Mountain from afar. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge under the afterglow of the sunset presents a unique beauty, attracting many photographers to stop. In addition, the bronze bull on the north side of the East Bridge is also worth seeing.
The wonder of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge with golden light shining through the holes
In addition, if you want to understand how Cixi, Guangxu and the princesses once lived, we recommend visiting Leshou Palace, Yulan Palace and Yiyun Palace .
3. Recommended itinerary for the Summer Palace
1. 2-Day Tour of Beijing World Heritage Sites
Highlights: This route will take you on a journey to Beijing’s World Cultural Heritage, exploring the solemn Tiananmen Square, the magnificent Forbidden City, the beautiful Summer Palace, the unique and magnificent Temple of Heaven, the winding and magnificent Mutianyu Great Wall and other highlights of Beijing. In addition, you can also take photos at the unique Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.
2. Beijing Classic 4-Day Tour
Highlights: This route is a classic Beijing tour itinerary that will take you to the majestic Tiananmen Square, the splendid Forbidden City, the beautiful Summer Palace, the magnificent Temple of Heaven, the winding Mutianyu Great Wall, the amazing Bird’s Nest, and the unique Water Cube for a stroll and sightseeing, allowing you to fully appreciate the charm of the capital.
3. 5-day Beijing Panoramic Tour
Highlights: This route will take you on a panoramic and in-depth tour of Beijing, exploring the majestic Tiananmen Square, the splendid Forbidden City, the picturesque Summer Palace, the winding and magnificent Great Wall, the unique and magnificent Temple of Heaven, the culturally rich Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum, as well as the bustling Beijing Hutongs, and other Beijing sights, allowing you to deeply appreciate the charm of Beijing.
4. Weather and best time to visit the Summer Palace
1. Weather conditions
The Summer Palace is located in Haidian District, Beijing, China. It has distinct four seasons. The spring is warm, with moderate temperatures and occasional sandstorms; the summer is hot and rainy, with occasional thunderstorms; the autumn is cool and pleasant, with clear skies and crisp air; the winter is cold and dry, with frequent haze . Before traveling, it is recommended to check the weather conditions in advance to get the best travel experience.
2. Best time to travel
April to October is the best time to visit the Summer Palace. From April to May, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, especially the peonies in the Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Hall of Renshou, which are extremely bright and charming. This is a good time to enjoy the flowers in spring. From June to August, the lotus flowers in Kunming Lake are in full bloom. You can see the beautiful scenery of green leaves and lotus flowers floating in the wind when you go boating on the lake. From September to October, the Summer Palace is beautiful and is a good place to enjoy osmanthus in the golden autumn. Wanshou Mountain is like a beautiful painting under the shade of autumn leaves. In addition, the Summer Palace in winter has a special scenery. The white snow and the warm winter sun are reflected in the buildings of the Summer Palace, sketching a beautiful picture of cold and warm, which is also worth seeing.
Spring scenery of the Summer Palace
5. Transportation to the Summer Palace
The commonly used gates of the Summer Palace are East Palace Gate, North Palace Gate, West Palace Gate and Xinjian Palace Gate. You can take Line 4 to reach the North Palace Gate and East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace, and take buses 331, 332, 346, 303, 584, 374, 330, 539, etc. to reach the East Palace Gate, West Palace Gate and Xinjian Palace Gate. You can choose the appropriate transportation according to your schedule. If you don’t want to bother planning your own transportation and want to have a better tour of the Summer Palace, you might as well choose our Beijing tour group , which will arrange professional tour guides to accompany you throughout the journey and plan the best tour route for you.
6. Tips for visiting the Summer Palace
1. Tickets for the Summer Palace need to be booked in advance. The scenic spot is quite popular, so avoid selling out of tickets;
2. The Summer Palace is a large scenic area, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of drinking water and snacks;
3. There is a lake in the Summer Palace. Whether you are boating on the lake or walking along the lake, safety is the most important thing;
4. If you want to better enjoy the Summer Palace, it is recommended to plan your tour route to avoid taking the wrong route.
In summary, the Summer Palace is an excellent place to explore the ancient Chinese garden art. Whether it is the gorgeous and exquisite palace architecture, the picturesque natural scenery, or the exquisite man-made landscape, it is shocking and unforgettable. If you are planning a trip to the Summer Palace at this moment, you may wish to contact us to customize a special Beijing travel plan for you to enjoy the capital.
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