Summer Palace, Beijing

(頤和園yí hé yuán）

The Summer Palace landscape, primarily dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is under water.

Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural relics, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750. It was razed to the ground by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. The Government of the Qing Dynasty started to rebuild it in 1886 with funds that it had misappropriated from the Imperial Navy and other sources.

Renamed two years later as Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony, it was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Known also as the Summer Palace, it was ravaged by the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers that invaded China in 1900.

The damage was repaired in 1902. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Summer Palace has undergone several major renovations. Its major attractions such as the Four Great Regions, Suzhou Street, the Pavilion of Bright Scenery, the Hall of Serenity, the Wenchang Galleries and the Plowing and Weaving Scenery Area have all been successively restored.

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Ideal Sightseeing Season: Early April to November

Opening Hours:

April 1 - October 31 6:30-20:00 (no admission after 18:00).

November 1 - March 31 7:00-19:00 (no admission after 17:00).

Ticket Price:

Entrance ticket:

Tourist season(April 1 - October 31): 30 yuan ($) per person

Tourist off-season(November 1 - March 31): 20 yuan

Through Ticket

Tourist season: 60 yuan

Tourist off-season: 50 yuan

Note:

1. Through Ticket include entrance tickets and garden tickets (including Wenchang Gallery, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Buddhist of Incense, plus Suzhou Street).

2. Tickets and Through Ticket are concessional, discount ticket: 15 RMB.

Address: No.23, Gong-men-qian-jie, Haidian District, Beijing

Website: www.summerpalace-china.com 

Telephone: +86-10-62881144