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Summer Palace
颐和园 · Haidian, Beijing, China
Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill embody the Chinese garden philosophy of 'made by man, yet as if created by heaven'.
Know before you go
- Don't touch or carve the Long Corridor's paintings or other painted buildings
- don't walk on ice in areas not open to the public
- don't feed the black swans and wild ducks.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A birthday present for his mother
Around 1749 the Qianlong Emperor decided to build a garden around Wengshan and West Lake to celebrate his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing's, 60th birthday — the Qingyi Garden. He renamed the lake 'Kunming Lake' after the Kunming Pool that Emperor Wu of Han dug for training his navy. Qianlong never spent a night in the garden, always returning the same day. In 1860 Anglo-French forces burned the Qingyi Garden; it was later rebuilt and renamed the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan).
Source: Wikipedia: Summer Palace; Wikipedia: Qianlong Emperor
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Summer Palace began as the Qingyi Garden, built in 1750, the 15th year of the Qianlong reign; burned by Anglo-French forces in 1860, it was rebuilt under the Guangxu Emperor and renamed the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). With Longevity Hill as its screen and Kunming Lake as its mirror, its 728-m Long Corridor links more than 300 halls and pavilions and is decorated with more than 14,000 Suzhou-style paintings — 'the longest corridor in the world'. The Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge unfold along the central axis, and Kunming Lake was dug in imitation of Hangzhou's West Lake; it is the culmination of the arts of 'borrowed' and 'facing' scenery in Chinese imperial gardens. It became a World Heritage Site in 1998.
Local customs
- Beijingers call a visit 'strolling the garden', with a four-season routine of magnolias in spring, lotus in summer, ginkgos in autumn and skating in winter
- the scenes from Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms in the Long Corridor's paintings are great for telling children stories
- when Kunming Lake freezes in winter, the official rink keeps old Beijing winter memories alive.
Religion & beliefs
- A secular imperial garden. The Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Four Great Continents are remains of Tibetan Buddhist-style buildings
- keep quiet when visiting.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: don't get physical in a dispute
- Walk away from an argument and call the police if needed
- Pushing, shoving or fighting
Whoever starts it, taking part in a fight can bring a fine or detention, and the injured party usually demands compensation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
China: carry your original passport
- Foreign visitors should carry their original passport
- Carrying only a copy or photo of your passport
Police make random ID checks and do not accept printouts; if you cannot show your passport, you may be fined or detained.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't touch or carve the Long Corridor's paintings or other painted buildings
- don't walk on ice in areas not open to the public
- don't feed the black swans and wild ducks.
Locals appreciate DO
- Beijingers love jogging along Kunming Lake in the morning and spinning tops on the ice in winter
- the willows and magnolias of the West Causeway are photographers' favourites.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Summer lotus (June–August) and the winter ice rink (open depending on temperature) each have their appeal
- enter by the East Palace Gate and walk west along the Long Corridor to the Marble Boat, about 3 hours in all
- climb the Tower of Buddhist Incense for a view over the whole garden. Check tickets and opening hours on the official website.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Roast duck
- Imperial pea cake / kidney-bean rolls
- Zhajiang noodles
Roast duck, imperial pea-flour cake / kidney-bean rolls (Fangshan imperial pastries), zhajiang noodles, copper-pot hotpot lamb (clear-broth mutton with sweet garlic), imperial milk curd
| Where to eat | Tingliguan restaurant inside the park (Fangshan imperial cuisine), simple meals on Suzhou Street; outside, the Haidian / Peking University area |
|---|---|
| Typical price per person | CNY 60–120 |
| Tips | Tingliguan requires booking or queuing; the park is big, so bring snacks to avoid low blood sugar. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Luca Gamberini · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
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Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0
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Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0
Hermann Luyken · CC0
Sources & verification notes
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