Summer Palace

颐和园

A sprawling royal retreat featuring classical Chinese gardens, Kunming Lake, and ornate pavilions built as an escape for emperors. A masterpiece of landscape design and UNESCO World Heritage site showcasing Qing Dynasty elegance.

Things to do

• Kunming Lake Boat Ride — Cruise across the expansive lake on traditional dragon boats or modern vessels to appreciate the palace from the water and visit lakeside pavilions.
• Marble Boat (Stone Boat) Visit — Explore the ornate two-story marble and wood structure on the lakeside that was built as a pleasure boat and never floats, symbolizing the empress's refined taste.
• Long Corridor Walk — Stroll through the 728-meter-long covered walkway decorated with 14,000 hand-painted scenes from classical literature, mythology, and landscapes.
• Tower of Buddhist Incense — Climb to this eight-sided pagoda structure on Longevity Hill for panoramic views of the entire palace complex and surrounding gardens.
• Suzhou Street Exploration — Wander through this recreated marketplace street with traditional shops, teahouses, and restaurants built to mimic the famous gardens of Suzhou.
• Seventeen-Arch Bridge Photography — Visit this iconic marble bridge connecting the main island to the eastern shore, a photogenic symbol of Summer Palace featured on countless paintings.
• Garden of Virtue and Harmony Theater — View the restored imperial opera house where Empress Dowager Cixi watched performances, featuring three levels of seating and traditional architecture.

Food to try

• Empress Dowager's Court Cuisine — Sample dishes inspired by royal Qing Dynasty recipes available in palace restaurants, featuring delicate preparations of seasonal vegetables, meats, and traditional sauces.
• Pea Flour Cake (豌豆黄) — Try this classic Beijing imperial dessert made from ground peas, sugar, and lard, traditionally enjoyed by the empress during summer months.
• Longjing Tea Experience — Enjoy premium Dragon Well green tea from nearby Hangzhou served in traditional palace teahouses within the Summer Palace grounds.
• Eight Treasure Duck (八宝鸭) — Order this elaborate Qing Dynasty banquet dish featuring a whole duck stuffed with glutinous rice, chestnuts, mushrooms, and other precious ingredients.
• Candied Hawthorn Stick (冰糖葫芦) — Purchase this beloved Beijing street snack of hawthorn berries coated in hardened sugar syrup on a stick from vendors near the palace entrance.
• Imperial Noodle Soup — Dine on hand-pulled noodles in broth with palace-style toppings available in restaurants along Suzhou Street reflecting historical imperial preferences.

Local customs & good to know

• Timing Your Visit — Arrive early in the morning before 9 AM to avoid crowds, or visit during weekday afternoons, as weekends and holidays draw tens of thousands of tourists.
• Proper Temple Etiquette — When visiting Buddhist temples and shrines within the palace, walk counterclockwise around religious structures and avoid touching ritual objects or pointing at sacred areas.
• Photography Respect — While most areas permit photography, be mindful inside restored halls and temple spaces where flash photography is prohibited to preserve artwork and show respect.
• Historical Context Understanding — Take time to learn about Empress Dowager Cixi's rule and the palace's construction during the Qing Dynasty decline, as many inscriptions and layouts reference this political history.