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Quick Answer
- Use the North Gate (北宫门): Most tour groups enter through the East Gate. The North Gate has far fewer people and puts you near the less crowded back-hill area first.
- Arrive before 8am or after 3pm: Between 10am and 3pm, the Long Corridor and Foxiang Pavilion are packed. Early morning gives you near-empty views. Late afternoon gives you golden light on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
- Don't buy the combination ticket: The full combo ticket costs 60 RMB in peak season, but most visitors don't have time to visit all the garden-within-garden sites. Buy the base ticket (30 RMB) and add Foxiang Pavilion (10 RMB) separately if you want it.
- Skip the East Gate entrance: The East Gate is the main entrance, which means it's where all the tour buses drop people off. The queue to get in can take 20 minutes during peak hours.
- Plan for 3–4 hours for the essential route: You can see the core sights – Long Corridor, Foxiang Pavilion, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Kunming Lake – in about three hours if you follow a smart route. Five to six hours if you want depth.
- Bring your passport: Foreign visitors need to show their passport to enter. You can buy tickets online through the official WeChat mini-program or at the gate.
Most visitors combine the Summer Palace with other imperial landmarks in Beijing to build a complete one-day cultural itinerary.
Which Gate Should You Use? The Answer Depends on One Thing
The single most important decision you'll make at the Summer Palace is which gate to enter. It determines whether you spend your first hour in a crowd or walking through near-empty gardens.
| Gate | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| North Gate (北宫门) | Most visitors, quiet entry, subway access | You start at the back, so you see Suzhou Street first (less impressive than the main lake view) |
| East Gate (东宫门) | Quick access to main halls (Renshou Hall, Leshou Hall) | Heaviest crowds, tour groups start here. 10:00am-3:00pm is a bottleneck |
| New Gate (新建宫门) | Direct access to Seventeen Arch Bridge and Kunming Lake | Fewer food options nearby. You walk toward the main area, not away from it |
| West Gate (西门) | Local visitors, spring peach blossom walk on West Dike | Farther from subway. Best for repeat visitors or specific seasonal visits |
The East Gate (东宫门) is the main entrance. It's the most convenient by subway (Line 4, Xiyuan Station, 8-minute walk). It's also where every tour bus stops. Between 9am and 11am, the queue at the East Gate can stretch 50 meters. Inside, the first courtyard – Renshou Hall – is packed with people taking photos of the bronze dragon and phoenix. The experience feels rushed and noisy.
The North Gate (北宫门) is the smarter choice for most visitors. It's also on Line 4 (Beigongmen Station, Exit D, 5-minute walk). The queue is shorter. Once inside, you enter the back-hill area, which is quieter and less crowded. You'll see the Suzhou Street (苏州街) replica water town first, then walk up through the Four Great Regions (四大部洲) – a Tibetan-style Buddhist complex that most tour groups skip entirely. By the time you reach Foxiang Pavilion, you've already seen the most interesting part of the garden without fighting through crowds.
The New Gate (新建宫门) is a good option if you want to start at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and Kunming Lake. It's less crowded than the East Gate but more crowded than the North Gate. The walk from the subway is longer – about 15 minutes from Xiyuan Station.
The West Gate (西门) is the quietest option. It's accessible via the Xijiao Line (a tram that runs from Bagou Station). This gate puts you near the West Dike (西堤), which is beautiful in spring when the peach blossoms bloom, but it's a long walk to the main sights. Use this gate only if you have 5+ hours and want a peaceful start.
Decision: Which Gate Is Right for You?
- If avoiding crowds is your priority → North Gate, arrive before 8am
- If you want the shortest walk from subway → East Gate, but arrive before 8am
- If you're here for photography → New Gate, arrive at 3pm for golden hour
- If you have 5+ hours and want a peaceful start → West Gate
The Three Best Routes – Pick One Based on Your Time
Route A: The 3-Hour Essential Route (North Gate In, New Gate Out)
This is the route I recommend for most first-time visitors. It covers the core sights, avoids the worst crowds, and doesn't require backtracking.
Start at the North Gate. Walk through the Suzhou Street area (you can see it from the bridge without buying a separate ticket). Then climb the stairs through the Four Great Regions – the Tibetan-style stupas and red walls are striking in the morning light.
Continue to Foxiang Pavilion (佛香阁). This is the highest point in the garden. The climb is about 10 minutes of stairs. At the top, you get a 360-degree view of Kunming Lake, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and the Western Hills. On a clear day, you can see the Central Television Tower in the distance. The pavilion itself houses a 1,000-arm Guanyin statue from the Ming dynasty.
Walk down through the Long Corridor (长廊). At 728 meters, it's the longest painted corridor in the world. The 14,000+ paintings on the beams tell stories from Chinese mythology, the Three Kingdoms, and Journey to the West. Walk slowly – the details are worth it. The corridor also provides shade on hot days and shelter from wind in winter.
End at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge (十七孔桥). Walk across the bridge to South Lake Island (南湖岛) for the best view of Foxiang Pavilion reflected in the water. If it's late afternoon, you might catch the "golden light through the arches" phenomenon – the sun aligns perfectly with the bridge arches around the winter solstice, but even in other seasons, the late afternoon light is beautiful.
Exit through the New Gate. From South Lake Island, walk back across the bridge and exit through the New Gate. The walk to Xiyuan Station is about 12 minutes.
Total walking distance: About 4 km. Time: 3 hours at a comfortable pace.
Route B: The Historical Depth Route (East Gate In, North Gate Out)
This route is for visitors who want to understand the political history of the garden. It starts at the East Gate and focuses on the imperial living quarters.
Start at the East Gate. Walk straight to Renshou Hall (仁寿殿) – the throne hall where Empress Dowager Cixi conducted state affairs. Notice the bronze phoenix placed in the center and the dragon off to the side. This was Cixi's way of signaling who really held power.
Walk to Yulan Hall (玉澜堂). This was Emperor Guangxu's residence. After the failed Hundred Days' Reform in 1898, Cixi had Guangxu imprisoned here. You can still see the brick walls that were built to seal off the passageways – a physical reminder of his captivity.
Continue to Leshou Hall (乐寿堂). This was Cixi's personal residence. The courtyard has a famous rock called the "Family-Breaking Stone" (败家石) – a massive piece of Taihu limestone that was so expensive to transport that it supposedly bankrupted the Ming official who first tried to move it. Inside, you can see the original furnishings: the throne, the screens, the Western-style electric lamps that Cixi had installed.
Walk through the Long Corridor to Foxiang Pavilion. Same as Route A, but you'll approach from the east side.
End at the North Gate. After Foxiang Pavilion, walk down through the Four Great Regions and exit through the North Gate.
Total walking distance: About 5 km. Time: 4–5 hours.
Route C: The Photography Route (New Gate In, New Gate Out)
This route is optimized for light and composition. Start in the late afternoon.
Start at the New Gate at 3pm. Walk straight to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The light at this hour is warm and golden. Walk across the bridge to South Lake Island for the classic shot of Foxiang Pavilion with the bridge in the foreground.
Take the boat to the Stone Boat (石舫). The boat ride takes about 15 minutes and gives you a different perspective on the garden. From the water, you can see the entire hillside – the pavilions, the corridor, the temple roofs stacked one above the other.
Walk back along the Long Corridor. By now, the light is filtering through the corridor's lattice work, creating patterns on the painted beams.
Return to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge for sunset. The bridge is most photogenic in the last 30 minutes before sunset. The stone lions along the railing cast long shadows, and the water turns orange.
Exit through the New Gate.
Total walking distance: About 3 km. Time: 3 hours.
Entrance choice matters as much as timing, similar to other major attractions like the Badaling Great Wall.
The Ticket Trap – Why You Should Skip the Combo Ticket
The Summer Palace offers two ticket types:
- Base ticket: 30 RMB (peak season) / 20 RMB (off-peak)
- Combo ticket: 60 RMB (peak) / 50 RMB (off-peak) – includes Foxiang Pavilion, Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden, and the museum
The combo ticket sounds like a better deal, but here's the reality: most visitors don't have time to visit all four included sites. Suzhou Street is a reconstructed shopping street that takes 15 minutes to walk through. Dehe Garden is the opera house – interesting if you're a history buff, but most people skip it. The museum is small.
The only site worth the extra money is Foxiang Pavilion (10 RMB separately). Buy the base ticket, then decide at the gate whether you want to add Foxiang Pavilion. You can buy a separate ticket at the pavilion entrance.
One exception: If you're a history enthusiast planning a 5+ hour visit, the combo ticket makes sense. Otherwise, save the 30 RMB.
What Most Guides Don't Tell You – The Local Truths
The West Dike is where locals go. On weekends, Beijing residents with annual park passes head to the West Dike (西堤) – the willow-lined causeway on the west side of Kunming Lake. It's quieter, less crowded, and has the best views of the main garden from across the water. The downside: it's a 2 km walk from the main sights. If you have time, walk the West Dike in the morning, then take the boat across to the East Gate area.
The back hill is better than the front hill. Most visitors rush to Foxiang Pavilion and the Long Corridor. But the back hill (后山) – the area between the North Gate and the summit – has the most interesting architecture. The Four Great Regions complex is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery that feels completely different from the rest of the garden. The Suzhou Street area, even if you don't go inside, is a peaceful spot with water and willow trees.
The garden closes earlier than you think. The park itself closes at 8pm in summer and 7pm in winter. But the garden-within-garden sites (Foxiang Pavilion, Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden) close at 5:30pm in summer and 4:30pm in winter. If you arrive at 3pm planning to see everything, you'll be rushed. Plan your route so you visit the paid sites first, then spend the remaining time walking the grounds.
There's no public charging station. The Summer Palace has no public power banks or charging stations. Bring a fully charged phone and a portable charger. You'll need the map app and camera.
The food inside is expensive and mediocre. A bottle of water costs 10 RMB inside (3 RMB outside). A simple noodle bowl is 40–50 RMB. Bring your own snacks and water. If you want a proper meal, eat at the restaurants near the North Gate subway station – there's a KFC and several local noodle shops.
FAQ: Visiting the Summer Palace
What is the best route for a first-time visit?
The 3-hour essential route starting from the North Gate. It covers the Four Great Regions, Foxiang Pavilion, the Long Corridor, and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge without backtracking.
Which entrance should I use to avoid crowds?
The North Gate. It has fewer tour groups and puts you in the quieter back-hill area first. The West Gate is even quieter but requires a longer walk to the main sights.
How much time do I need?
Three hours for the essential sights. Five hours if you want to include the West Dike, Suzhou Street, and Dehe Garden.
What is the best time of day?
Before 8am or after 3pm. The crowd drops significantly, and the light is better for photography.
Do I need to buy the combination ticket?
No. Buy the base ticket (30 RMB) and add Foxiang Pavilion (10 RMB) separately if you want to go inside.
How do I get there by subway?
Take Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (Exit D) for the North Gate, or Xiyuan Station for the East Gate.
What are the must-see sights?
Foxiang Pavilion for the view, the Long Corridor for the paintings, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge for the architecture, and the Four Great Regions for the Tibetan-style complex.
Is the Summer Palace open on Mondays?
The park itself is open every day. But the garden-within-garden sites (Foxiang Pavilion, Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden) are closed on Mondays except during public holidays. Plan your visit accordingly.
For a well-optimized Beijing itinerary, route planning across multiple attractions becomes especially important when using Beijing hutong walking routes as part of your daily schedule.
For a complete set of Beijing travel resources, head to the Beijing travel guide hub.
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