How to get to the Summer Palace: metro, gates and route

You don’t need to book the Summer Palace, and it is easy to get there once you know which station and gate to use. Below: the journey, the gates, and buying your ticket on arrival. For a full comparison of the two tickets, see Summer Palace tickets.

By metro

Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen station, then about 7 minutes on foot to the North Palace Gate.

Which gate?

The main gates are the East Palace Gate, the North Palace Gate and the New Palace Gate. The metro brings you to the North Palace Gate; you can walk through the palace and leave by another gate. Check which one suits your next stop.

Buying your ticket at the gate

1. Foreign visitors can usually buy tickets at the entrance with their passport; booking in advance is not required.
2. Entrance ticket: 30 CNY from April to October and 20 CNY from November to March. It covers the grounds, Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
3. Through ticket: 60 CNY from April to October and 50 CNY from November to March. It adds the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony (Dehe Garden) and the museum.
4. Boat rides on Kunming Lake are not included in the entrance ticket.

Opening hours and Mondays

• 6:00–20:00 from April to October (last entry 19:00) and 6:30–19:00 from November to March (last entry 18:00).
• The park is open every day, but some sites inside close on Mondays.
• Plan 2–3 hours.

Best season

The best seasons are spring (late March to May) and autumn (September to October); winter is quieter.

Rather go with a guide?

A guided Summer Palace tour with transport keeps the day simple, especially if you combine it with other sights. See also our Beijing tours.

Planning another park? Read Temple of Heaven: tickets and the best time to go.

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