Beijing Summer Palace Tour Guide: The Best 4-Hour Route

The Summer Palace is China’s largest and best-preserved imperial garden, boasting vast grounds and numerous attractions. For many first-time visitors, entering unprepared often leads to wasted time and unnecessary detours.

Today, I’ll share an efficient route that avoids strenuous walking and climbing. In just 3-4 hours, you’ll experience the core beauty of the Summer Palace, plus discover free stamp collection spots.

Easy Access: Transportation Guide

To avoid traffic jams and expensive parking fees, taking the subway to the Summer Palace is the best option. Choose your subway station based on your preferred route:

• East Palace Gate (Classic Entrance): Take Metro Line 4 to Xiyuan Station, Exit F. This entrance features the “Summer Palace” plaque personally inscribed by Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty.
• North Palace Gate (This Guide’s Starting Point): Take Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen Station, Exit D. This is the most convenient starting point for your tour.
• Other Entrances: Alternatives include Xinjian Palace Gate, West Gate, and South Ruyi Gate. Access these via bus or the West Suburban Line based on your location.

Pre-Visit Preparations: Baggage Storage & Tickets

• Baggage Storage: If traveling with luggage, store it at the nearby storage point near Exit C of Beigongmen Station (approx. 200m) or at shops near Exit C1 of Xiyuan Station.
• Ticket Purchase: You only need to buy a 20 RMB general admission ticket for the Summer Palace. On this itinerary, only the Buddha’s Fragrance Pavilion requires an additional 10 RMB ticket (optional).

Essential Route: Explore Core Attractions in 4 Hours

This well-designed route avoids backtracking and is especially suitable for families with elderly members or children.

• Tour Route: North Ruyi Gate→Bin Feng Bridge→Painting in the Garden→Buddha’s Fragrance Pavilion
  →Long Corridor→Zhi Chun Pavilion→Seventeen-Arch Bridge→Hall of Emptiness→Newly Built Palace Gate
• Bin Feng Bridge: Enter via the North Ruyi Gate and walk about 10 minutes to reach it. The bridge is especially picturesque when bathed in early morning sunlight, making it a popular spot for sunrise photography.
• Painting in the Garden: This area embodies the scenery from Emperor Qianlong’s dreams, offering a new vista at every step—perfect for photography. Visit early morning when crowds are lighter for uninterrupted shots. Note the park closes at 5 PM.
• Fragrant Buddha Pavilion: From the northwest corridor, you’ll find an ideal vantage point capturing the pavilion’s full grandeur and layered architecture.
• Zhi Chun Pavilion: Shooting from the pavilion’s side captures both the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake and the majestic Buddha Incense Pavilion in one frame—a stunning composition.
• Seventeen-Arch Bridge: This iconic bridge is renowned for its winter solstice spectacle. Around the solstice, sunset rays illuminate all seventeen arches, creating the breathtaking “Golden Light Piercing the Arches” phenomenon. The bridge is adorned with numerous charmingly carved lion statues.
• Hall of Emptiness: Crossing the Seventeen-Arch Bridge leads you to South Lake Island. Here, you not only have the chance to capture the “Golden Light Piercing the Arches,” but can also find a unique vantage point on the rockeries near the Hall of Emptiness that faces directly toward the Fragrant Buddha Pavilion.

Free Stamp Collection: Preserve Your Summer Palace Memories

Several locations within the Summer Palace offer complimentary stamps, adding a fun collecting element to your visit:

• “Beijing Gifts ” Shop near the East Palace Gate: Features 3 large decorative stamps and 5 passport-style stamps.
• Cultural and Creative Store beside the Hall of Benevolent Longevity: Offers 1 large stamp of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
• The tour guide kiosk at North Palace Gate: One passport stamp.
• Chenghuai Pavilion Tea House: The most stamps—17 in total! Enjoy tea while collecting them at leisure.
• Yanqing Pavilion: Here you’ll find 10 passport stamps and 5 shop stamps—a very rewarding haul.

Additionally, Xijiujian, Shui Xuetang, and Yanshangzhai each hold 1-3 different stamps waiting for you to discover.

I hope this guide helps you effortlessly navigate the Summer Palace, allowing you to admire the most beautiful scenery, capture stunning photos, and create unique travel memories through stamp collecting.