How To Reach Summer Palace (Beijing) In 2026 - 2027

Cultural heritage site

Travel Guide to Summer Palace, Beijing, China

Overview

The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. It is located in the Haidian District, Beijing, about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from central Beijing.

Directions to Summer Palace

There are several convenient ways to reach the Summer Palace:

By Subway

The simplest way is to take the Beijing Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station. After exiting the station through Exit D, it's a short walk to the North Gate of the Summer Palace. Alternatively, you can take Subway Line 4 to Xiyuan Station, exiting from Exit C2, and walking to the East Palace Gate.

By Bus

There are several buses that stop near the Summer Palace gates. The following buses can be used to reach the North Gate: 303, 330, 331, 346, 508, 579, 584, 601, 608, 696, 718, and 982. For the East Gate, you can take bus numbers 332, 634, 664, 683, 690, 696, 697, 714, and 718.

By Taxi

Taxis are a convenient, albeit more expensive, method of reaching the Summer Palace. Simply provide the driver with the name of the destination in Mandarin, "Yiheyuan", and they will take you to the nearest gate.

Opening Hours and Ticket Price

The Summer Palace is typically open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the low season and 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM in the high season. The entrance fee varies from 20 to 30 CNY for the low season and 30 to 50 CNY for the high season, with additional costs for entrance to specific sites within the Palace such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense or the Dehe Garden.