How to Book Tickets to the Summer Palace in Beijing: 2026 Guide CHINAHORA

As China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden, Beijing's Summer Palace attracts visitors from around the world with its "Three Hills and Five Gardens" layout and profound cultural heritage. Whether strolling along Kunming Lake or admiring the views from atop the Buddhist Incense Tower, mastering the tricks for buying tickets will significantly enhance your experience. This practical guide, from shopping channels to secret activities, will help you easily plan your visit.

Part 1: Why is the Summer Palace worth visiting?

As one of Beijing's most representative cultural heritage sites, the Summer Palace is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also the pinnacle of classical Chinese garden art. Its essential value is reflected in three aspects:

1. The synthesis of the imperial gardens

Spanning 290 hectares, the Summer Palace centers on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, combining the elegance of southern Chinese gardens with the grandeur of northern imperial gardens. Its design draws inspiration from famous southern landscapes such as Hangzhou's West Lake and Wuxi's Jichang Garden, ingeniously utilizing the technique of "borrowing the landscape" to incorporate the Western Hills and Yuquan Mountain, creating a "man-made yet natural" atmosphere.

2. Living testimony of history

Originally built in 1750, the Summer Palace survived destruction by Anglo-French forces and was rebuilt with funds diverted from the navy by Empress Dowager Cixi, serving as a microcosm of the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. Sites such as the Deheyuan Grand Theatre and the Hall of Joy and Longevity (where Emperor Guangxu was confined) record political events such as Cixi's rule and the Hundred Days' Reform. Its name, "Yiheyuan" (Garden of Preserved Harmony), symbolizes "living peacefully into old age," but also conceals power struggles and imperial decline, giving the garden a profound historical dimension.

3. A dual feast of culture and nature

Kunming Lake occupies three-quarters of the total area. The "Golden Light Passing Through the Bridge" phenomenon on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Nanhu Island symbolizing the Three Mountains of the Eastern Immortals, and the six bridges of the West Embankment with their South China style create a poetic landscape. The palace also houses treasures such as cloisonné and sandalwood carvings, which showcase the pinnacle of Qing craftsmanship. Each season offers unique views: magnolias in spring, boat rides in summer, red leaves in autumn, and the snow-covered veranda in winter, satisfying visitors' desire for nature and culture.

Part 2: Complete process for purchasing Summer Palace tickets

Option 1: Book tickets on Changyou Gongyuan website (you need a Chinese phone number)

Step 1:: Visit the website Changyou Gongyuan (not the official Summer Palace tour, but it includes all the attractions in Beijing, for example) Heaven Temple), and click “English” in the top right corner to switch to English.

Step 2:: Log in to the website with a Chinese phone number.

Step 3:: Select the “Summer Palace” to make your reservation. You can also book tickets for other Beijing attractions here.

Step 4:: Select the date, ticket type, and period for your visit to the Summer Palace.

Step 5:: Fill in the information to make the purchase

Name: Must match passport (in capital letters, for example, JOHN SMITH).
Telephone: +86 followed by a Chinese number, or buy a local SIM card.
Passport number: Add the country code before the number (for example, USA123456789).
Date of birth

Payment methods:

International cards (Visa/Mastercard) with a 3% commission.
We recommend using Alipay Tour Pass (temporary account that accepts foreign cards).

Ticket collection:

Print the ticket from the vending machines at the south gate with your passport and reservation number.
Or show the QR code on the e-ticket to scan directly.

Option 2: Purchase tickets via WeChat (you need a WeChat account)

Step 1:: Search for the official account “Yiheyuan” on WeChat.

Step 2:: Fill in your passport number and then select the type of tickets.

Ticket Type:

Admission ticket: Admission ticket only.
Combined ticket: Includes admission ticket, Buddhist Incense Tower, Deheyuan, Suzhou Street and Summer Palace Museum.

Step 3:: Make payment on Wechat