• Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Summer Palace with our four customized one-day tours, each designed to suit your preferences for time, comfort, and depth of exploration.

Package 1: 2-Hour Guided Tour (Self-Meetup)
Ideal for those with limited time: meet your guide at the Summer Palace East Gate (self-transport), and discover iconic sites with imperial tales.

Package 2: 4-Hour Budget Tour (Subway Transfer)
A cost-effective option: includes subway transfers from downtown Beijing hotels. Enjoy a relaxed exploration of key attractions at a low cost.

Package 3: 4-Hour Comfort Tour (Private Car Transfer)
A stress-free experience: private car transfers from Beijing hotels (taxis near the Summer Palace can be difficult to find). Enjoy a relaxed exploration with a guide.

Package 4: 6-Hour In-Depth Tour (Car + Guide + Museums)
A premium deep dive: hotel pickup by guide and driver. Explore gardens, scenic spots, and on-site museums to uncover rich heritage stories.

• Hall of Benevolence and Longevity - Begin your Summer Palace adventure by meeting your guide. Once together, your journey into the charm and history of this imperial garden begins, starting at the East Gate.

Here, your guide will gather you by a map to provide a detailed overview of the Summer Palace: its imperial origins, its role in Qing Dynasty life, and the thoughtful architectural layout that makes it a masterpiece of classical Chinese gardening. This introduction sets the stage for what’s to come, helping you appreciate the grandeur of the space before you begin exploring. Your first stop is the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity—the former main administrative hall of the Summer Palace, where Qing emperors once held court and received officials. Your guide will walk you through its imperial decor, explain its role in state affairs, and share stories of how rulers like Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi used this space to manage court business.

• Hall of Happiness and Longevity - Next, proceed to Magnolia Hall, a serene courtyard-style building once used as a retreat by Emperor Guangxu. Named for the magnolia trees that bloom here in spring, this hall holds poignant historical ties—your guide will recount how it became a de facto place of confinement for Guangxu after the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform, painting a vivid picture of his later years. From there, head to the Hall of Joyful Longevity, Empress Dowager Cixi’s primary residence in the Summer Palace. Adorned with luxurious furnishings and surrounded by a lush garden, this hall offers a glimpse into Cixi’s daily life; your guide will share anecdotes about her routines, her love for the garden, and how she exerted influence over the Qing court from this tranquil space.
• Long Corridor at the Summer Palace - After exploring these three key halls, stroll along the Long Corridor, the longest covered walkway in the world at over 728 meters with 273 bays. Its ceiling is adorned with more than 14,000 colorful paintings—depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, history, and literature—and as you walk, your guide will highlight notable artworks, sharing the folk tales and historical events behind them, turning a simple stroll into an engaging lesson in art and lore.
• Tower of Buddhist Incense (Summer Palace) - Upon reaching the Summer Palace’s Central Axis—the core of the garden’s layout, designed to emphasize imperial grandeur—ascend to the Tower of Buddhist Incense. Perched atop Longevity Hill, this towering structure is the garden’s visual and spiritual center; inside, simple yet insightful exhibitions showcase cultural relics like ancient Buddhist statues and architectural models, while from its upper levels, enjoy sweeping views of Kunming Lake, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and the surrounding gardens—your guide will point out these landmarks and explain how they fit into the axis’s symmetrical design.
• Kunming Lake - Return to the Central Axis and continue along the Long Corridor until reaching its western end: the Marble Boat. This unique stone vessel, with its Western-style hull and Chinese-style roof, stands out amid the garden’s traditional architecture. Your guide will reveal the story behind its construction—commissioned by Empress Dowager Cixi using funds originally earmarked for the imperial navy—and explain its symbolic meaning as a “permanent ship” representing the Qing Dynasty’s desire for stability, wrapping up this part of your tour with a thought-provoking historical insight.

During the tour, you will not feel rushed. Once the tour concludes near the Marble Boat, you can continue to explore more of the Summer Palace gardens or your guide will provide suggestions on how to reach your next destinations. (If you choose the tour with transfer, your driver will take you back to your hotel or next location.)

• 十七孔桥 - If you’ve opted for the 6-hour in-depth tour, the adventure doesn’t stop there. Beyond the above highlights, explore additional sites to delve deeper into the Summer Palace’s legacy: first, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, an imperial garden within the larger complex that’s home to one of China’s largest ancient opera houses. This grand theater, with three tiers and intricate stage machinery, was built for Cixi’s birthday celebrations—your guide will explain its unique acoustic design (which allows performances to be heard clearly without amplification), its elaborate backdrops, and how it hosted lavish operas that entertained the imperial court.
• Suzhou Market Street - Then, depending on your interests, either wander Suzhou Street—a recreated Qing-era commercial street along Kunming Lake’s northern bank, lined with traditional shops that mimic the style of Suzhou’s water towns, offering a glimpse into the daily commerce of the imperial era—or visit the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, which spans the eastern end of Kunming Lake. With 17 arches, this bridge is a masterpiece of classical Chinese bridge design; your guide will share stories of its construction and how it was used by the imperial family to cross to Nanhu Island. In either case, your guide will connect these spots to late Qing history, weaving in tales of Cixi’s extravagances, Guangxu’s struggles, and the broader political and cultural shifts of the time, ensuring that by the end of your tour, you’ve not just visited a garden, but uncovered the rich, often untold stories that make the Summer Palace a true treasure of Chinese heritage.

• Professional guide
• Entrance fee

• Additional entrance fees inside the Summer Palace to the museums
• Gratuities
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

As one of China’s most renowned gardens, the Summer Palace offers a private guided tour led by a professional English-speaking guide, providing an in-depth exploration. Without a guide, visitors might only scratch the surface of the garden’s beauty, missing the rich stories of significant historical figures that a guide can reveal. During the tour, participants will visit the garden’s major buildings, learn about ancient gardening techniques, hear the historical context of this magnificent garden, and uncover the legendary tale of Empress Dowager Cixi, who wielded power for 48 years.

A variety of package options are available: visitors can meet at the Summer Palace independently, choose a service with private car transfers, or select the 6-hour in-depth tour package, all designed to meet different exploration preferences for the Summer Palace.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.