The 2.2 km^2 heart of the Summer Palace
Kunming Lake covers approximately 75% of the Summer Palace - 2.2 km^2 of water with three named islands and three causeways. Originally a smaller natural lake called West Lake, it was deliberately expanded under the Qianlong Emperor in 1750 by dredging and the resulting earth was used to build up Longevity Hill on the north shore. The shape and feel of the lake explicitly echo Hangzhou's West Lake (Xihu) - including a West Causeway with six bridges, a direct cultural quotation from the southern landscape Qianlong loved. South Lake Island sits in the south-east, connected to the East Causeway by the 17-Arch Bridge.
- Drive time from Beijing: n/a - inside the park
- Typical visit style: Standard walk on east shore: 30-45 min; full lake loop: 2+ hr (most take boat)
- Difficulty: Flat - lakeside paths
- Crowds: East shore + Long Corridor crowded midday; West Causeway quiet
- Best for: Visitors curious about the lake's design; Photographers chasing lake views; Garden / aesthetic-curious visitors
- Less ideal for: Time-poor visitors with under 90 min - lake walk takes time
Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill
Kunming Lake at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | ~2.2 km^2 / 220 hectares |
| Share of Summer Palace | ~75% of the 290-hectare site |
| Origin | Natural West Lake, expanded by Qianlong in 1750 |
| Earth from dredging | Used to build Longevity Hill on the north shore |
| Islands | South Lake Island (largest), Phoenix Pier Island, Mirror Pavilion Island |
| Causeways | West Causeway (6 bridges, echoes Hangzhou), East Causeway, North Causeway |
| Famous bridge | 17-Arch Bridge - 150m, connects East Causeway to South Lake Island |
| Boat options | Dragon-boat, self-paddle, pedal boat (April-October) |
| Winter | Lake freezes January-February; skating sometimes available |
Why the lake matters
Three reasons. (1) Scale: 75% of the site is water - the lake is the defining landscape feature. (2) Cultural quotation: Qianlong explicitly designed it to echo Hangzhou's West Lake, including the West Causeway with six bridges mirroring Hangzhou's. (3) Engineering: the lake was expanded artificially in 1750; the earth was used to build Longevity Hill. The lake and hill form a single engineered landscape.
- 75% of site by area.
- Echoes Hangzhou's West Lake.
- Earth from dredging built Longevity Hill.
- Lake + hill = single engineered landscape.
Three causeways
Three named causeways cross or border Kunming Lake. (1) West Causeway with six bridges - the deliberate cultural quotation of Hangzhou's Su Causeway. Quietest of the three; great for a peaceful walk on a 4-5 hour deep visit. (2) East Causeway - the main visitor route from East Gate area to South Lake Island via the 17-Arch Bridge. (3) North Causeway - a short link on the north shore, near Long Corridor. Most visitors walk the East Causeway only; the West Causeway is for depth visits.
- West Causeway: Hangzhou quotation, quiet.
- East Causeway: main visitor route + 17-Arch Bridge.
- North Causeway: short link by Long Corridor.
- Standard route: East only.
- Deep route: West + East.
South Lake Island + 17-Arch Bridge
South Lake Island is the largest island, in the south-east of the lake, connected to the East Causeway by the 150m 17-Arch Bridge. The island holds the Temple of the Dragon King (Longwang Miao), small pavilions, and stone lions on the bridge. Many dragon-boat passengers disembark here; from the island you get the lake-level view of Longevity Hill across the water - a different angle from the Long Corridor view.
- South-east of lake, largest island.
- 150m 17-Arch Bridge from East Causeway.
- Temple of the Dragon King.
- Stone lions on the bridge.
- Best lake-level Longevity Hill angle.
Winter lake
January-February the lake freezes solid; in cold winters, the Summer Palace opens parts of the ice for traditional skating (10-15 RMB skate rental). Ice-skating sledges on the East Causeway are a Qing-era throwback. Check on the day - some winters the ice isn't thick enough or weather closes the activity. Photography-wise the frozen lake against Longevity Hill in winter sun is one of the best off-season Beijing photos.
- January-February freezes.
- Ice-skating + sledges (Qing throwback).
- 10-15 RMB skate rental.
- Check on the day for availability.
- Iconic winter photo opportunity.
Common Kunming Lake mistakes
Trying to walk the full lake loop
Circumference is 7-8 km. Standard visit uses East Causeway only; deep visit adds West Causeway loop.
Skipping the boat
The lake is meant to be experienced from the water, not just the shore. Take the dragon-boat.
Visiting on a still hot summer afternoon
No shade on the lake walks. Morning or 3-5 PM is better.
Missing the West Causeway
Quietest and most culturally rich part of the lake (Hangzhou quotation). Worth a detour on 4-5 hr deep visits.
Kunming Lake FAQ
- 2.2 km^2 (220 hectares), about 75% of the Summer Palace's 290-hectare area.
- Originally a smaller natural lake (West Lake), expanded by the Qianlong Emperor in 1750 by dredging. The earth from dredging built up Longevity Hill.
- A 150m stone bridge connecting the East Causeway to South Lake Island - the largest island in Kunming Lake. Famous photo spot.
- Yes - circumference is 7-8 km. Standard visits only walk a small section; full loop takes 2+ hours.
- Qianlong loved southern Chinese gardens and explicitly designed the West Causeway with six bridges to mirror Hangzhou's Su Causeway.
- Yes - in cold winters January-February, the lake freezes and the park opens ice-skating with skate rentals 10-15 RMB. Subject to ice conditions.
Walk the lake with a guide
Our private SP day pairs the East Causeway and 17-Arch Bridge walk with the dragon-boat ride - you experience the lake from both sides.
For depth lovers, the half-day deep route adds the West Causeway loop (the Hangzhou quotation).