728 metres, 14,000 paintings, world record
The Long Corridor (Changlang) runs 728 metres along the north shore of Kunming Lake at the foot of Longevity Hill - certified by Guinness as the world's longest covered walkway. The roof beams and rafters carry approximately 14,000 painted scenes from Chinese literature, mythology, and landscape painting; no two paintings repeat. Originally built in 1750 by the Qianlong Emperor so that his mother could walk along the lake regardless of weather, destroyed in 1860, rebuilt 1888 by Cixi. The corridor is the natural walking spine of the Summer Palace visit - the east end is by Long Corridor East Pavilion (near East Gate), the west end by Marble Boat (Shifang).
- Drive time from Beijing: n/a - inside the park
- Typical visit style: Full walk: 30-45 min; with painting stops: 60+ min
- Difficulty: Easy - flat, covered, level
- Crowds: Densest midday in summer; quietest 7-9 AM
- Best for: First-time visitors - the unmissable walk; Architecture / painting / literature lovers; Rainy-day visits (covered)
- Less ideal for: Time-poor under-30-min visitors
Long Corridor paintings
Long Corridor at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 728 metres (2,388 feet) |
| Bays | 273 named sections (jian) |
| Paintings | ~14,000 - no two repeat |
| Painting subjects | Chinese literature, mythology, landscapes, Beijing scenes, Cixi-era allegories |
| Pavilions on the corridor | 4 named pavilions (Liu Jia, Pai-yun, Yu Lan, Qiu Shui) |
| Built / rebuilt | 1750 / rebuilt 1888 |
| Roof / walls | Open sides facing the lake, painted ceiling beams above |
| Best photos | Looking down the length from either end; close-ups of ceiling paintings |
Why the Long Corridor matters
Three reasons. (1) Scale: world's longest covered walkway by Guinness record. (2) Cultural density: 14,000 paintings telling stories from Chinese literature - effectively a horizontal mural museum. (3) Function: built so that Qianlong's mother (and later Cixi) could walk along the lake regardless of weather; it remains the natural walking spine and the rainy-day shelter for the entire visit.
- World's longest covered walkway (Guinness).
- 14,000 unique paintings.
- Built for Qianlong's mother's lakeside walks.
- Walking spine + rain shelter.
Reading the paintings
Most paintings fall into four families. (1) Classical Chinese literature - the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh, Romance of West Chamber. (2) Famous landscapes - Hangzhou's West Lake, Suzhou gardens, southern China bridges (the Hangzhou quotation again). (3) Mythology - eight immortals, Buddhist legends, Daoist tales. (4) Cixi-era flora - peonies, plum blossoms, orchids in the Cixi rebuild sections (1888+). A guide or audio guide can identify specific paintings; without it, walk slowly and let the density wash over you.
- Classical Chinese literature scenes.
- Famous landscapes (Hangzhou, Suzhou).
- Mythology and immortals.
- Cixi-era floral motifs.
- Guide or audio guide identifies specifics.
Four pavilions on the corridor
The corridor is divided by four named pavilions at intervals: Liu Jia (east), Pai-yun (mid-east, opposite Pai-yun Gate climb to Longevity Hill), Yu Lan (mid-west), Qiu Shui (west, near Marble Boat). Each pavilion has its own ceiling paintings, often with seasonal themes - Liu Jia for spring, Pai-yun for summer, Yu Lan for autumn, Qiu Shui for winter. Pavilions also serve as rest stops with stone benches.
- Four pavilions: Liu Jia, Pai-yun, Yu Lan, Qiu Shui.
- Each has seasonal painting themes.
- Spring / summer / autumn / winter.
- Stone benches for rest stops.
- Pai-yun pavilion = pivot to Longevity Hill climb.
Walking pace and photo strategy
Walk 30-45 minutes east-to-west (or reverse) at a steady pace, pausing at the four pavilions and at any painting that catches your eye. Photo strategy: (1) look down the length from either end for the infinite-corridor shot, (2) close up of ceiling paintings (slow shutter or stabiliser - low light under the roof), (3) lake-side view through the open columns (paintings overhead + lake below + Longevity Hill above). The midday sun shaft through the columns is the photographer's golden moment.
- 30-45 min east-to-west.
- Look-down-length shot from either end.
- Close-up ceiling paintings (low light).
- Lake + paintings + hill triple framing.
- Midday sun shaft is photo gold.
Common Long Corridor mistakes
Walking through in 5 minutes
It's 728m of painted ceiling. 30-45 min is the right pace; 60+ if you read paintings.
Missing the four pavilions
They're the natural rest stops and have the best seasonal paintings.
Photographing only the lake
The paintings overhead are the cultural climax - look up.
Skipping it because 'it's just a walkway'
World record + 14,000 paintings + Qing-era mother's walk. Not 'just a walkway'.
Long Corridor FAQ
- 728 metres - certified by Guinness as the world's longest covered walkway.
- Approximately 14,000 - no two repeat. Subjects: Chinese literature, mythology, landscapes, Cixi-era flora.
- Qianlong Emperor built it in 1750 so that his mother could walk along Kunming Lake regardless of weather. Rebuilt by Cixi in 1888 after the 1860 destruction.
- 30-45 minutes east-to-west steady pace. 60+ minutes if you pause to read paintings.
- Yes - stone benches at each of the four named pavilions (Liu Jia, Pai-yun, Yu Lan, Qiu Shui).
- Yes - the roof shelters the walkway. The Long Corridor is the natural Summer Palace rainy-day visit option.
Walk the corridor with a guide
Our private SP day pairs the Long Corridor walk with painting identification - your guide names the literature, mythology, and Cixi-era scenes as you walk.
If rain is forecast, the corridor + Longevity Hill alone makes a covered half-day visit; see the rainy-day page.