The short answer on tickets
Summer Palace tickets come in two types. The basic 30 RMB ticket (20 RMB off-season) gets you into the garden grounds - Kunming Lake walk, Long Corridor, 17-Arch Bridge, Marble Boat. The through-ticket 60 RMB (50 RMB off-season) adds the Longevity Hill structures: Tower of Buddhist Incense, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Pai-yun Gate, Suzhou Street. Most international visitors should buy the through-ticket - the structures are the climax of the visit. Buy at the gate ticket window, on the official site, or via your guide / OTA. ID (passport) is asked at the gate but enforced less strictly than at the Forbidden City.
- Drive time from Beijing: Northwest Beijing — about 30–45 minutes from central Beijing (subway or taxi)
- Typical visit style: Booking takes 2-5 min at the window or online
- Difficulty: Easy
- Crowds: Ticket queues at East Gate on summer weekends; usually under 15 min
- Best for: Anyone planning a Summer Palace day; Visitors deciding basic vs through-ticket; Travellers comparing booking channels
- Less ideal for: Travellers with under 90 min on-site - basic ticket may be enough
Approaching the Summer Palace
Ticket types side by side
| Ticket | Peak (Apr-Oct) | Off-season (Nov-Mar) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 30 RMB | 20 RMB | Garden grounds, lake, Long Corridor, 17-Arch Bridge |
| Through-ticket | 60 RMB | 50 RMB | Basic + Tower of Buddhist Incense, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Suzhou Street |
| Student / 6-18 with ID | Half price | Half price | Same scope |
| Under 6 | Free | Free | All structures free |
| Senior 60+ with ID | Half price (foreign passport ok) | Half price | Same scope |
| Boat rental (extra) | 15-25 RMB | Limited winter | Dragon-boat or paddle |
Where to book
Three channels. (1) Official ticket windows at East Gate, Beigongmen, or New Palace Gate - no booking needed for walk-up. (2) Hotel concierge or tour operator (DragonTrail handles booking for guests) - small handling fee, removes the queue. (3) OTAs (Trip.com, Klook) - 40-80 RMB total including service fee. The Summer Palace is one of the few Beijing imperial sites where walk-up still works.
- Walk-up at the gate works (15-min queue typical).
- Hotel / tour operator: handling fee, no queue.
- Trip.com / Klook: 40-80 RMB convenience.
- No 7-day-ahead booking required (unlike FC).
Passport / ID rules
Bring your passport - ID checks at the gate are less strict than at the Forbidden City but still required by policy. The through-ticket is not strictly name-linked, so you can sometimes buy on behalf of a group. Children's passports usually not required for entry. Senior discount (foreign passport showing 60+) is granted at the discretion of the ticket clerk.
- Passport required at gate (policy).
- Enforcement: lighter than FC.
- Not strictly name-linked.
- Senior 60+ discount sometimes granted at clerk discretion.
Add-on: boat rental
Dragon-boat across Kunming Lake (East Gate dock to South Lake Island near 17-Arch Bridge): 15 RMB one-way, 25 RMB return. Paddle / row boat self-drive: 40-60 RMB per hour. Boat ride saves 30-45 minutes walking around the lake and is one of the signature Beijing experiences. Strongly recommended unless time-tight or windy.
- Dragon-boat: 15 RMB one-way / 25 RMB return.
- Self-paddle: 40-60 RMB per hour.
- Saves 30-45 min around the lake.
- Iconic Beijing experience - prioritise.
Add-on: boat rental
Dragon-boat across Kunming Lake (East Gate dock to South Lake Island near 17-Arch Bridge): 15 RMB one-way, 25 RMB return. Paddle / row boat self-drive: 40-60 RMB per hour. Boat ride saves 30-45 minutes walking around the lake and is one of the signature Beijing experiences. Strongly recommended unless time-tight or windy.
- Dragon-boat: 15 RMB one-way / 25 RMB return.
- Self-paddle: 40-60 RMB per hour.
- Saves 30-45 min around the lake.
- Iconic Beijing experience - prioritise.
Common Summer Palace ticket mistakes
Buying basic and trying to climb Longevity Hill
Tower of Buddhist Incense and Hall of Dispelling Clouds require the through-ticket. You'll be turned around at the inner gate.
Forgetting passport
Required by policy. Some travellers slip through but don't count on it.
Buying expensive OTA tickets when walk-up works
Unlike the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace usually has same-day walk-up tickets. Pay 30/60 RMB at the window, not 80-120 RMB on Trip.com.
Skipping the boat
15 RMB. Saves 30-45 min walking and is iconic. Almost always worth it.
Summer Palace tickets FAQ
- Basic ticket: 30 RMB peak season (April-October), 20 RMB off-season (November-March). Through-ticket (recommended): 60 RMB peak, 50 RMB off-season. Half price for students 6-18 and seniors 60+ with ID.
- Through-ticket for first-time visitors or any visit over 90 minutes. Basic only for repeat visits or lake-only walks under 90 minutes.
- Ticket windows at East Gate (main), Beigongmen (north / subway), or New Palace Gate (south). No 7-day-ahead booking required - walk-up usually works.
- Yes, required by policy. Enforcement is lighter than at the Forbidden City but bring your passport to be safe.
- Yes - the lake-side paths and Long Corridor are stroller-friendly. Longevity Hill climbs to Tower of Buddhist Incense are not.
- Yes - 60+ with passport showing age is half price. Granted at clerk discretion for foreign passports.
Book the right ticket and a guide
Our private Summer Palace day includes ticket booking, English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and the boat ride - everything that makes the day flow.
If you want to see the hours and gate options before booking, the opening-hours and entrances pages below cover the practical setup.
