The Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is under water. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural relics, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750. It was razed to the ground by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. The Government of the Qing Dynasty started to rebuild it in 1886 with funds that it had misappropriated from the Imperial Navy and other sources. Renamed two years later as Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony, it was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Known also as the Summer Palace, it was ravaged by the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers that invaded China in 1900. The damage was repairedin 1902. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Summer Palace has undergone several major renovations. Its major attractions such as the Four Great Regions, Suzhou Street, the Pavilion of Bright Scenery, the Hall of Serenity, the Wenchang Galleries and the Plowing and Weaving Scenery Area have been successively restored.

Bus: 331,346,394,469,704,718,732,737,808,817
Opening Hours: from April 1 to October 31:   6:30-18:00
                       from November 1 to March 31:  7:00-17:00

There are over 40 shops scattered in the Palace, mainly at the East Entrance Gate, Zhichun Pavilion, the Long Corridor and the Marble Boat where unique handicraft articles, food, drinks and photographic service for persons wearing court costume are available. The handicraft articles on sale at the shops at Zhichun Pavilion, Wenchang Pavilion and Dehe Garden have the strong features of the Summer Palace. Restaurants and food stores are located at the Marble Boat, Suzhou Street and Dehe Garden. You are welcome to the Summer Palace.
 Working hours: 08:30 - 16:30 (winter time)
                         08:30 - 17:30 (summer time)

1. Question: Excuse me. May I ask where to find a restaurant?
Answer: Hi! There are three snack pavilions in the Palace. They are located at Zhichun Pavilion, Dongjiujian (East Nine Rooms) at Paiyun Hall and Shizhang Pavilion. They serve rice with dishes and wheaten food. In addition, there is a restaurant named Tingliguan (Hall of Listening to Oriole's Singing) which is a long-established brand restaurant serving court food. Its headquarters are located nearby the Marble Boat and also at the end of the Long Corridor, and its branch is at the North Ruyi Gate where you can enjoy meals with court features. The business hours for Tingliguan are 11:00-14:30.

2. Question: Excuse me. Would you please tell me where the licensed Olympic products stores are?
Answer: Hi! There are three licensed Olympic products stores in the Palace, and they are located at Shansehuguang Gongyilou, Huiren Jingji and Yeluchucai Temple.

3. Question: Excuse me. May I know where I can find stores selling articles with the Summer Palace features?
Answer: There are three stores selling articles with the Summer Palace features in the Palace and there is one at the South Hall of Renshou Gate nearby the East Entrance Gate, one at Sanjianfang (Western Three Rooms) of Nanjiuqing outside Renshou Gate and one at the entrance of Paiyun Gate.

4. Question: Excuse me. Where can I find the battery vehicle for sightseeing?
Answer: Hi! There are five stops where you can find battery vehicle service. They are Bafang Pavilion (near the 17-arch Bridge), Xiuyi Bridge, South of Jingming Building (South of the West Dyke Sixth Bridge, Changguan Hall and Yudai Bridge (Jade Belt Bridge or the Painting of Farming and Weaving). You may wait for the service at any of the above five stops.

5. Question: Excuse me. May I know what the fee rate is and what are its business hours?
Answer: The fee rate is three yuan per person for one-person chair for each stop and 12 yuan for the whole journey. The business hours are 09:00-16:30 each day.

6. Question: Excuse me. Would you please tell me where the dock for cruising boat is?
Answer: Hi! There are eight docks in the Park and there are five types of cruising boats. You may go to the docks at Wenchang Pavilion or Paiyun Hall, if you prefer a battery boat, to the dock at Bafang Pavilion if you like hand-rowing single-person boat, to the dock at Wenchang Pavilion or at Yulan Hall if you want to take a foot-driven boat, to the dock at Shizhang Pavilion or at Tongniu (Copper Ox) if you want to take Dragon Ferry or to the dock at Nanhu Island or at the Marble Boat if you want to take Big Ferry.