Private Day Tour: Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace in Beijing

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Your professional guide and personal driver will meet you at your hotel at your preferred time, ready to kick off this wonderful journey to the Summer Palace. Today, we will begin from the East Palace Gate and appreciate the unique charm of this imperial garden together. We will first arrive at the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace. The East Palace Gate is the main entrance of the Summer Palace. In front of the gate, there is a magnificent screen wall and imposing stone lions. Stepping through the East Palace Gate, it's as if you are traveling through time and entering the luxurious world of the royal family in the past.

   1 hAdmission included

2. After passing through the Gate of Benevolence and Longevity, the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity comes into view. This grand hall was first built in 1750 AD (during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty), and its original name was the Hall of Diligent Government. It was the place where the emperor handled government affairs and received foreign envoys. The architectural style of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity is solemn and stately. The hall is decorated with exquisite cultural relics and furniture, demonstrating the majesty of the royal family. Here, you can feel the solemn atmosphere of the court's political activities in those days and listen to the tour guide tell historical stories that took place in this hall.​

   30 minAdmission included

3. Leaving the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, we will head to the Yulan Hall. The Yulan Hall is located by the Kunming Lake and was the living quarters of Emperor Guangxu. After the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned here by Empress Dowager Cixi. The Yulan Hall consists of the main hall and the east and west side halls, with a compact layout. In front of the hall, there is a spacious moon terrace. Leaning on the railing, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the Kunming Lake. Here, you can learn about the helpless and struggling history of Emperor Guangxu and feel the complexity and cruelty of the court struggles.​

   Passes by

4. Then we come to the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, which was the living quarters of Empress Dowager Cixi in the Summer Palace. The courtyard of the Hall of Happiness and Longevity is spacious. In front of the hall, there is a huge Taihu stone named "Qingzhixiu", which is peculiarly shaped and quite spectacular. The hall is luxuriously decorated and displays a large number of precious cultural relics and treasures, showing the luxurious life of Empress Dowager Cixi. There are various flowers and trees planted in the courtyard, and the scenery is pleasant all year round. You can imagine the scene of Empress Dowager Cixi's leisurely living here.

   Passes by

5. Coming out of the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, we arrive at the world - famous Long Corridor. The Long Corridor starts from the Inviting the Moon Gate in the east and ends at the Shizhang Pavilion in the west, with a total length of 728 meters, making it the longest corridor in the world. The beams and 枋 s of the Long Corridor are painted with exquisite colorful paintings, with a rich variety of contents, including landscapes, flowers, birds, fish, insects, and human stories, totaling more than 14,000 pieces, which is dazzling. Walking along the Long Corridor, you can not only appreciate the magnificent painting art but also feel the unique architectural charm of the corridor while enjoying the changing scenery. At the same time, it can also shelter you from the sun and rain, which is very comfortable.

   Passes by

6. After walking through the Long Corridor, we move towards the Tower of Buddhist Incense. The Tower of Buddhist Incense is built on the mountainside of the front hill of Longevity Hill and is one of the landmark buildings of the Summer Palace. It is 41 meters high, with eight sides, three floors, and four eaves, and it is magnificent. Inside the tower, there is a huge thousand - handed Avalokitesvara Buddha statue, which is solemn and respectful. Climbing up the Tower of Buddhist Incense, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, taking in all the beautiful scenery of the Summer Palace. The view is extremely broad. This is also an excellent place for taking photos. I believe you will be shocked by the beautiful scenery in front of you.​

   2 hAdmission included

7. Leaving the Tower of Buddhist Incense, we go down the mountain along the path and come to the Marble Boat. The Marble Boat, also known as the Qingyan Marble Boat, is located in the northwest of Kunming Lake. It was first built in 1755 AD (during the reign of Emperor Qianlong). The hull is carved from huge stones, and there are two - story cabins built on it, with exquisite decorations. The Marble Boat symbolizes the long - term stability of the Qing Dynasty. Although it has experienced wind and rain, it still stands firm. Standing beside the Marble Boat, you can enjoy the sparkling waves of the Kunming Lake and feel its unique charm.​

   Passes by

8. If you want to experience the charm of Kunming Lake more deeply, we also provide you with the option of a boat tour (an additional fee is required). You can take an antique - style boat and slowly move forward on the blue waves, enjoying the lake and mountain scenery of the Summer Palace from a water perspective. Along the way, you can see famous scenic spots such as the Seventeen - Arch Bridge and South Lake Island, and feel the tranquility and beauty of Kunming Lake up close. On the boat, you can relax and enjoy this pleasant time, leaving behind a wonderful memory.​ After the tour, your driver will transfer you back to your hotel in Beijing, ensuring a comfortable end to this memorable day.​

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 5 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Beijing

• Its from-price is 12% below the median of the 3624 experiences we list in Beijing.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 706 of 3624.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Beijing

Beijing, China's capital for centuries, holds imperial palaces, sacred temples and stretches of the Great Wall within reach of its modern boulevards.

At the city's heart, the Forbidden City spreads behind vermilion walls, a labyrinth of halls and courtyards that housed the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Tiananmen Square lies to its south, and the hill of Jingshan Park to its north gives the finest view over its golden roofs. The Temple of Heaven, set in a park where locals practise tai chi and dance, is a masterpiece of imperial design.

Top-ranked sights in Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang).

See all 3624 experiences in Beijing