Summer Palace - Beijing

Once the summer retreat for the imperial family, the Summer Palace or 颐和园 (Yi He Yuan) in Chinese is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The compound, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, spans a massive 2.9 square kilometers and is an absolute must-see attraction for any trip to Beijing.  The beautiful lake and natural surroundings make a for a pleasant visit during any season.

The park is located on the north-west side of Beijing and can be accessed via cab or subway off of the recently constructed line 4. Due to the massive scope of the park and the vast number of attractions within the park I recommend at least 6 hours to thoroughly enjoy everything the park has to offer.

The park offers a fairly large lake on the south side of the compound that wraps around the the north side.  During the warmer months visitors can rent paddle boats to cruise around the main part of the lake, or can buy tickets to take larger boats around the west side of the compound the the ancient market street (Suzhou Street) near the north gate. 

As a tip, if you do decide to take the passenger boat I would recommend purchasing the tickets from the ticket booth near the infamous Marble Boat (tickets here will cost about 40 RMB per person as opposed to being charged 180 RMB on Suzhou Street).

Starting at the south gate you can quickly visit the small island that has a gorgeous view of the palace and then hike back along the eastern bank of the lake and visit the historic theater that offers daily performances featuring different acts that might have been performed for the emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.  From there I would recommend hiking up any of the various trails that lead up the mountain around the west side of the temple and palace. 

This is one of my favorite parts of the park as these trails offer some seclusion from the throngs of tourists that tend to stick to the main attractions.  Every once in a while you will come across couples or families having picnics and enjoying the tranquil surroundings.   Once you make your way to the peak you can visit a Buddhist temple and the Hall of Burning Incense. Make sure you walk out the front gate of the Hall of Burning Incense for a spectacular view of the lake and historic buildings below. The view alone here makes the trip worth it.

Then making your way down the north side of the Buddhist temple you can visit the famous Suzhou Street which houses a bunch of souvenir shops and a few restaurants.  This area of the park is stunning and it would be a great shame if anyone misses it.  

Finally, don't forget to head back around the west part of the lake to visit the Marble Boat and take a stroll down the seemingly never-ending coridor before leaving the park.

Tickets to the park can be purchased for 20-30 RMB (depending on the season) for the entrance fee alone or 50-60 RMB for the combination ticket (which includes entrance tickets to some of the smaller attractions within the park).

Planning a trip to the Summer Palace? Share your experiences in the comments below!