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The Summer Palace is a magnificent imperial garden built in 1895 as a royal retreat. Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake form the heart of this vast landscape. Empress Dowager Cixi was particularly fond of the gardens of Suzhou and wanted to recreate their elegant scenery in Beijing. Inspired by the beauty of Jiangnan gardens, the Summer Palace combines traditional Chinese garden design with a grand imperial scale, making it far more expansive and magnificent than the gardens of Suzhou.
The main area of the Summer Palace is divided into four sightseeing areas: the Royal Area, Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake, and the North Palace Gate Area.
The hall was where Qing Dynasty (1636–1912) Emperor Guangxu received foreign officials and conducted important state affairs. A bronze phoenix stands in the center of the courtyard in front of the hall, flanked by two bronze dragons. This arrangement symbolizes Empress Dowager Cixi’s higher status and authority over Emperor Guangxu.
Emperor Guangxu, who supported the Wuxu Reform, a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the Qing Dynasty, was confined to the Hall of Jade Ripples by Empress Dowager Cixi after the reform movement was suppressed. The bricks and walls built to restrict the emperor are still preserved today. Guangxu’s empress, Longyu, lived in the nearby Pavilion of Artistic Delight, which is adjacent to the hall.
This three-story wooden theatre was built in 1895 and was one of Empress Dowager Cixi’s favorite places to watch Beijing Opera. Measuring 21 meters high and 17 meters wide, the theatre was specially designed for spectacular stage performances, including scenes in which actors could descend from the ceiling or rise from below the stage.
The Summer Palace Museum features five exhibition halls: the Hall of Bonsai, Hall of Jade, Hall of Porcelain, Hall of Foreign Artworks, and Hall of Royal Antiques. Most of the exhibits are precious objects that once belonged to the Qing Dynasty imperial family, offering a glimpse into the life and tastes of China’s last royal family.
More than 14,000 paintings depicting ancient Chinese stories, classic novels, historical events, and rare animals and plants decorate the 728-meter-long corridor. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest covered corridor in the world, it allows visitors to enjoy both the beautiful artwork and the surrounding scenery while staying sheltered from rain and strong sunlight.
Standing 57 meters high, the Tower of Buddhist Incense offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the Summer Palace. Inside the tower, visitors can admire exquisite Buddhist sculptures, carvings, and paintings. One of the highlights is a bronze Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue, which dates back around 500 years.
The Clear and Peaceful Boat is a stone boat built on the northern shore of Kunming Lake. Its design was inspired by a Western-style ship, while its intricate decorations feature traditional Chinese elements, creating a unique blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles.
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge features 17 arches and is decorated with 544 stone lion statues. Each lion has a unique expression and pose, making them fun to spot as you walk across the bridge. When sunlight shines through the arches, the bridge creates a beautiful and lively scene on Kunming Lake.
The sightseeing boat service was introduced in March 2026, offering visitors a new way to explore Kunming Lake. You can either rent a battery-powered boat and enjoy driving it yourself or take a sightseeing boat along one of four routes. The most popular route runs from the Clear and Peaceful Boat to South Lake Island, near the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
Empress Dowager Cixi was a devout follower of Tibetan Buddhism, so she had a miniature version of the Four Great Regions built in the Summer Palace. The complex features Tibetan Buddhist towers, temples, and sculptures, creating a distinctive religious and architectural landscape.
Suzhou is a famous city in the Jiangnan region south of the Yangtze River, known for its picturesque canals and traditional architecture. The Qing royal family was fascinated by the charm of Jiangnan, so a street inspired by Suzhou was built in the Summer Palace. Lined with wine shops, teahouses, antique shops, pharmacies, silk shops, and other traditional businesses, Suzhou Street recreates the lively atmosphere of a prosperous commercial street in ancient Suzhou.
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