Summer Palace, Imperial palace and garden complex in Haidian District, Beijing, China.
The Summer Palace extends over 290 hectares, with Kunming Lake covering three quarters of the grounds and Longevity Hill rising 60 meters above the water.
Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of this residence in 1750 to celebrate his mother's birthday, completing the massive project in 1764.
The grounds contain more than 3,000 classical structures including pavilions, temples, bridges and corridors that display traditional Chinese architectural elements.
The palace complex opens daily from 6:30 to 18:00, allowing visitors to explore the gardens, take boat rides on Kunming Lake or walk through the Long Corridor.
Soil excavated from creating the artificial Kunming Lake was used to build Longevity Hill, forming the two main landscape features of the grounds.
Location: Haidian District
Operator: 北京市颐和园管理处
Part of: China's Four Great Gardens
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 06:30-18:00
Phone: +861062881144
Website: https://summerpalace-china.com/English
GPS coordinates: 39.99750,116.26890
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:16
Beijing combines ancient palaces with modern architecture. The city offers photographers a mix of Ming Dynasty buildings, Buddhist temples, Olympic venues, and contemporary art galleries. From the Great Wall to the Bird's Nest stadium, numerous subjects await the camera.
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In winter, the lake is frozen and allows both adults and children to go ice skating!
In winter, the lake is frozen and allows both adults and children to go ice skating!
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