Join this tour to discover the highlights of the Summer Palace and delve into the history of the palace with a focus on the powerful Dragon Lady. The Summer Palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a perfect example of Chinese landscape garden design. The Summer Palace takes up an area of 300 hectares (just over 1 square mile), four times the size of the Forbidden City. It is hard to decide where to start with.
After meeting at the East Gate, follow your tour guide to start your 2-hour adventure. In front of the map, your tour guide will offer detailed stories about who shaped the garden, how the Dragon Lady came to power by sitting behind the emperor's throne, and who destroyed and rebuilt the palace. This tour covers the most important buildings and courtyards, such as the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Hall of Joy and Longevity, Hall of Jade Billows and Marble Boat. Stroll along the famous Long Corridor where you can get a spectacular view of more than 8,000 paintings in traditional Chinese style that showcase a large span of Chinese history and literature.
In addition, climb up to the Tower of Buddhist Incense to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Kunming Lake. Your tour will end at the Marble Boat, from here you can decide to explore more of the palace on your own, or your tour guide will suggest how to get to your next destination.
Entrance fees
