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SimpleChinaTripBooking guide for foreign visitors
Summer Palace

Summer Palace tickets for foreigners

颐和园 — one recommended booking path, with clear steps.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Screenshot guide

Photo: Ermell / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Beijing · 颐和园

At a glance

Book ahead?
No — buy or walk in on the day
Where
Ticket office on site
When tickets release
No reservation required: buy at the comprehensive service window at the gate.
Open & closed days
Park open daily; some separately ticketed sights closed Mondays except statutory holidays
Price
Admission: CNY 30 · Admission (discount): CNY 15 — full list below
Hours
Apr–Oct: gates about 06:00–19:00, park closes 20:00. Nov–Mar: gates about 06:30–18:00, closes 19:00.
Passport on entry
Yes — show your passport at the entrance.
Full times, prices and rules
Ticket release
No reservation required: buy at the comprehensive service window at the gate. Optional booking 1–7 days ahead on the park's official WeChat account.
Opening hours
Apr 1–Oct 31: gates about 06:00–19:00, park closes 20:00. Nov 1–Mar 31: gates about 06:30–18:00, park closes 19:00. Some inner sights have shorter hours and Monday closures.
Price
Admission 30 peak / 20 low; combined ticket 60 peak / 50 low (includes garden-within-garden sights). Individual add-ons: Dehe Yuan 5, Foxiang Ge 10, Suzhou Street 10, Palace Museum area 20

Ticket prices

  • AdmissionCNY 30Peak season Apr 1–Oct 31 · CNY 20 off season
  • Admission (discount)CNY 15CNY 10 off season
  • Combined ticketCNY 60Includes the inner sights · CNY 50 off season

From Visit Beijing (official). Inner sights such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense and Suzhou Street cost extra on an admission-only ticket.

Recommended path

Ticket office on site

There's no web booking. Visit Beijing says to buy at the comprehensive service window at the park gate with your passport. The official website returned an error when we checked on 6 Oct 2026.

Official visitor info

Last checked 6 Oct 2026 · How we verify

Step-by-step booking guide

Screenshots captured live on 6 Oct 2026 on english.beijing.gov.cn (desktop 1280×800). Tap any screenshot to enlarge. We stopped before entering personal data or paying.

  1. 1

    Bring your passport — no booking needed

    There's no web booking for the Summer Palace — buy at the gate with your passport.

  2. 2

    Go to the comprehensive service window

    Visit Beijing: “Go to the comprehensive service window in the park gate area to purchase tickets.” Show your passport.

    english.beijing.gov.cn
    Visit Beijing Summer Palace page with hours, ticketing and prices
    1Visit Beijing: book on the park’s WeChat account, or buy at the comprehensive service window.
  3. 3

    Choose admission or the combined ticket

    Admission CNY 30 in peak season (CNY 20 off season). The combined ticket (CNY 60 / 50) adds the inner sights, like the Tower of Buddhist Incense and Suzhou Street — worth it on a first visit.

  4. 4

    Enter and plan at least 3 hours

    In peak season the entrance gates are open 06:00–19:00 and the whole park closes at 20:00 (off season: gates 06:30–18:00). Boats are paid separately.

  5. 5

    Off season: inner sights close on Mondays

    In the off season the separately charged sights are closed on Mondays (except major holidays). The park itself stays open.

Key pitfalls

  • Buy combined ticket (60/50) if you want Foxiang Ge / key inner sights — admission-only skips them.
  • Park is huge — plan 3+ hours; boat tickets separate.
  • Third-party OTAs not authorized by parks authority.

If it doesn’t work

Backup options

Use these only if the recommended path doesn’t work.

Official WeChat accountBook 1–7 days ahead and come with your passport at the selected time.
What recent travelers report
Official reply: on-site window with passport when WeChat/Chinese phone unavailable. english.beijing.gov.cn
Recent traveler: do not need to book Summer Palace ahead. reddit.com

FAQ

Do I need to book the Summer Palace in advance?

No. Buy at the comprehensive service window at the gate with your passport. Booking 1–7 days ahead on the park's official WeChat account is optional.

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

Can I book the Summer Palace online without WeChat?

No, there's no web booking: the online option is the park's WeChat account. Without WeChat, just buy at the gate with your passport.

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

Admission or combined ticket?

Admission is CNY 30 (CNY 20 off season). The combined ticket, CNY 60 (CNY 50 off season), includes inner sights like the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

What are the opening hours?

In peak season (Apr 1–Oct 31) the gates are open 06:00–19:00 and the park closes at 20:00. Off season the gates are open 06:30–18:00.

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

Are Klook or other third-party tickets official?

The Beijing parks authority says it hasn't authorised third-party platforms. Buy at the gate or on the park's WeChat account.

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

Did this booking path work for you?

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Sources

  • Our own booking-flow walkthrough (checked 6 Oct 2026)Visit Beijing ticketing page: WeChat or service-window purchase only, prices, hours; official website returned an HTTP error
  • english.beijing.gov.cnVisit Beijing Summer Palace ticketing: hours, on-site/WeChat, peak 30 / off 20 · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • english.beijing.gov.cnVisit Beijing park guide: combined ticket 60/50 and add-on prices · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • summerpalace.net.cnOfficial scenic EN site: hours and price table · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • english.beijing.gov.cnOn-site foreigner purchase; no third-party authorization · accessed 6 Oct 2026
  • reddit.com2026: no need to book Summer Palace ahead · accessed 6 Oct 2026

Last checked 6 Oct 2026 · How we verify