Old Summer Palace

Why go and how much time to allow

Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, is a landscape of lakes, former imperial gardens and evocative ruins rather than an intact palace complex. The European-style stone remains at Xiyanglou are the best-known feature, but the wider site explains the scale of the three historic gardens. Allow three to four hours for a selective visit; distances can be substantial, so choose a ruins-focused or landscape-focused route instead of expecting to cover everything.

Main gate, separate sites and through ticket

Main gate admission covers entry to the park, not every charged area. The official ticket page lists separate products for the Xiyanglou Ruins Scenic Area and the Panoramic Model Exhibition of Yuanmingyuan in its prime. Its through ticket combines the main admission with those two components. Buy according to what you can reach before closing, not merely by comparing product names.

There is also an important late-arrival rule: through-ticket sales stop two hours before general ticket sales stop. After that cutoff, do not assume you can still purchase the full combination. Ask the official window what main or separate-site products remain appropriate.

A June 2026 official notice suspended the indoor Xiyanglou Exhibition Hall from June 11 until further notice for exhibition upgrades. That notice does not say that the entire outdoor Xiyanglou ruins area is closed. Check the latest official news for reopening and for the status of each component before buying a ticket around a particular exhibition.

Tickets and documents

Beijing’s current English guide says no reservation is required and tickets can be purchased on site. It gives no advance-release window or daily release time. Bring an original passport or another valid identity document, especially when requesting an age-based concession or if the window needs to verify identity. For any online special-event or exhibition purchase, also carry the matching order details.

Use the official ticket office if a document or order cannot be read. The park publishes its service line as +86-10-62543673, with service hours of 08:30–17:00 on the official ticket page.

Hours, visitor gates and transport

From April through October, the park gate opens at 06:00, ticket sales begin at 07:00, ticket sales and entry stop at 19:00, and the park closes at 21:00. Xiyanglou stops entry at 19:00; the model exhibition closes at 19:00. From November through March, the gate opens at 06:30, ticket sales begin at 07:00, sales and entry stop at 17:30, and the park closes at 19:30. Xiyanglou stops entry at 17:30 and the model exhibition closes at 17:30.

Navigate to a named visitor entrance, not simply the administration’s postal address. The official ticket page lists ticket offices at Qichunyuan Palace Gate (绮春园宫门), Changchunyuan East Gate (长春园东门), Ergongmen (二宫门) and Zaoyuan Gate (藻园门). Line 4’s Yuanmingyuan Park Station is the official metro landmark for the park; confirm current gate notices and your walking route before arrival.

If weather or availability changes

Heavy rain has prompted full park closures. Follow the current official notice rather than travelling to a closed gate; advance online purchasers are instructed to refund through the original channel. If the exhibition hall is still closed, confirm that the outdoor ruins are open and adjust expectations. If your preferred product is unavailable, ask about main admission and separate site tickets or select another date without turning to an unofficial seller.