Things to do in Summer Palace

Definitely a must-visit if you are passing through Beijing, but don't make my mistake of rushing through it. Dedicate at least half a day to see it in a relaxed way... a very beautiful park, a restored complex, lots of greenery and nature.

The guided tour was very informative, giving us a clear understanding of the layout of the emperors' former summer retreat. We explored every courtyard and also saw the beautiful Kunming Lake. If you want to take a boat ride on the lake, it's an additional 40 RMB. We thoroughly explored the entire Summer Palace!

We had a great time for our one-day tour at Temple of Heaven and Summer Place. Our guide Lulu is very helpful. She told us about rituals at Temple Heaven and all fun facts in history and helped us navigate the crowds effortlessly. Her insights into the empress dowager's history and the stunning architecture made our walk around Summer Place’s Long Corridor so much more meaningful. Thanks Lulu :). Note that the tour finished at Olympic Sport Center (Metro Line 8).

Our tour guide, Mr. Liu, was enthusiastic, friendly, and attentive, taking excellent care of both adults and children. The itinerary was well-planned, allowing us to comfortably explore various parts of Beijing. We hope to visit Beijing again in the future. Thank you very much.

Good itinerary well organized and with a lot of free time to explore. It is a little rush on the Wall especially if there are queues and a lot of tourists; if you prefer to take many time to explore the entire length of the Wall (requires a lot of climbing!) it is better to stay there the entire day. But I think that this was perfect for me and my wife, the Summer Palace is worth a visit and we would not have had any other opportunity to make it fit in our schedule if not for this tour. One thing that I have not fully appreciated is the fact that you are basically obligated to buy ticket for the cable car which are quite expensive (is very complex to climb by feet and it does not fit if you want to spend just half a day on the Wall), so consider that the cheapest option of this tour is not really making you save any money, you are just choosing to buy the tickets on the bus with the tour guide. The guide will propose you a buffet lunch but consider that there are multiple alternatives

The tour guide Ms Du contacted me via WeChat a day before the tour to confirm the meeting time and point at Beihai North MRT Station. Throughout the tour, she shared interesting stories and historical background about each attraction, especially He Kun, the original owner of Prince Gong’s Mansion. Unfortunately, the boat ride at the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) was cancelled due to strong winds, but Ms Du promptly refunded us the boat ticket fee on the spot. However, we still managed to visit some interesting places in the Summer Palace by walking. Our last stop was the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), where the park guide shared more about its history and the stories behind its ruins. Overall, it was a pleasant and worthwhile day tour, especially for those interested in Beijing’s history and culture. A good way to explore some of Beijing’s famous historical sites in one day!

A big thank you to our amazing tour guide for making this trip such a fun, memorable, and meaningful experience! ❤️ A special shout-out and heartfelt thanks to Michael, Richard, and Leo for your incredible care, kindness, and support throughout the journey. Everything was so well organized, and the itinerary was perfectly planned, allowing us to enjoy every moment without feeling rushed. You were always enthusiastic, thoughtful, attentive, and ready to help whenever we needed anything. Your warm hospitality, positive energy, and genuine kindness made this trip even more special. Thank you for taking such great care of everyone and making sure we had an unforgettable experience. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better team of tour guides! Wishing you all the best, and hope to see you again on another adventure! ❤️

The tour started on time and both guides Amy and MA have coordinated with us a day before the scheduled tour. They both explained very clearly the history of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace. MA even accompany us to the Bird Nest after the Summer Palace tour. We are very appreciated.

Wendy knows the attractions extremely well and she also took great care of us during the tour! She was able to give the incredible history and cultural significance of each area we visited during the attractions and I admire her energy from beginning to end despite the hot weather. She was also able to give great recommendations for where to dine during our break time and also gave great suggestions for the shopping areas. To top it off, she helped us take many incredible photos for memories. Thank you so much again for the amazing tour Wendy! We really appreciate you going the extra mile to ensure this tour was a success! Thank you Wendy and wish you all the best!