Beijing 📍 Yiheyuan 3h itinerary that won't tire your legs, recommended for collection～

✅ Summer Palace Route Itinerary

Enter via Beiruyi Gate → Binfeng Bridge (West Bank) → Tour in the Painting → Buddhist Incense Pavilion → Zhichun Pavilion → Seventeen-Arch Bridge → Nanhu Island (Hanxu Hall) → Exit via Xinjian Palace Gate

⏰ Recommended visiting time: 3–5 hours
🎫 Student ticket: ¥20 (separate ticket for Buddhist Incense Pavilion: ¥10)

✅ Detailed Route Guide

1. Enter from Beiruyi Gate

• How to get there: Take Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen Station, then walk 1.2km or take a taxi (no direct bus).
• ⚠️ Note: There is no luggage storage at Beiruyi Gate, so travel light.

2. Binfeng Bridge (West Bank)

• Walking time from Beiruyi Gate: 10 minutes.
• A historic bridge on the West Bank, named after an agricultural poem in The Book of Songs. It’s charming year-round—peach blossoms in spring and withered lotus in autumn. Walking south along the embankment, you can enjoy views of Kunming Lake and Yuquan Mountain, showcasing the classic garden technique of “borrowing scenery.”

3. Tour in the Painting

• Walking time from Binfeng Bridge: 18 minutes (looping back toward North Ruyi Gate).
• A mountain-top complex with octagonal pavilions and winding corridors. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of Kunming Lake. Legend has it that its design was inspired by Qianlong’s dream of Jiangnan landscapes, making it perfect for Hanfu photoshoots with an ancient vibe.

4. Buddhist Incense Pavilion

• Walking time from Tour in the Painting: 5 minutes.
• The iconic 41-meter-tall, eight-sided, three-story pavilion. It houses a gilded statue of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, and the top offers sweeping views of the entire park.
• ⚠️ Note: A separate ¥10 ticket is required. For better value, consider a combined ticket (includes Suzhou Street, Dehe Garden, etc.).

5. Zhichun Pavilion

• Walking time from Buddhist Incense Pavilion: 18 minutes.
• Named after the line “Ducks are the first to know when the spring river warms,” it’s an ideal spot to admire the reflection of Wanshou Mountain and the lake-and-mountain scenery. The wide view here is perfect for classic photos capturing the Buddhist Incense Pavilion and Kunming Lake in the same frame.

6. Seventeen-Arch Bridge & Nanhu Island

• Walking time from Zhichun Pavilion: 15 minutes.
• The 150-meter-long bridge features 17 arches (symbolizing lunar phases) and 544 stone lions with unique poses. A must-see wonder: in the evening, the setting sun shines through the arches, creating the “Golden Light Through the Holes” spectacle.

7. Hanxu Hall

• Walking time from Seventeen-Arch Bridge: 1 minute.
• The main building on Nanhu Island, once where Empress Dowager Cixi reviewed the navy. Now a viewing platform overlooking the West Bank and Yuquan Mountain.

8. Exit via Xinjian Palace Gate

• Walking time from Hanxu Hall: 5 minutes.
• Convenient for departure: close to Xiyuan Metro Station, with buses 74/374/43 stopping directly outside. Easy to travel to nearby attractions like Yuanmingyuan, Tsinghua University, or Peking University.

This route covers the Summer Palace’s key highlights, blending natural beauty, historical architecture, and classic garden art. Follow it to make the most of your visit! 🏯🌳