Hi, I’m Michael Zhang, a Chinese travel expert with years of experience exploring destinations around the world. My journeys have taken me through ancient ruins, bustling cities, and hidden cultural gems. But what truly captivates me is diving deep into history and heritage. I don’t just visit places—I uncover their stories. In this guide, I’ll walk you through Yuanmingyuan Park, also known as the Old Summer Palace, a legendary site in Beijing that holds immense cultural and historical significance. Let’s uncover the layers of this lost imperial masterpiece together.

Summary

Introduction to Yuanmingyuan Park

Yuanmingyuan Park, once the grand imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty, is now a top-rated AAAAA scenic site in China. Covering more than 350 hectares, including 140 hectares of water bodies, the park consists of Yuanmingyuan, Chun Garden (Qichunyuan), and Changchunyuan, with Yuanmingyuan being the largest—thus the collective name Yuanmingyuan, or “Three Gardens of Yuanming.”

This vast estate wasn’t just a royal garden. It was a masterpiece of world garden art, blending classic southern Chinese landscaping with Baroque-style Western architecture. Often described as a cultural treasury for all humankind, Yuanmingyuan once held the title of the largest museum in the world.

  • Address: No.28 Qinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing (Apple Maps/Amap)
  • Opening Hours:
    • April–October: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last entry 7:00 PM)
    • November–March: 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
  • Recommended Visit Duration: 3–4 hours
  • Best Seasons to Visit: All year round
  • Ticket Price: RMB 10
  • Ticket Purchase: Trip.com Discounts, Klook Deals, KKday Offers
Yuanmingyuan Park Ruins Site in Beijing

Map of Yuanmingyuan Park

Yuanmingyuan Park Tourist Map with Gardens and Lakes

Why You Should Visit Yuanmingyuan Park

Breathtaking Natural and Manmade Scenery

Wandering through Yuanmingyuan is like stepping into a living scroll painting. The park is filled with tranquil lakes, ancient pavilions, lush forests, and traditional Chinese bridges. These landscapes form a seamless harmony between nature and architecture. Beyond its visual charm, the park immerses you in an atmosphere rich with imperial history and poetic beauty.

Historical Significance and Cultural Legacy

Built during the late Kangxi period and expanded by subsequent emperors including Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Daoguang, Yuanmingyuan Park became a symbolic fusion of southern Chinese garden elegance and northern palace grandeur. At its peak, the park housed over 1.5 million cultural relics, including rare volumes of the Siku Quanshu and a vast array of Western tributes. These treasures testified to early East-West exchanges long before globalization became a buzzword.

Unique Architectural Integration

During Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Jesuit missionaries like Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining) and Michel Benoist introduced European design into the heart of this Chinese landscape. The result? The Western Palaces (Xiyang Lou), an extraordinary blend of Western structure and Chinese context. Yuanmingyuan thus remains a rare example of architectural syncretism that continues to attract international admiration.

Top Things to Do in Yuanmingyuan Park

Must-See Highlights

Zhengjue Temple (Yuanmingyuan Museum)

Originally a Buddhist temple within the park, Zhengjue Temple now serves as the Yuanmingyuan Museum. It houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts and documents that chronicle the park’s history and destruction.

One of the most significant exhibits is the Horse Head bronze sculpture, part of the legendary Zodiac Fountain. These twelve bronze animal heads—each representing a Chinese zodiac sign—were looted during the 1860 invasion by British and French troops. Today, the return of the Horse Head has become a symbol of cultural restoration and national memory.

  • Ticket: RMB 10, available at the entrance.
  • Tip: A general Yuanmingyuan ticket covers this exhibit.
Bronze Horse Head Statue at Yuanmingyuan Museum

Ruins of the Western Palaces (Xiyang Lou Site)

This section is the most architecturally distinct area of Yuanmingyuan Park. Though in ruins, the Xiyang Lou complex tells a profound story of imperial ambition and foreign influence.

  • Dashuifa (Grand Fountain): The most iconic site in the area, Dashuifa was a sophisticated water feature once lined with marble sculptures and powered by a hydraulic system. It was not only a marvel of engineering but also a symbol of opulence and worldliness.
  • Guanshuifa (Water-Viewing Fountain): Unlike the grand spectacle of Dashuifa, this garden focused on calm, reflective waters that embodied European romantic garden design.
  • Haiyantang (Hall of National Peace): This was the centerpiece of the Western Palaces and the original location of the Zodiac Fountain. Designed as a venue for imperial ceremonies and banquets, Haiyantang’s European façade contrasted dramatically with the surrounding Chinese architecture.
  • Opening Hours:
    • April–October: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last entry 7:00 PM)
    • November–March: 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
Ruins of Western-style Palaces in Yuanmingyuan Park

Panoramic Model Exhibition Zone

This modern exhibition uses intricate scale models to reconstruct Yuanmingyuan’s former glory. These miniature replicas allow you to witness the palace’s architectural brilliance and layout as it once stood—without needing a time machine.

The exhibit is immersive, informative, and ideal for visitors who want to visualize the park’s grand design before it was destroyed.

  • Opening Hours:
    • April–October: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
    • November–March: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Panoramic Scale Model of Old Summer Palace

Yuanmingyuan Park Ticket Guide

Yuanmingyuan Ticket Prices

  • Adult: RMB 10
  • Student: RMB 5 (for students with undergraduate-level education or below)
  • Free admission: Children under 18 or seniors over 60
  • Includes: General admission to Yuanmingyuan Park + Western Ruins Scenic Area (including Dashuifa, Maze, and Exhibition Hall) + Panoramic Model Exhibition of Yuanmingyuan
  • Adult: RMB 25
  • Student: RMB 10 (for students with undergraduate-level education or below)
  • Free admission: Children under 18 or seniors over 60

Ticket Purchase Channels

Yuanmingyuan Guided Tour Options

Yuanmingyuan Park offers audio guide rentals that automatically play narrations at each attraction.

  • Rental locations: South Gate and East Gate
  • Languages available: Chinese and English
  • Price: RMB 40 for Chinese, RMB 50 for English; deposit: RMB 200

Yuanmingyuan Park has three main entrances: East Gate, South Gate (closest to the subway), and the museum entrance at Zhengjue Temple. Since the South Gate is near Peking University, if you also plan to visit the university, it is recommended to enter through the East Gate and exit through the South Gate.

  • Most Effortless Highlights Route — 2.5h: East Gate → Ruins of the Western Palaces → Boat or sightseeing cart → Dock or Garden Intersection → South Gate
  • Full Highlights Route — 3h: East Gate → Black Swan Viewing Area → Panoramic Model Zone → Ruins of the Western Palaces → Boat or sightseeing cart → Dock or Garden Intersection → South Gate → Zhengjue Temple
  • Walking Tour Route — 3h: Enter through Zhengjue Temple (note: not the South Gate) → Hanqiuguan → Garden Intersection → Ginkgo Avenue → Western Ruins → Black Swan Area → Panoramic Model Zone → East Gate

Sanyuan Meiyuan

Traditional Beijing Dessert Milk Roll at Sanyuan Meiyuan
  • Why it’s recommended: A well-established dessert shop known for Beijing-style sweets like double-skin milk, almond tofu, cheesecake, and milk rolls.
  • Address: Floor F1, Longhu Beijing Yihe Xingyuehui, No.208 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing (Apple Maps/Amap)
  • Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00–21:00
  • Average price: RMB 30/person

Dehuaju Snack Bar

Classic Zhajiang Noodles from Dehuaju Snack Shop
  • Why it’s recommended: A traditional Beijing-style eatery run by a local in the hutongs, featuring dishes like zhajiang noodles, stewed noodles with sauce, fried pork intestines, and beef tripe.
  • Address: Inside Xiyuan Food City, No.9 Zhongzhi Road, Haidian District, Beijing (Apple Maps/Amap)
  • Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00–19:30
  • Average price: RMB 46/person

How to Get to Yuanmingyuan Park from Downtown Beijing

Yuanmingyuan is located on the outskirts of Beijing. The most convenient way to get there is by subway. If entering through the East Gate and exiting through the South Gate, taking a taxi to the East Gate is highly recommended.

Subway

From downtown Beijing, take Subway Line 4 and get off at Yuanmingyuan Station. Use Exit B; the park is right outside. The ride takes about 60 minutes and costs RMB 5.

Bus

Several bus routes lead to Yuanmingyuan:

  • To Qichunyuan Gate: 331, 424, 432, 438, 498, 508, 579, 601, 664, Special Line 19
  • To Changchunyuan East Gate: 305, 320, 365, 375, 424, 432, 626, 664, 982, Special Line 4

Taxi or Ride-hailing

For a faster and more comfortable option, you can take a taxi or ride-hailing service. The ride from downtown Beijing takes about 50 minutes and costs around RMB 50.

FAQ

Is Yuanmingyuan Park stroller and wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Yuanmingyuan is quite friendly for accessible travel. Most of the walkways are flat and wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs. Major scenic areas include accessible paths, and visitor centers and exhibit halls are equipped with accessible restrooms.

Where can I store my luggage?

Yuanmingyuan Park doesn’t offer official luggage storage. However, you’ll find lockers near Exit A of Yuanmingyuan Subway Station and around the park entrance. These are suitable for backpacks and cost around RMB 30/day. If lockers are full or if you need to store large luggage, nearby shops at the East Gate provide storage services for the same price.

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