Booking fee
The booking fee includes the costs of booking your tickets such as charges for payment processing. It also covers the provision of our customer care center for processing your order, and all charges imposed by our suppliers.
* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
Hey there! If you're looking for a fun and informative way to explore Beijing's rich history, then the Private Day Tour to the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace is definitely worth considering. With this tour, you'll have the chance to visit two iconic landmarks in one day - the grand Summer Palace with its beautiful gardens, pavilions, and Kunming Lake; and the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, which was once a lavish imperial retreat destroyed during the Second Opium War. Your knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insights into the history and significance of these sites, allowing you to truly appreciate their beauty and cultural importance. Plus, with private transportation included, you can sit back and relax as you journey through Beijing's past. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese history - book your Private Day Tour today!
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Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Bottled water
Lunch
Entrance fee
Transport by private vehicle
Gratuities
Departure Point
Traveler pickup is offered
Free pick up including hotels in Beijing within the 5th ring road, if your hotel is out of the city, will have extra cost, you also can travel into city to meet your tour guide
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), Beijing, China Your professional guide and personal driver will meet you at your hotel at your preferred time, ready to kick off this wonderful journey to the Summer Palace. Today, we will begin from the East Palace Gate and appreciate the unique charm of this imperial garden together.
We will first arrive at the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace. The East Palace Gate is the main entrance of the Summer Palace. In front of the gate, there is a magnificent screen wall and imposing stone lions. Stepping through the East Palace Gate, it's as if you are traveling through time and entering the luxurious world of the royal family in the past. 60 minutes
Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Beijing, China After passing through the Gate of Benevolence and Longevity, the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity comes into view. This grand hall was first built in 1750 AD (during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty), and its original name was the Hall of Diligent Government. It was the place where the emperor handled government affairs and received foreign envoys. The architectural style of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity is solemn and stately. The hall is decorated with exquisite cultural relics and furniture, demonstrating the majesty of the royal family. Here, you can feel the solemn atmosphere of the court's political activities in those days and listen to the tour guide tell historical stories that took place in this hall.
30 minutes
Long Corridor at the Summer Palace, Beijing, China Leaving the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, we will head to the Yulan Hall. The Yulan Hall is located by the Kunming Lake and was the living quarters of Emperor Guangxu. After the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned here by Empress Dowager Cixi. The Yulan Hall consists of the main hall and the east and west side halls, with a compact layout. In front of the hall, there is a spacious moon terrace. Leaning on the railing, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the Kunming Lake. Here, you can learn about the helpless and struggling history of Emperor Guangxu and feel the complexity and cruelty of the court struggles.
Kunming Lake, Beijing, China Then we come to the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, which was the living quarters of Empress Dowager Cixi in the Summer Palace. The courtyard of the Hall of Happiness and Longevity is spacious. In front of the hall, there is a huge Taihu stone named "Qingzhixiu", which is peculiarly shaped and quite spectacular. The hall is luxuriously decorated and displays a large number of precious cultural relics and treasures, showing the luxurious life of Empress Dowager Cixi. There are various flowers and trees planted in the courtyard, and the scenery is pleasant all year round. You can imagine the scene of Empress Dowager Cixi's leisurely living here.
Qingyan Stone Boat, Beijing, China Coming out of the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, we arrive at the world - famous Long Corridor. The Long Corridor starts from the Inviting the Moon Gate in the east and ends at the Shizhang Pavilion in the west, with a total length of 728 meters, making it the longest corridor in the world. The beams and 枋 s of the Long Corridor are painted with exquisite colorful paintings, with a rich variety of contents, including landscapes, flowers, birds, fish, insects, and human stories, totaling more than 14,000 pieces, which is dazzling. Walking along the Long Corridor, you can not only appreciate the magnificent painting art but also feel the unique architectural charm of the corridor while enjoying the changing scenery. At the same time, it can also shelter you from the sun and rain, which is very comfortable.
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), Beijing, China After walking through the Long Corridor, we move towards the Tower of Buddhist Incense. The Tower of Buddhist Incense is built on the mountainside of the front hill of Longevity Hill and is one of the landmark buildings of the Summer Palace. It is 41 meters high, with eight sides, three floors, and four eaves, and it is magnificent. Inside the tower, there is a huge thousand - handed Avalokitesvara Buddha statue, which is solemn and respectful. Climbing up the Tower of Buddhist Incense, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, taking in all the beautiful scenery of the Summer Palace. The view is extremely broad. This is also an excellent place for taking photos. I believe you will be shocked by the beautiful scenery in front of you.
120 minutes
Niaochao National Stadium, Beijing, China Leaving the Tower of Buddhist Incense, we go down the mountain along the path and come to the Marble Boat. The Marble Boat, also known as the Qingyan Marble Boat, is located in the northwest of Kunming Lake. It was first built in 1755 AD (during the reign of Emperor Qianlong). The hull is carved from huge stones, and there are two - story cabins built on it, with exquisite decorations. The Marble Boat symbolizes the long - term stability of the Qing Dynasty. Although it has experienced wind and rain, it still stands firm. Standing beside the Marble Boat, you can enjoy the sparkling waves of the Kunming Lake and feel its unique charm.
Kunming Lake, Haidian District, China If you want to experience the charm of Kunming Lake more deeply, we also provide you with the option of a boat tour (an additional fee is required). You can take an antique - style boat and slowly move forward on the blue waves, enjoying the lake and mountain scenery of the Summer Palace from a water perspective. Along the way, you can see famous scenic spots such as the Seventeen - Arch Bridge and South Lake Island, and feel the tranquility and beauty of Kunming Lake up close. On the boat, you can relax and enjoy this pleasant time, leaving behind a wonderful memory.
After the tour, your driver will transfer you back to your hotel in Beijing, ensuring a comfortable end to this memorable day.
60 minutes
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Jonathan_F
19 Jul 2022
We had a great day from the time Ansom picked us up at our hotel. He was very knowledgeable and tailored the day to our family. Our family has some food allergies and he was able to order a great lunch that everyone could enjoy. He was very understanding with our kids when they got tired. I would definitely do another tour with him.
johnrwest2019
19 Oct 2019
Both tour guide and chofer were very professional and punctual. Jimmy,the tour guide,
was very knowledgeable in providing historical facts about both palaces. He was also
very patient and helpful in assisting me in getting around stairs and hoping on and off
the boat. The lunch was excellent. Recommend highly comfortable walking shoes.
This tour in
Northern China
is organized by
Unique Beijing Tours
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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