Kunming Lake at a glance
Kunming Lake is part of the park, so there is no separate fee to see it. It began as a natural lake and was deepened and enlarged under the Qianlong emperor. The West Causeway takes up design ideas from West Lake in Hangzhou. The lake covers roughly 2 square kilometers, and about three quarters of the park is water.
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge connects the east shore with South Lake Island. Boats are sold separately from the park ticket. Prices below are in yuan, as of 2026, and they can change.
Boats on the lake
Two kinds: boats you drive yourself and ferries on fixed routes.
| Boat | Price 2026 | Hours and details |
|---|---|---|
| Self-drive electric boat, 6 seats | CNY 200 per boat and hour, CNY 600 deposit | Sales 08:30 to 16:30, operation ends 17:30 |
| Ferry and cruise routes | CNY 30 to 40 per person (single routes) | 11 routes, 08:30 to 17:30 |
Electric boats are handed out at the Yulantang, Wenchangge and Bafangting piers. You return the boat to the pier where you took it. Ask at the pier how part hours are charged and when you must be back.
Our picks: Kunming Lake and boats
Ticket packages with a boat option and a private tour with an Imperial Canal boat ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day trip to both Summer Palaces
A private vehicle with hotel transfer, a licensed English-speaking guide, entry to the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, an Imperial Canal boat ticket and a Peking duck lunch. Drinks and insurance are extra.
Check availability →
Summer Palace ticket packages with audio guide, costume or boat
Five packages, from an audio guide alone (without entry) to entry with a guide and a boat. Only the top package includes the boat.
Check availability →Boat trips and Summer Palace tours
Guided visits and day trips that include the Summer Palace and the lake, with live prices and availability.
Ferry fares by route
Single trips per person in CNY, 2026. Each is one way, not a return.
| Route | Fare |
|---|---|
| Marble Boat to South Lake Island, north | CNY 40 |
| Seventeen-Arch Bridge to Suyunyan | CNY 40 |
| Bronze Ox to Shizhangting | CNY 40 |
| Jade Belt Bridge to South Lake Island, west | CNY 30 |
| South Ruyi Gate to South Lake Island, south | CNY 30 |
| Suzhou Street, west, to Suyunyan | CNY 30, no return route |
Accompanied children under 1.2 m ride free on the ferries. Because a route is a single trip, plan how you get back. The Suzhou Street route depends on the street being open, so check at the pier. See the Suzhou Street page.
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge
The bridge dates from 1750 and has 17 arches. It is more than 150 meters long and links the east shore with South Lake Island.
Around the winter solstice, the setting sun shines through and onto the arches. Treat this as a seasonal photo motif, not a daily event. It depends on a clear sky, and no time of day is promised.
Winter ice at Kunming Lake
The lake freezes, but access is organized.
When the ice is thick enough, the park opens ice activities on marked areas. In 2026 they ran from mid-January to early February, starting on 17 or 20 January and ending on 3 or 4 February, depending on the weather and the thickness of the ice. The hours were 08:30 to 17:00, with the last entry at 16:30. Dates differ each winter, so check before you plan a winter trip around it.
The activities include single and double ice sleds and ice bikes, with access at the Bronze Ox, Yulantang, the Paiyun Hall and the West Causeway. Do not step onto ice areas that are not open. If you plan to skate with your own blades, ask at the entrance first.
Walking around the lake
Where the main points sit on the shore.
The east shore holds the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and the Marble Boat sits on the northwest shore at the western foot of Longevity Hill. The Long Corridor runs along the shore at the foot of the front hill. The West Causeway crosses the western part of the lake. Ferry routes start at the Marble Boat and at the bridge, so a one-way ferry can save you a long walk back along the shore.
A boat also gives you the view of the hill and the tower from the water. Whatever you pick, choose a route that ends near the gate you will use to leave, because the ferry fares are for single trips.
Boat safety and rules
The park asks for a few simple things.
Life jackets
Wear the life jacket, stay seated and do not let children steer.
Wind and weather
Boats stop in wind of force 4 or more, heavy rain, weather warnings and sudden storms. Notices at the gates and piers have the current status.
Birds
Do not chase or feed water birds and wild birds on the lake.
Crowds
Weekends and holidays bring longer waits at the piers. A weekday is quieter, and the best time page lists the holiday weeks.
Kunming Lake: frequently asked questions
How much does a boat cost at the Summer Palace?
A self-drive electric boat costs CNY 200 per hour with a CNY 600 deposit. Ferry routes cost CNY 30 to 40 per person one way. Prices are as of 2026.
Is the boat included in the through ticket?
No. Boats are sold separately from the park ticket and the through ticket.
When can I take a boat?
Usually from about mid-March to mid-November, between 08:30 and 17:30. Wind, rain and warnings can stop boats on any day.
Can I skate on Kunming Lake?
Ice activities with rental sleds and ice bikes run in some winters on marked areas. Do not enter ice areas that are not open.
Where does the Seventeen-Arch Bridge lead?
It connects the east shore of the lake with South Lake Island. A ferry route also starts near the bridge.