Suzhou Street at a glance
Suzhou Street is an imperial market street built on both sides of a canal at the back lake of the Summer Palace. Its model was the towns of southern China, the Jiangnan region. It was a market staged for the court, with shops and stalls along the water, and not a street of everyday trade.
Do not confuse it with the city street of the same name or with the Suzhoujie metro station. Neither is part of the park. The Summer Palace street lies inside the park and needs its own ticket.
The street was built under the Qianlong Emperor and destroyed in 1860. Rebuilding began in 1986, and it opened to visitors on 16 September 1990. The canal is more than 300 metres long. What you walk today is a reconstruction, not an unbroken street from the Qianlong period. This site is an independent guide and has no link to the park administration.
Tickets and hours for Suzhou Street
2026 prices in Chinese yuan (CNY). The street is one of the paid areas inside the park.
| 1 April to 31 October | 1 November to 31 March | |
|---|---|---|
| Park ticket | CNY 30 | CNY 20 |
| Suzhou Street add-on ticket | CNY 10 | CNY 10 |
| Through Ticket (park and paid areas) | CNY 60 | CNY 50 |
| Opens | 08:00 | 08:30 |
| Last entry | 17:30 | 16:30 |
| Closes | 18:00 | 17:00 |
The street follows the same Monday rule as the tower, Deheyuan and the museum: closed on Mondays except on the named holidays. Do not treat the last entry as your plan. Arrive by early afternoon, so you have time for the whole canal and are not rushed at the gate.
If the street is your main reason for the visit, check at the ticket office that it is open on your day before you buy the add-on ticket. Check the current timetable before you go.
Summer Palace tours and tickets
Entry tickets, guided walks and day trips that include the Summer Palace, with live prices and availability.
History of Suzhou Street
The Qianlong Emperor had the market street laid out as part of the garden. The canal and the shopfronts imitated a town on the water in the south, staged as a market for the court.
In 1860 Anglo-French troops destroyed the street along with most of the garden. The reconstruction began in 1986, and the street was opened on 16 September 1990. The rest of the garden was rebuilt earlier, from 1886, as described on the history page.
For the main residence of the court in the city, the Beijing palace has its own guide at forbidden-city.org.
How to plan the visit
Four things to decide before you go.
Add-on ticket or Through Ticket
One paid area costs CNY 10 on top of the park ticket. If you also want the tower, Deheyuan or the museum, compare with the Through Ticket.
Tickets →Pick a weekday
Monday is closed, so aim for Tuesday to Friday. Weekends and holidays bring longer waits at the boats and more people on the shoreline.
Best time to visit →Go early in the day
Start in the morning and walk the canal first. Then continue to the lake side and the Long Corridor.
Long Corridor →Consider the boat
A boat route runs from Suzhou Street West to Suyunyan for CNY 30 per person. It is a one-way fare with no return trip on the same ticket. Ask at the pier whether the route runs on your day.
Kunming Lake and boats →Suzhou Street compared with other paid areas
All 2026 add-on prices in the park, in addition to the park ticket.
| Area | Add-on price | Same Monday rule |
|---|---|---|
| Suzhou Street | CNY 10 | Yes |
| Tower of Buddhist Incense | CNY 10 | Yes |
| Deheyuan (Garden of Virtue and Harmony) | CNY 5 | Yes |
| Summer Palace Museum | CNY 20 | Yes |
The Through Ticket covers the park and the paid areas for CNY 60 from April to October and CNY 50 from November to March. Free entry and reductions apply to children up to 6 years or 1.20 m and to visitors aged 60 and over with a passport. Bring proof.
Plan the rest of your visit
More sights and practical pages.
Suzhou Street: frequently asked questions
What is Suzhou Street at the Summer Palace?
An imperial market street along a canal at the back lake, modelled on a southern Chinese water town. It was built for the court and rebuilt from 1986 after the destruction of 1860.
How much is the ticket for Suzhou Street?
CNY 10 in 2026 on top of the park ticket, or you use the Through Ticket at CNY 60 from April to October and CNY 50 from November to March.
When is Suzhou Street open?
From 08:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:30 from April to October, and from 08:30 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:30 from November to March. It is closed on Mondays except on the named holidays. Arrive by early afternoon.
Is it the same as the Suzhoujie metro station?
No. The metro station and the city street are separate places. The Summer Palace street lies inside the park and needs its own ticket.
Is the street original?
No. The Qianlong-period street was destroyed in 1860. Rebuilding began in 1986, and it opened on 16 September 1990.