A few things to know before you plan
This page covers the practical points that affect a visit to the Summer Palace: tickets and your passport, entry to China, paying without a Chinese bank account, and the rules inside the park. It is not a full Beijing guide. For the capital in general, the sister guides linked below go further.
Rules about entry and payment change, so every date on this page is a status for 2026. Check the current position before you book flights.
Booking with your passport
Real-name tickets, online or at the gate.
Online
Foreign visitors can book with a passport or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID in the park's WeChat account called Summer Palace. Tickets can be booked 1 to 7 days ahead for a chosen date and time. You enter with the passport you booked with.
At the gate
Tickets can also be bought at the service counter near the gates. Booking ahead is useful on weekends and holidays, but it is not the only way in.
Entry window
A ticket is valid only in the entry window you chose. Arrive on time, because late entry after the window is not allowed.
Seniors, children and reductions
Visitors aged 60 and over with a valid passport enter free and can go straight to the checkpoint without buying first. Children up to and including 6 years old, or up to and including 1.20 m, enter free. Bring documents for any reduction. Ticket prices and the full rules are on the ticket page.
Beijing tours that include the Summer Palace
Guided and private day trips from Beijing, many with the Summer Palace alongside other sights, with live prices and availability.
Entering China: visa-free rules in 2026
Two separate rules, with the status as of August 2026.
| Rule | Who | Stay | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free transit | Citizens of 57 listed countries | Up to 240 hours (10 days) | Regular passport, a confirmed onward ticket with date and seat to a third country or region, entry and exit at approved border points, stay in the permitted area |
| 30-day visa-free entry | Regular passports from Germany, Austria and Switzerland among the listed states | Up to 30 days | Runs to 31 December 2026 under the current rule |
The transit rule applies at 65 approved border points in 24 provinces, regions and municipalities as of 20 August 2026. The route has to lead on to a third country or region. A round trip back to the same country is a different case. Work, study and journalism need the right permission or visa in advance. Do not read the 30-day rule as a transit right, and do not assume it continues after 31 December 2026.
The 57 countries on the transit list are:
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (40) | Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway |
| Americas (6) | United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile |
| Oceania (2) | Australia, New Zealand |
| Asia (9) | South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan |
For more on entry rules, read the visa-free entry and transit guide.
Paying with a foreign card
Mobile payment works without a Chinese bank account.
Suitable foreign bank cards can be linked to Alipay or to WeChat Pay, and you then pay by QR code like everyone else. This does not work for every card or every account, and not every ticket counter or kiosk accepts it, so keep another way to pay in reserve.
Up to CNY 200 per payment there is generally no platform fee. Above that, a fee of 3 percent on the whole amount can apply. The stated limits are USD 5,000 per transaction and USD 50,000 per year. Check the current terms inside the app. These are payment platform fees. They are not a fee for Summer Palace tickets.
Park rules and contact
What to bring, what to leave at home and who to call.
Buildings and plants
The Summer Palace is a World Heritage site and a national cultural monument. Do not damage, write on or carve into buildings, structures, rocks or trees. Do not dig up plants or pick flowers or fruit.
Fire and flying objects
The park is in the highest fire protection category. Smoking, open fires, barbecues and flammable or explosive items are forbidden. Kites, drones and other flying objects are not allowed.
Animals
Do not bring pets. Do not catch, chase, throw things at or feed animals, including water birds and wild birds.
Wheels
Wheelchairs and strollers are allowed. Other rolling devices and toy vehicles are not. Step-free access to every building cannot be assumed.
Filming and photos
Commercial or public media recordings, including self-media, need registration and permission beforehand. Private photos for your own memory are a different matter.
On the water
Wear a life jacket on boats, stay seated and do not let children steer. Boat operation can stop in wind from force 4, heavy rain or severe weather.
Kunming Lake and boats →Information line
The park information line is +86 10 62881144 and answers around the clock. English information is available from 08:30 to 17:00. It is not a medical emergency number.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to stay, what else to see and the next pages of this guide.
Best time to visit
Weather by month, lotus, autumn and winter ice.
Getting to the Summer Palace
Metro, gates, taxi and train times.
Opening hours
Park and inner areas by season, with last entry.
For a base in the city, see where to stay in Beijing. If you plan a Great Wall day too, the Mutianyu guide to getting there from Beijing covers the trip.
Beijing travel tips: frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Summer Palace tickets online?
No. You can book online with your passport 1 to 7 days ahead, or buy at the service counter near the gates. Booking ahead can save time on busy days.
Can I enter China without a visa?
Under the 240-hour transit rule, citizens of 57 listed countries can stay up to 10 days if they travel on to a third country or region. As of August 2026, regular German, Austrian and Swiss passports also qualify for a 30-day visa-free stay until 31 December 2026.
Is the transit rule the same as the 30-day rule?
No. They are two separate rules with different conditions. Transit needs an onward ticket to a third country or region. The 30-day rule is a separate visa-free stay.
Can I pay with my foreign card?
Often yes, through Alipay or WeChat Pay after you link a suitable card. It does not work for every card, so carry a second way to pay. Up to CNY 200 there is generally no platform fee, above that 3 percent can apply.
Do seniors get free entry as foreigners?
Visitors aged 60 and over with a valid passport enter the park free and can go straight to the checkpoint. Ask about the paid inner areas at the counter.
Can I fly a drone or bring a pet?
No. Pets, kites, drones and other flying objects are not allowed in the park.