Old Summer Palace 圓明園
The Old Summer Palace is a protected area of ruins and a Chinese AAAAA-rated tourist attraction in Beijing. It is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.
Planning a visit
The site is 15 km from Beijing and can be reached via Beijing Capital International Airport, which is 26 km away. Visitors can combine a trip here with nearby locations such as the Summer Palace, which is 3.6 km away, or the Beijing National Stadium, located 7.5 km from the ruins. Other nearby sites include Yonghe Temple, Jingshan Park, and Zhongnanhai.
Weather conditions vary throughout the year. The warmest months are June, July, and August, with daily highs reaching 30 °C to 32 °C and significant rainfall, particularly in July with about 173 mm. The coolest period is between December and February, when daily lows can drop to -9 °C. The site is open Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 19:30. The entrance fee is ¥25.
Weather by month
The warmest month is June, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is July, with about 173 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 2 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 10 | 3 |
| Average low, °C | -9 | -6 | -1 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 7 | -2 | -6 |
| Rainfall, mm | 3 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 79 | 173 | 144 | 52 | 23 | 10 | 3 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
