Summer Palace 頤和園
Beijing, China UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Summer Palace is a palace in Beijing and is part of China's Four Great Gardens. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognized as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.
Planning a visit
The Summer Palace is 16 km from Beijing and 29 km from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Visitors can combine a trip here with visits to the Old Summer Palace, which is 3.6 km away, or the Beijing National Stadium, 10.4 km away. Other nearby sites include Jingshan Park, Yonghe Temple, and Zhongnanhai.
Weather is warmest from June to August, with daily highs reaching about 32 °C, though July is the wettest month with about 173 mm of rain. For cooler temperatures, visit in October when highs are around 20 °C. The palace is open Monday to Saturday from 06:30 to 18:00. Admission is ¥60 from April to October and ¥50 from November to March.
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 | 26 | 38 | 79 | 173 | 143 | 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.
