All Inclusive Beijing Private Day Tour to Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace
Description
Looking to explore the rich history and culture of Beijing in a hassle-free way? Look no further than the All Inclusive Beijing Private Day Tour to Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace! This tour offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure as you wander through the stunning grounds of both palaces, admiring classical Chinese architecture, lush gardens, and serene lakes. Your knowledgeable guide will regale you with fascinating stories about the emperors who once called these palaces home, providing insights into ancient Chinese customs and traditions. Stroll through the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, which was destroyed during the Second Opium War. With lunch included and transportation provided, this private tour ensures a stress-free day exploring Beijing's imperial past. Come along for an unforgettable journey back in time!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your professional guide and driver will meet you at the lobby of your hotel. They are experienced and well-versed in providing a seamless and enjoyable tour experience. The guide will introduce themselves and briefly go over the day's schedule, answering any initial questions you may have. Then, you'll be comfortably transferred to the first destination of the day - the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. It served as a summer retreat for the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty. Spanning over 290 hectares, it combines palaces, temples, pavilions, and beautiful natural scenery.
Upon arrival, you will visit the most important buildings. First stop is the Hall of Happiness and Longevity was the place where the emperor held court and handled government affairs during his stay at the Summer Palace. The hall features a throne and various imperial symbols. Here, you can learn about the political activities that took place within these walls and how the imperial court functioned. The architecture and interior decoration reflect the grandeur and formality of the Qing - Dynasty imperial power. Yu Lan Tang was the residence of Emperor Guangxu during his stay in the Summer Palace. It is named after the magnolia trees planted in its courtyard. The hall has a simple yet elegant layout. Emperor Guangxu was under the control of Empress Dowager Cixi for a long time, and this place witnessed some of the power struggles and political changes of that era. You can imagine the life of the emperor in this relatively private living area.
Next is the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, it was the living quarters of Empress Dowager Cixi. It is a magnificent building with a large courtyard. The interior is decorated with precious antiques and traditional Chinese furniture. Here, you can learn about the luxurious lifestyle of the imperial family and the political power Cixi held during her reign. The hall's design and furnishings showcase the opulence and status of the empress dowager. The Long Corridor is a covered walkway that stretches for 728 meters. It is famous for its 14,000 painted scenes, including historical stories, folk tales, and natural landscapes. As you stroll along, your guide will explain the meaning behind some of the most interesting paintings, giving you a deeper understanding of Chinese art and culture. The Long Corridor not only serves as a passageway but also as an art gallery, connecting different parts of the Summer Palace's scenic areas.
Finally, arrive at the Marble Boat, also known as the Qingyan Stone Boat, is a unique structure made entirely of marble. It was built in 1755. Standing on the boat, you can enjoy the beautiful views of Kunming Lake and the surrounding gardens. Your guide will share the historical significance of this structure, such as its symbolism in imperial architecture. For those interested, there is an option to take a relaxing boat ride on Kunming Lake at your own expense. As you glide across the water, you can admire the panorama of the Summer Palace from a different perspective. The lake is dotted with small islands and bridges, adding to the charm of the scenery. Please note that the cost of this boat ride is not included in the all - inclusive tour price. A delicious Chinese lunch is included in the tour. You'll have the opportunity to taste a variety of traditional Beijing dishes.
In the afternoon visit the Old Summer Palace, was a vast imperial garden complex. It was unfortunately destroyed during the Second Opium War in 1860 by Anglo-French forces. Despite its ruins, it still holds great historical value and is a symbol of China's modern history. Your guide will lead you through the ruins, pointing out the remains of palaces, temples, and other structures. You'll learn about the grandeur of the Old Summer Palace before its destruction and the tragic events that led to its ruin. The guide will share stories about the emperors who used to live here and the cultural treasures that were once housed in this magnificent garden. After the guided tour, you'll have some free time to wander around the ruins at your own pace. You can take photos, soak in the historical atmosphere, and reflect on the significance of this site. After a fulfilling day of exploring Beijing's imperial past, your driver and guide will transfer you back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up from your hotel within the 4th ring road of Beijing city, please provide the hotel details when make booking. If your hotel is out of the 5th ring road of Beijing city, may have extra cost.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes
Reviews(13)
Mike was our guide and he was excellent! Humorous, knowledgable and accommodating. It was a great way to see both summer palaces. Mike also made an effort to bring us to a local restaurant for lunch instead of the usual touristy eateries. We were lucky to get Mike on a great tour!
Our guide Mike was excellent! We booked 5 tours from viator (it turned out they were all from the same tour provider) and he was the best of the 5! He is humorous, knowledgeable and accommodating. After the tour, he made an effort to bring us to a local restaurant for lunch instead of the usual touristy eateries. Thank you Mike!
We had a wonderful guide, Mike! Well spoken English and his passion for history shines through. Knowledgeable and balanced in his delivery. Making the tour of the 2 places very enjoyable.
Mike our tour guide was an excellent source of information. We really enjoyed the whole day with his engaging stories and history of the sites. The gardens and lake were beautiful to behold.
We really enjoyed our day touring the New and Old Summer Palaces with Kelly. She was terrific! She gave us so much background during our drive time, providing context that she referred back to on site. She made sure that our day was well paced, took great photos and answered all our questions. The New Summer Palace was spectacular with a large lake and lots to see including a pagoda. The Old Summer palace was in ruins but interesting as well. Definitely worth it if you have seen all the big sites in Beijing and want to learn more about the Qin dynasty but not necessarily a must do. We did not enjoy the lunch buffet at the pearl market that was included but appreciated the fact that there was not pressure to buy pearls.
We enjoyed our tour of the Summer Palace and its beautiful gardens. Kelly was very knowledgeable and easy to listen to. She ordered delicious dishes for lunch at a lovely local restaurant before we continued on our tour to the Ild Summer Palace. The driver and spacious EV car were great. Highly recommend Kelly and we learnt a lot of the Chinese history from her.
We chose the 8:30 AM option for our tour, and both Kelly and our designated driver arrived slightly early, which worked out perfectly for us. Kelly has a calm, approachable persona and is an absolute delight to be around. As this was a private tour, the pace was relaxed and elderly-friendly—an important factor for me as I was traveling with my parents. Even as the crowds began to build midway through our visit, Kelly remained attentive, regularly checking in to make sure we were comfortable and never lost in the flow of people. Her patience and thoughtfulness made a big difference throughout the day. She expertly guided us through the palaces, pointing out historical details that we would’ve otherwise missed. She also helped us take plenty of beautiful photos. The lunch spot was delicious and did not look like a dingy tourist restaurant. Highly recommend this tour as it focuses on Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace instead of rushing you through multiple attractions. Both locations are not only visually stunning but also rich in history, with relics carefully preserved and thoughtfully displayed for the public.
Our tour guide Alice is very knowledgeable and she walked us thru the summer palace and old summer palace. There is nothing much to see at the old summer palace.
We did many tours in Beijing and this was one of our favorites. Mike was an outstanding tour guide- extremely knowledgeable and friendly with excellent communication skills. The Summer Palace is a beautiful area, and even in the heat of June there’s enough shade to keep you cool. My wife and I loved strolling around the lake admiring the incredible art painted all along the covered corridor- just get ready to have a sore neck from looking up constantly. The Old Summer Palace is more of an Italian ruin, but Mike does a wonderful job explaining what the ruins were like in there heyday. We highly recommend the extra boat ride at the end- it’s a lovey park to see from the water and you will be tired of walking by then!
5/5 would recommend our guide Jack and this tour! Aside from his good sense of humor, his tall height is able to capture great photos! There was never a dull moment even after spending 12 hours with him from the summer palace to old summer palace to the temple, river area and finally ending in the Olympic village. His attention to detail gave us a lot of insight on all the spots we visited. Jack is very knowledgeable and we can't wait to go back to Beijing and learn from Jack again. Not many tours visit the old summer palace as it is not popular with foreigners but no regrets paying it a visit!
