Peking Duck
Lacquer-skinned duck carved tableside. Book ahead or queue with the locals — both worth it.
Siji Minfu Roast Duck · Beijing
The Summer Palace
Beijing4.83 hr19k saved
Cixi's lakeside retreat, three-quarters water, built around Kunming Lake beneath Longevity Hill. Walk the 728m Long Corridor — every beam hand-painted with a different scene — to the foot of the hill, climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense for the lake panorama, then find the famous Marble Boat. In summer rent a pedal boat; come autumn the willows on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge turn gold.
Good to know
- Closed Mondays. Grounds, Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill are open daily; the inner ticketed buildings close Mondays (except public holidays).
- Book ahead. Buy the through-ticket for inner sites; passport required (WeChat 'Summer Palace' official account or at gate); book ahead on weekends/holidays.
- Best time — morning — Softer light on Kunming Lake, fewer crowds, time to walk the Long Corridor before tour groups; or late afternoon toward
- Gates/grounds: Peak (Apr 1-Oct 31) ~06:30-18:00, Off ~07:00-17:00 (gates open earlier ~06:00-06:30).
- Enter at North Palace Gate to start uphill
- Walk the full painted Long Corridor
- Rent a boat to see it from the water
Insider tip — Enter North Palace Gate, take a dragon-boat or walk the Seventeen-Arch Bridge across Kunming Lake to exit south (one-way, no backtracking); climb the Tower of Buddhist In
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