Yuanmingyuan is the pinnacle of ancient Chinese garden art and one of the world's cultural heritage sites. It once served as the summer palace of the Qing emperors, covering an area of about 350 hectares. Known as "Ten Thousand Gardens in One," it is not only home to exquisite architectural complexes and precious cultural relics but also rich in natural scenery and profound historical culture. If you plan to visit Yuanmingyuan, the following travel information will help you better plan your trip.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of Yuanmingyuan vary depending on the season. From April 1st to October 31st, the park gate opens at 6:00 a.m., and ticket sales begin at 7:00 a.m. Ticket sales stop at 7:00 p.m., and entry is prohibited at 7:00 p.m. The park closes at 9:00 p.m. The Western Pavilion site and the "Golden Age" full-scale model exhibition area open at 7:00 a.m., and entry stops at 7:00 p.m., with the exhibition closing at 9:00 p.m.
From November 1st to March 31st of the following year, the park gate opens at 6:30 a.m., and ticket sales begin at 7:00 a.m. Ticket sales stop at 5:30 p.m., and entry is prohibited at 5:30 p.m. The park closes at 7:30 p.m. The Western Pavilion site and the "Golden Age" full-scale model exhibition area open at 7:00 a.m., and the exhibition closes at 5:30 p.m.
Ticket Information
Ticket prices vary depending on the visitor. Adult tickets cost 10 yuan per person, and half-price tickets cost 5 yuan per person. If you want to learn more about the history of Yuanmingyuan, you can choose to purchase a combined ticket, which costs 25 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for half-price tickets. Please note that tickets are no longer sold two hours before the ticket sales stop, and the ticket sales time for the "inner gardens" is the same as the main gate. After ticket sales stop, entry is no longer allowed.
Transportation
Reaching Yuanmingyuan is quite convenient. You can take buses such as 331, 424, 432, 438, 498, 508, 579, 601, 664, and special route 19 to the Qichun Garden Gate. Alternatively, you can take buses such as 305, 320, 365, 375, 424, 432, 626, 664, 982, and special route 4 to the Changchun Garden East Gate. The subway Line 4 at Yuanmingyuan Station, Exit B, is also a convenient entrance.
Other Services
Yuanmingyuan has several cultural and creative shops, such as the Qing History Bookstore, the Zhengjue Temple Creative Shop, the Jianbiting Creative Shop, and others. These places not only sell books related to Yuanmingyuan but also offer various creative products, such as stationery, souvenirs, and handicrafts. If you like stamping, you can buy a passport or other stampable creative products at the cultural shops and stamp them with the Yuanmingyuan seal, leaving a unique travel memory.
Tips:
Yuanmingyuan currently does not provide luggage storage services, so it is recommended that visitors carry as little as possible. Also, the park's opening hours may change slightly depending on the weather or special circumstances, so it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.
