《Unveiling the Secrets of the Old Summer Palace! This Guide Will Make You an Instant Expert》

A Deep Dive into the Old Summer Palace: I Found Emperor Qianlong's "Secret Garden" in the Ruins and Unlocked a Palace-Style Maze! Opening Story: A Dialogue Spanning Time and Space "Did you know? The Yellow Flower Maze in the Old Summer Palace was specially designed by Emperor Qianlong for his concubines to stroll through with lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival!" Standing at the entrance of the maze, the guide's words instantly made me imagine the scene of palace lanterns swaying and laughter echoing a hundred years ago. This royal garden, known as the "Garden of Gardens," may now be just ruins, but it holds countless secrets that even long-time Beijing residents may not know—from AR experiences at the Western-Style Mansions site to the "Monet's Water Lilies" by Fuhai Lake. Turns out, there are so many fun ways to explore the Old Summer Palace! Part 1｜Avoid the Crowds! A Local's Secret Tour Route Recommended Route: South Gate → Jianbi Pavilion (Stamp Collection) → Intersection of the Three Gardens → Western-Style Mansions Site (Must-See Grand Waterworks) → Boating on Fuhai Lake → Panoramic Sand Table → Black Swan Lake → Exit from the East Gate 7:30 AM Enter through the South Gate: Take advantage of the small crowds and head straight to the Jianbi Pavilion cultural and creative shop! Here, you can collect limited-edition Old Summer Palace stamps. Collect all 5 to unlock the hidden "Grand Waterworks" stamp, and your photos will instantly outshine those of other tourists on social media. 9:00 AM Western-Style Mansions Site: Don't squeeze in at the front of the Grand Waterworks! Go around to the stone screen behind the Water Watching Method and use a wide-angle lens to shoot the remaining pillars and the sky to form a geometric composition, easily capturing a magazine-worthy shot. Secret spot: the stone steps on the east side of the Haiyan Hall site. Squat down and use the base of the Chinese zodiac statues as the foreground to create a full sense of historical vicissitudes. 11:00 AM Boating on Fuhai Lake: Rent an electric boat (CNY 80/hour), pass through the lotus bushes, and head straight to the island in the center of the lake. When the water lilies are in full bloom at the end of May, you'll feel like you've stepped into a Monet painting. Secret tip: The bow of the boat has its own sunshade, creating a soft-focus filter for your photos! Part 2｜Hidden Gems That 99% of Tourists Miss "Palace Games" in the Yellow Flower Maze: In the Western-Style Mansions scenic area, be sure to challenge yourself with Emperor Qianlong's maze! Close your eyes, walk 10 steps while touching the wall, and then turn right. It is said that this is how the concubines found their way out back then (personally tested and effective). Elegant Encounter at Black Swan Lake: In the Black Swan Lake area on the north side of Changchun Garden, you're likely to see the swan couple parading with their babies around 3pm. Remember to keep your voice down and approach quietly so you don't scare away the "royal pets." Time Travel with the Panoramic Sand Table: At the sand table exhibition near Hanjing Hall, you can scan with AR to see the original appearance of the buildings! Stare at the "Fanghu Shengjing" model for 5 seconds, and a fountain animation will suddenly appear on your phone screen, amazing even your parents. Part 3｜Things to Avoid: Three Things Not to Buy in the Old Summer Palace Don't buy: The CNY 25 Chinese zodiac ice cream in the scenic area tastes like frozen sugar water. Money-saving tip: Borrow props from passers-by for photos! Don't eat: The fried sausage set meal by Fuhai Lake (CNY 38/portion) is not as good as the "Old Beijing Fried Sauce Noodle Restaurant" to the right of the East Gate, where you can get a filling meal for CNY 15 with pickled garlic as a free side. Must-buy: The "Lotus Sachet" (CNY 19.9) from the San Kong Bridge cultural and creative shop has a light herbal fragrance that is great for repelling mosquitoes, and it's also a great prop for taking photos with a classic style! Part 4｜Super Practical Tips! Tickets & Transportation & Seasonal Secrets Tickets: Joint ticket CNY 25 (including the Western-Style Mansions/Panoramic Sand Table), half price for students, free for those over 60! No reservation required, just scan your ID card to enter (except during holidays). Opening Hours: Peak season 7:00–19:00 (April–October), Western-Style Mansions are lit up until 21:00 on Friday/Saturday evenings, a must-see for night owls! Transportation: Take Metro Line 4 to Yuanmingyuan Station, Exit B, and it's a 5-minute walk to the South Gate. Self-driving visitors should note: There are few parking spaces at the East Gate, so you need to arrive before 9am to get one. Seasonal Specials: April: Magnolia blossoms at Jianbi Pavilion, wear Hanfu to take "palace flower appreciation" photos September: Ginkgo Avenue is covered with golden leaves, perfect for backlight shots at 4pm December: Red walls reflecting snow at Zhengjue Temple, take "Forbidden City alternative" photos Conclusion: Save this guide to unlock both sides of the Old Summer Palace! On the way back from the Old Summer Palace, my friend looked at the photos and exclaimed, "Turns out you can dig up treasures even in the ruins!" Next time you come, why not follow this route—collect stamps in the morning, challenge the maze in the afternoon, boat and chase swans in the evening, and watch the lights illuminate the wounds of history at night. Also, don't forget to take an AR trip to the panoramic sand table. After all, who can resist an Old Summer Palace that is both tragic and romantic? 🌟Click to save and copy this guide for your next visit! Old Summer Palace