North Palace Gate (Beigongmen)

The North Palace Gate is the most recommended and commonly used entrance to the Summer Palace after the East Palace Gate, especially if you want to avoid the largest crowds and follow a logical, scenic route. Here's what you need to know about from essential services like ticket purchase and luggage storage to the perfect walking route beginning from this gate.
 

North Palace Gate

Stone Lion & Service Counter

 
Choosing the North Gate as your starting point offers several key advantages for your visit. Firstly, it provides direct access to popular attractions like Suzhou Market Street and the Four Great Regions complex, allowing you to explore them before crowds build up. Secondly, it is generally less crowded than the bustling East Gate, ensuring a smoother and quicker entry. Most importantly, it begins your journey in the serene rear hills, leading you on a logical, scenic route that naturally unfolds towards the iconic front-hill landmarks and the shores of Kunming Lake, creating a perfectly paced touring experience.
 
Before you enter, here's how to get settled quickly. The gate itself is a historic structure where the side halls house modern conveniences. 
 

The Gate as an Entrance

North Palace Gate Subway Station

 
You can purchase your entrance ticket or a more comprehensive combo ticket (which includes entry to separately charged spots like the Tower of Buddhist Incense) at the service counters. This is also where you can rent an audio guide (available in multiple languages) and pick up a map.
 
Self-service lockers are available near Exit C of North Palace Gate Subway Station (5-minute walk from the gate). 

Rates: CNY 20/day for large suitcases, CNY 10/day for small backpacks. Some lockers operate 24/7; others have fixed hours.
 
After entering, it's recommended to follow this efficient route that covers the palace's major highlights:

North Palace Gate → Suzhou Market Street → Four Great Regions → Through the Wonderland → Marble Boat → Long Gallery → Tower of Buddhist Incense → Hall of Joyful Longevity → Hall of Benevolence and Longevity→ Seventeen-Arch Bridge → Exit at Newly-Built Palace Gate
 

Upon Entering North Palace Gate

 
This route begins with the replica water town of Suzhou Market Street and the sprawling Buddhist architecture of the Four Great Regions. It then leads you along gentle paths to the front hill area, past iconic sights like the Marble Boat and the magnificent Long Gallery, before concluding with a stroll along Kunming Lake past the Seventeen-Arch Bridge.
 

Rear Hill Area

Four Great Regions

 
1. Suzhou Market Street is open but under major renovation until late 2026, and requires combo ticket or separate CNY 10 fee. Consider skipping it and heading directly to the Four Great Regions.
2. The path from the gate up to the Four Great Regions involves steep stairs, so wear comfortable shoes and ensure you have sufficient energy.
 
The most convenient way to reach the North Palace Gate is by subway. Take Line 4 and exit D of North Palace Gate Station, then walk for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can take multiple bus lines like 303, 330, 331, or 346 to "Summer Palace North Palace Gate" and walk approximately 4 minutes.
 

North Palace Gate Bus Stop

 
Dining options are located around the North Palace Gate subway station, a five-minute walk right from the gate, offering Chinese, Western fast food, and Japanese cuisine. However, the overall selection is limited and scattered. For a broader range of dining choices, it’s recommended to head to the East Palace Gate area.

If you have energy left and time permits after exiting the North Palace Gate, the nearby Old Summer Palace is a great next stop. You can walk to the North Palace Gate subway station and take the subway for 2 stops in about 5 minutes, to reach the park. Additionally, Peking University and Tsinghua University, China’s top two institutions, are within a 15-minute walk from Old Summer Palace, offering opportunities for a combined visit.
 
While the North Palace Gate serves a very practical purpose for today's visitors, its architecture tells the story of its grand past. For those interested in the history behind the entrance, here's a closer look.
 

North Palace Gate

 
Built in 1750, the North Palace Gate holds a unique distinction: it was originally designed as the main entrance to the Summer Palace. This is unusual in traditional Chinese architecture, where the south gate typically holds this primary role. The reason was purely practical—Kunming Lake lay to the south, making the north side the most logical point of arrival. 

The gate's design reflects its importance. It is a substantial two-story gatehouse with encircling corridors on both levels, flanked by side halls. Guarding the entrance is a pair of stone lions, each 1.85 meters (6.07 feet) tall, dating back to its initial construction. The approach over a three-arched stone bridge towards a striking red screen wall would have made a powerful first impression.
 

Historic Bridge & Screen Wall Outside the Gate

 
More than just an entrance, the north gatehouse's second floor once served as a grandstand for Emperor Qianlong's (1711-1799) mother to review equestrian performances, while the side halls provided space for officials to work and rest. Following its destruction in a fire in 1860 and subsequent reconstruction in the late 19th century, the gate's role changed. The East Palace Gate became the principal entrance, and the North Palace Gate has served as a key secondary entrance since then.