The Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan, is a historical site located in the Haidian district of Beijing, China. It was originally built in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty and served as the imperial gardens and summer palace for emperors. The site is famous for its stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and rich history.
The Old Summer Palace is located approximately 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) northwest of the Forbidden City, which is in the center of Beijing. The distance between the two landmarks can be covered by different means of transportation.
Bus: Take bus 103 at the north gate of the Forbidden City (神武门 Gate of Divine Prowess), transfer to 320 at Ganjiakou Dasha Stop (甘家口大厦 Ganjiakou Plaza), get off at the west gate of Tsinghua University (清华大学西门), and walk about 600 meters to the northwest to reach the entrance of Old Summer Palace. The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours and costs 4 RMB.
Bus+Subway: Take bus 103, 101, or 124 at the Gate of Divine Prowess, transfer to subway line 4 at Xisi Station (西四站), and get off at Old Summer Palace Station (圆明园 Yuanmingyuan), exit the station from Exit B, and you will be standing at the box office. The whole journey takes about 50 minutes and costs 7 RMB.
Taxi: You can easily hire a taxi or book a private car to take you from the Forbidden City to the Old Summer Palace. The ride takes approximately 30-40 minutes and costs about 50 RMB, depending on traffic. You can show the following words to the driver: “请带我到圆明园南门入口”.