12 kilometers to the north-west of Beijing, the Summer Palace covers a total area of 290 hectares or nearly 3 million square meters. Approximately three fourths of this area is water. Ancient pavilions, halls, and palaces on the grounds occupy more than 70,000 square meters and comprise more than 3000 rooms or compartments. The summer palace is home to more than 400,000 trees.

Most tourists enter the Summer Palace through the eastern gate, passing by the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the main palace and political center of China during the reign of Empress Dowager, before moving on to the highest concentration of halls and pavilions along the north shore of Kunming Lake.

Major landmarks in the Summer Palace include Longevity Hill, a 58 meter hill, on which rest the some of the most important and visible towers and pavilions of the palace; Kunming Lake, 220 hectares in area and encircled by a long dike; the Covered Promenade, a 700 meter long walkway running east-west along the northern shore of Kunming Lake, consisting of 273 sections and more than 8000 unique paintings depicting Chinese folklore and natural scenery; the Marble Boat, built by Emperor Qianlong in 1755 to symbolize the stable governance of the Qing Dynasty; and the 17-Arch Bridge, connecting South Lake Island to the eastern shore of Kunming lake.

Admission to the site is now 35 RMB for foreigners and natives alike, and includes a souvenir ticket, complete with Qing dynasty era coin replica and route map on the back. Sites within the Summer Palace can be reached on foot and via the popular Dragon Boats (20 RMB per ride) which run back and forth continually on Kunming Lake.