
Beijing/Xiuyi Bridge Top Hotel Picks
Select your travel dates to find the best prices and availability

Select your travel dates to find the best prices and availability
Don't miss the Xiuyi Bridge when strolling by Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace! This graceful stone arch bridge looks like a jade ribbon across the water, with the best photo spot right at its center framing perfect reflections of Longevity Hill and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. Come at golden hour when sunset gilds the bridge - pure magic! Those intricate lotus carvings on the railings? They're like the Qing Dynasty artisans' version of Instagram posts.

Everything you need to know about Xiuyi Bridge
Beijing Summer Palace Hotel is the top choice, located just 500 meters from Xiu Yi Bridge. Its guest rooms offer panoramic views of Kunming Lake and the iconic bridge, especially stunning during sunrise or sunset. The hotel blends Qing Dynasty architectural elegance with modern comfort, featuring a private walkway leading directly into the Summer Palace grounds. Guests can enjoy serene lakeside strolls along the historic causeway, experiencing the poetic charm of "a bridge dividing two banks, like a painting in motion".
Conveniently, it takes only 8 minutes to walk from the hotel to Xiu Yi Bridge, and shuttle buses within the park make access effortless. Nearby, lakeside cafés and artisan workshops provide great spots for photography and cultural immersion.
The most convenient route from Beijing Summer Palace Hotel to Xiu Yi Bridge is via the park’s dedicated green pathway, a scenic 8-minute walk lined with classical pavilions and willow trees, perfect for immersing in imperial garden ambiance. For a quicker option, the hotel offers direct access to the park shuttle bus station, where a 3-minute ride gets you to the bridge—free of charge and with frequent departures.
Alternatively, the hotel provides complimentary bicycle rentals, allowing guests to cycle along quiet paths beneath the Longevity Hill, offering intimate views of the landscape. Early morning or late afternoon visits are ideal: fewer crowds and golden-hour lighting enhance photo opportunities, especially the bridge’s reflection on Kunming Lake. The front desk supplies maps and guided brochures to help plan your journey efficiently.
One of the most distinctive experiences near Xiu Yi Bridge is paddle-boating on Kunming Lake, where guests glide beneath the arching bridge, witnessing its shimmering reflection in the water—a true embodiment of "the bridge in the water, the water on the bridge." Some boats even feature traditional Peking Opera music, enhancing the artistic atmosphere.
Nearby, Hanfu rental stations allow visitors to dress in Ming Dynasty-style robes and pose for photos on the bridge. Daily tea ceremony workshops are held in the afternoon, teaching authentic Ming Dynasty tea rituals and flower arrangement. On weekends, imperial poetry gatherings invite scholars to recite verses from the Book of Songs and Qianlong Emperor’s inscriptions. While some events require HopeGoo, the hotel can assist with reservations.
Visitors are encouraged to come early morning, when the lake is calm, ducks glide silently, and the scene feels meditative—transforming the bridge into a living masterpiece of Chinese aesthetics.
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