Beijing - when time is limited - Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace?

[Tampa Girl]

For those of you who have visited both sites, if your time was limited to two hours, which would you choose? I realize that one can spend hours at the Summer Palace, but I don't think I could handle that amount of time, anyway. Thanks for any input.

[Lolotte]

summer palace hands down.

[Traveler808]

For those of you who have visited both sites, if your time was limited to two hours, which would you choose? I realize that one can spend hours at the Summer Palace, but I don't think I could handle that amount of time, anyway. Thanks for any input.

 

I have been to both sites a few times and if I were to go to Beijing and had to choose only one site, it would be the Summer Palace...No question about it.

[Iluvcruising2]

I personally found the Temple of Heaven more iconic.

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Summer Palace was a big place. Very spread out.

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[Floridiana]

I also liked the summer palace better, but with traffic in Being as it is, I would chose the site that is closer to the other sites you are visiting. Since we had a guide and driver, I did not pay attention to the distances we were travelling.

[Hoyaheel]

I also liked the summer palace better, but with traffic in Being as it is, I would chose the site that is closer to the other sites you are visiting. Since we had a guide and driver, I did not pay attention to the distances we were travelling.

Ditto to this. We originally wanted to do Forbidden City & Summer Palace but our guide explained traffic to us, so we ended up staying more centrally and doing Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven (then a really private section of the Wall on the following morning - Huanghuacheng, followed by a drive to the airport - this was at the end of a business trip when a colleague and I had to fit all the tourism we wanted to do in a day and a half ;p)

[ROCruiser]

If time allows, definitely Summer Palace.

[GrandmaHofmann]

Be aware that you don't just walk right up to the Temple from the street. It takes some walking to get to it. Summer Palace is awfully large for a short stop.

[The_Big_M]

Although I would say I prefer Summer Palace, if you literally only have 2 hours as you say, I don't think I'd choose it.

 

The thing there is relaxing, seeing multiple things. In a short time, I'm not sure what I'd focus on and not sure any single thing really stands out, and wouldn't want to rush through it.

[PCWalton1]

With the time limit I would choose the Temple of Heaven. The Summer Palace is beautiful along the lake but too spread out for a two hour visit.

[tommui987]

Summer Palace or Temple of Heaven? Two or so hours?

Depends where you are when you start.

 

 

Temple of Heaven is sort of in-Beijing proper. Summer Palace is outside of Beijing.

So if you factor travel time to get there in your two-hour span, Temple of Heaven hands-down.

 

 

Summer Palace, to my mind, is a better site to visit, but Temple of Heaven is interesting and worthwhile place to see.

[bonsai3s]

Agree with both PCWalton1 and tommui987...for both their good reasons...Temple of Heaven. :)