Summer Palace hosts Osmanthus exhibition until 12 October

Summer Palace in Beijing is hosting its 25th Osmanthus Culture Exhibition until 12 October, with displays spread through historic garden areas.

Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) in Beijing is hosting its 25th Osmanthus Culture Exhibition from 22 September to 12 October 2026. The autumn programme places seasonal flowers among the halls, gardens and water landscapes of one of China’s best-known imperial sites.

Summer Palace hosts Osmanthus Culture Exhibition until 12 October

The exhibition opened on 22 September and remains scheduled through 12 October, putting it inside the current October travel window. An official Beijing events guide names the Summer Palace as the venue and identifies the exhibition as the 25th Osmanthus Culture Exhibition.

The programme is built around osmanthus, with chrysanthemums, orchids, jasmine and hibiscus also included in the planting displays. The official Beijing guide describes the exhibition as a network of flower views and themed landscape points rather than a single indoor show, linking the seasonal displays to the garden’s historic setting.

Flower displays follow the Summer Palace’s imperial garden layout

The exhibition’s main focus is Dehe Garden, while the wider presentation uses historic buildings and garden routes. This gives the event a direct connection to the site: visitors encounter the flowers within the palace landscape rather than in a separate modern exhibition hall.

The garden was first built in 1750 and was largely destroyed during the war of 1860. It was restored on its original foundations in 1886, and the resulting landscape combines hills, open water, pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges, according to UNESCO’s heritage record. The flower exhibition therefore occupies a landscape whose present form reflects both Qing imperial design and later restoration.

The Summer Palace has been a public park since 1924 and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill form its principal natural framework, while the Long Corridor, the Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge are among its named features.

What the October exhibition adds to a palace visit

The event connects a short seasonal display with the site’s permanent structure. Osmanthus is the central theme, but the accompanying flowers and viewing points extend the experience beyond Dehe Garden to other parts of the imperial garden.

For travellers from Western Europe, the practical distinction is important: the exhibition is a time-limited programme within the Summer Palace, not a change to the monument’s permanent status. The listed closing date is 12 October 2026, after which the seasonal presentation should not be treated as an ongoing attraction without a new announcement.

Visiting Summer Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The 25th Osmanthus Culture Exhibition runs from 22 September to 12 October 2026 at the Summer Palace, with Dehe Garden among the named focus areas.
• The flower presentation is arranged inside the imperial garden and includes osmanthus, chrysanthemums, orchids, jasmine and hibiscus. The programme is therefore tied to the park landscape rather than a separate city venue.
• The site is in Haidian District in north-west Beijing, around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. The official address is 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing.
• Visitors will encounter a large historic garden with open water, hills, bridges, roofed corridors, halls and pavilions. Routes can include uneven outdoor ground and steps around historic structures.
• China’s official language is Mandarin Chinese and its national currency is the renminbi.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Summer Palace

When does the Osmanthus Culture Exhibition take place at Summer Palace?

The 25th Osmanthus Culture Exhibition runs from 22 September to 12 October 2026.

What is Summer Palace?

It is an imperial garden in Beijing built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, first constructed in 1750 and restored on its original foundations in 1886.

Where is Summer Palace and how do you get there?

It is in Haidian District in north-west Beijing at 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.