Marble Boat
Monument Ornate lakeside pavilion at the Summer Palace
A lakeside pavilion at Beijing’s Summer Palace, built in a boat form on Kunming Lake. Tourists include park visitors interested in Qing-era architecture and imperial gardens.
The Marble Boat, also called the Boat of Purity and Ease, is a lakeside pavilion at the Summer Palace in Beijing, sitting on the northern shore of Kunming Lake. It is a decorative structure designed to look like a two-tiered boat resting on a stone base.
The original structure was built in the 18th century; the current pavilion dates from a late-19th-century reconstruction and features a stone platform topped by a multilevel wooden superstructure painted and decorated to resemble a boat. Though called the Marble Boat, much of the visible upper structure is timber rather than solid marble.
It functions as an architectural feature within the imperial garden complex rather than a working vessel and is a common stop on visitor routes through the Summer Palace grounds.
Located in the Haidian District of northwest Beijing, the Marble Boat is within the UNESCO-listed Summer Palace parkland and is accessible from the palace pathways along Kunming Lake.
- Location within Summer Palace: Sits on the northern shore of Kunming Lake within Beijing's Summer Palace complex and is one of the palace's most photographed features.
- Construction history: Original structure dates to 1755; the extant pavilion was rebuilt in 1893 during renovations associated with the late Qing court.
How to Get to Marble Boat #
Located on the northwest shore of Kunming Lake within the Summer Palace in Haidian District. From central Beijing take Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen (North Palace Gate) station; it’s a short walk from there along the palace grounds.
Tips for Visiting Marble Boat #
- See the Marble Boat as part of a circuit of the Summer Palace - the lakeside walk gives the best vantage points.
- Visit late afternoon for slanted light on the lacquer and mirrors; mid-summer mornings are busy with tour buses.
- Note that the current structure is largely timber with stone cladding - look for the dates carved into the base: originally built 1755, rebuilt 1893 under Empress Dowager Cixi.
Best Time to Visit Marble Boat #
Best in spring or autumn for pleasant weather and better light; Summer Palace can be crowded during Chinese public holidays.
Weather & Climate near Marble Boat #
Marble Boat's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) - Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (543 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -10°C. The driest month with just 3 mm.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 5°C and lows of -7°C. Almost no rain and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 0°C. Almost no rain.
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April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (186 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (151 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 7°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of -1°C. Almost no rain.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 4°C and lows of -7°C. The driest month with just 3 mm.
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