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Pleasant periods from March to May and September to October are the best time to visit Beijing. Spring in the city is usually fresh and vibrant, with fewer tourists, affordable prices, and amazing Qingming and Plum Blossom festivals.

You can expect some hot days in September, but for the rest of the fall, you can bring light layers. Due to a National Day celebration in the first week of October, the city gets quite packed, but the ginkgo avenues are definitely worth a stroll.

Summer in Beijing is torrid and crowded, so make sure to book in advance and don't forget your umbrella in case of rain. Choose a period between November and February if you enjoy the cold. The temps can fall below freezing, but there are no crowds and the rates are at their lowest. Take this time to inspect temple fairs or frozen waterfalls in Taoyuan Xiangu.

33 things to do in Beijing

Tulip Blossoms

late April–early May Nature

The Beijing International Flower Port is a unique kingdom of beauty in the Chinese capital

Plum Blossom Festival

mid-March–mid-April Event

When the long, dry, and gloomy winter days are finally over, don't miss a chance to see Beijing decorated with fantastic pink blossom splendour

Peking Duck

all year round Food

Discover this Chinese north-eastern special dish, famous for its thin, crispy skin

Fried Scorpions

all year round Food

Deep-fried scorpion skewers are a real delicacy in China

Skiing and Snowboarding

December–March Activity

China's ski resorts are unfairly underestimated by the outside world

Qingming Festival (Taqing Festival)

April 4–April 5 Event

Immerse yourself into a strange combination of sadness and happiness

Dongzhi Festival

December 21–December 22 Event

A family-oriented celebration of winter solstice

Chinese New Year

February 10–17, 2024 Event

The biggest holiday of the year will astonish you with colorful parades and delicious food

The Forbidden City

late August–early June Activity

Visit the world's largest wooden building complex

The Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan)

April–early November Activity

Once a splendid royal garden and palace now lies in ruins

Temple Fairs

February 9–15, 2024 Event

Experience the traditional Spring Festival at temple fairs in Beijing

Tanghulu (Bingtanghulu)

late December–late March Food

The taste of Tanghulu and loud street cries of street vendors revive childhood memories in the minds of old Beijingers

Sugar Figurines

late January–February Food

Sugar candies are blown into vivid figurines in an instant

Ming Tombs

March–May | September–October (all year round) Activity

Explore the famous Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, one of the best-preserved Imperial Chinese burial complexes

Red Leaves Festival at Fragrant Hill

mid-October to mid-November Nature

Vivid maple colors make the mountain seem on fire

Lotus Market

mid-June–August (all year round) Activity

A summer escape for viewing lotus, eating Chinese foods, watching folk performances, and enjoying night clubs

Happy Ice and Snow Season at Bird's Nest

late December-February Event

The Ice and Snow Season at Bird's Nest brings a winter wonderland to Beijing

Birdwatching

October–April Nature

With its distinctive seasons, diverse terrains, and various plants, Beijing is home to different bird species

Summer Palace (Yíhé Yuán)

April–October Activity

The largest existing imperial garden in China will take you back to the royal luxurious yet cosy life

Ginkgo Avenues Autumn Colors

mid-October–mid-November Nature

Beijing is colored in a yellow palette by ginkgo trees in autumn

Outdoor Ice Skating

late December–early February Activity

Lakes in Beijing turn into natural outdoor ice rinks in winter

Temple of Heaven

March–June | September–November (all year round) Activity

The largest ancient sacrificial complex in China

Frozen Waterfalls in Taoyuan Xiangu

late December–February Nature

Large humanmade waterfalls attract ice climbing fans every winter

Prince Gong's Mansion

mid-October–April (all year round) Activity

Beijing's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty princely mansion

Hot Pot

November–March (all year round) Food

This dish was born in the north where people fight the cold with a hot broth

Dumplings

all year round | major holidays Food

This dish has been popular in China since time immemorial

Double Seventh Festival (Qixi)

August 10, 2024 Event

The Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month

Jiuniang

December–February Food

Rice wine with high nutritional value and health benefits

Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang)

October 11, 2024 Event

The combination of the ninth day and the ninth month brings good luck, and the chrysanthemum is a symbol of that day

Laba Festival

December 30, 2023 Event

The combination of a Buddhist holiday and a modern festival

Longtaitou Festival

March 1, 2025 Event

On that day people worship dragon hoping for good harvest and rains

Wintersweet in Bloom

January–March Nature

The flower with a similar name and similar appearance to plum is not real plum

New Year's Eve in Beijing

December 31 Event

Welcome Western New Year the Eastern way in Beijing

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