Outdoor Ice Skating in Beijing 2024-2025

As winter settles over Beijing, the city's frozen lakes transform into natural outdoor ice rinks, offering a quintessential seasonal experience for people of all ages. Ice skating has become a cherished pastime, combining the thrill of gliding across the ice with the serene beauty of Beijing's winter landscapes. Beyond the sport, these outdoor rinks provide a chance to savor crisp, clean air and picturesque scenery, creating an unforgettable way to embrace the magic of winter in the capital.

Ice Skating Season

Skating in Beijing is most enjoyable from late December to early February, as this is the time when the lakes in the city become natural outdoor ice rinks. It is worth noting, however, that the opening dates of these rinks may vary significantly each year as they depend on the prevailing weather conditions and the lakes' ice status.

Shichahai Ice Skating Rink

Shichahai Skating Rink is one of Beijing's most renowned winter attractions, featuring three interconnected areas: Qianhai (Front Lake), Houhai (Back Lake), and Xihai (West Lake). This year, both the Qianhai and Houhai ice rinks will be open simultaneously, creating a vast expanse of skating opportunities. The Qianhai ice rink spans an impressive 60,000 square meters, while the Houhai rink covers an even larger area of 100,000 square meters.

To enhance the skating experience, the rink has introduced new activities, including ice dragon boats and ice carnival costume parties. The ice dragon boat, a unique attraction, is a large ice vehicle that can accommodate four people, making it an excellent option for families who want to enjoy skating together.

Admission

General hours are from 9 am to 6 pm. For those who love skating under the stars, the Qianhai Ice Rink offers evening hours, operating from 6 pm to 9:30 pm each night. Skating tickets can be purchased at the central ticket window, priced at 40 yuan, with a discounted rate of 30 yuan on weekdays. Ice skate rentals cost 30 yuan, with a refundable deposit of 100 yuan required at the time of rental. For visitors interested in ice vehicles, tickets are sold at specific windows and are priced at 70 yuan on regular days and 80 yuan during holidays.

Besides Ice Skating

The Shichahai Skating Rink offers an abundance of winter activities, making it a popular destination for visitors seeking both traditional ice skating and other entertaining experiences. To elevate the fun and cater to diverse interests, the rink is divided into seven distinct areas: an ice football section, a public activity zone, a children's entertainment area, a professional speed skating track, an ice skating zone, an ice sled section, and an ice hockey area. This thoughtful arrangement ensures that visitors of all ages and skill levels can find something to enjoy.

Conveniently located in the heart of Beijing, Shichahai is easily accessible and surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants. After a day of skating, you can warm up with a hearty meal or a refreshing drink at one of the nearby establishments. However, keep in mind that due to its popularity, the rink can get quite crowded.

Kunming Lake Ice Skating Rink

Kunming Lake covers three-quarters of the Summer Palace grounds. Kunming Lake Skate Rink is the largest one in Beijing and has an area of 70 hectares (about 170 acres). It is capable of accommodating up to 5,000 people skating on the ice at the same time! There are two other main skating parts in the Summer Palace—one is at Suzhou Lake, while the other is the ice slide at Xidi Wharf.

All fun activities on ice are a great mix of exercise and amusement. Teenagers and children are the main visitors here. They can enjoy more than ten kinds of ice entertainment, including electric iceboats and electric ice bicycles.

Admission

The skating rink welcomes visitors daily from late December 2024 to February 3, 8:30 am-5 pm, with ticket sales closing at 4:30 pm to ensure everyone leaves the rink by the designated time. Entrance tickets are priced at 20 yuan per person, with a discounted rate of 10 yuan available for students.

To make the experience more enjoyable, a variety of ice activities are offered. Visitors can enjoy the Single Ice Car at 50 yuan per person, allowing unlimited time on the ice. For a shared adventure, the Double Ice Car is available for 100 yuan per pair, also with no time limits. Additionally, the Ice Bicycle provides a unique way to explore the rink at 100 yuan per person, with unlimited skating time included.

Beihai Park Ice Skating Rink

Beihai Park Ice Rink stands as one of Beijing's oldest and most iconic ice skating destinations, offering a picturesque skating experience surrounded by traditional Beijing-style architecture. The combination of its expansive frozen lake and historic setting makes it a quintessential spot for locals and visitors to enjoy during winter.

Conveniently located in the heart of Beijing, Beihai Park Ice Rink is easy to reach without the need for long journeys. The rink provides various equipment for rent, including ice skates, ice chairs, and ice bikes, allowing everyone to partake in the fun, whether gliding across the ice or exploring it in more unique ways. Imbued with a rich atmosphere of traditional Beijing ice sports, the activities at Beihai Park will feature distinctive events such as traditional ice performance displays.

Admission

The ice rink operates from the end of December through February 3, depending on weather conditions. It offers two daily sessions: a morning session from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and an afternoon session from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Admission to the general area, which includes access to skating, cartoon ice cars, and ice bicycles, costs 80 yuan per session for both children and adults, with no time restrictions. For those interested in the electric ice motorcycle area, there is an additional charge of 50 yuan for a 10-minute ride.

Taoranting Park Ice Skating Rink

Taoranting Park, built in 1952, is a renowned historical and cultural destination that blends classical Chinese architecture with modern landscape design. Celebrated for showcasing the rich "pavilion culture" of the Chinese nation, it offers visitors a unique glimpse into traditional aesthetics and artistry.

Since the opening of the Taoranting Park Ice Rink on January 1, 2015, the park has hosted an annual Ice and Snow Carnival, which has become a major attraction. Last year, the carnival has grown even larger, spanning an impressive 38,500 square meters. It now holds the distinction of being the largest snow-themed amusement park among Beijing's municipal parks, drawing crowds with its expansive winter-themed activities and festive atmosphere. The Largest Ice and Snow Park within the Second Ring Road, featuring unique interactive activities such as "Penguin Parades" and "Clown Performances."

Admission

The rink welcomes visitors daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last entry allowed at 4:30 pm and operations concluding promptly at 5 pm. This schedule runs from late December 2024 to mid-February 2025. Tickets can be purchased conveniently on-site by scanning a QR code or reserved in advance for a seamless experience.

Other Locations

There are lots of other natural ice rinks across the city in places such as Zizhuyuan Park, Peking University, Yuyuantan Park, and Beijing Botanical Garden Ice Rink. Most of the lakes and ponds are available for skating as soon as the water freezes, but dates vary annually.