China
Beijing
Imperial capital of palaces, temples, hutongs and the Great Wall. Stay 4 days. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 activity and 2 outdoor spots from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- July
4 See · 1 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
from our route notes
33°C / 92°F avg high
2°C / 35°F avg high
about 151 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Beijing
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Beijing across Dongcheng, Haidian and Chaoyang.
Photo: Matthias Gottschalk · GoogleSeeForbidden City (Palace Museum)
The Ming and Qing imperial palace, nearly a thousand buildings behind red walls.
Tip Tickets sell out days ahead; book online with your passport number.
Photo: Shujianyang · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeTemple of Heaven
Ming-era altar complex where emperors prayed for harvests, set in a large park.
Tip Come early to see locals doing tai chi and dancing.
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0SeeSummer Palace
Imperial lakeside retreat with the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake.
Tip Take a boat across the lake to save walking.
- See
798 Art District
Former factory complex filled with galleries, studios and cafes.
Tip UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is the anchor gallery.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Beijing in Shichahai.
Photo: Zhenxi Li · GoogleDoShichahai Hutongs
Old alleyways around Houhai and the Drum and Bell Towers, best by bike or rickshaw.
Tip Rent a shared bike and get lost in the side lanes.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Beijing.
Photo: Charlie fong冯成 · Public domainOutdoorsJingshan Park
Hill park directly north of the palace with a view over its golden roofs.
Tip Climb after the Forbidden City exit at the north gate.
Photo: Joe Belanto · GoogleOutdoorsMutianyu Great Wall
Restored, forested section of the Great Wall with a cable car and toboggan descent.
Tip Go on a weekday and arrive at opening.
Eat
2 places to eat across Dongcheng and Dongzhimen, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Christian Halim · GoogleEatSiji Minfu
Popular Peking duck chain carving crisp duck tableside at fair prices.
Tip Reserve or take a queue number early.
Photo: harry chang · GoogleEatGuijie (Ghost Street)
Street of restaurants lit by red lanterns, known for spicy crayfish and hot pot late into the night.
Tip Hu Da is the classic crayfish spot.
Drink
1 bar or café in Shichahai for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Min-Han Hsieh · GoogleDrinkHouhai Bar Street
Lakeside bars with live music along the shore of Houhai.
Tip Prices are high; walk the quieter west shore.
How to fit Beijing into a trip
Beijing is stop 1 of 3 on our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route. Follow it as-is or lift Beijing into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
Great Wall, Terracotta Army and the Bund
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Best season
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Pace
- moderate
- Next: Xi'an
Getting here and onward
- Beijing to Xi'anXi'an is about 905 km / 563 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Beijing month by month
Average daily highs run from 2°C / 35°F in January to 33°C / 92°F in July. July is the wettest month, with about 151 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan2° / 35°F average high
- Feb5° / 42°F average high
- Mar14° / 57°F average high
- Apr23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- May30° / 85°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun33° / 91°F average high
- Jul33° / 92°F average high
- Aug32° / 89°F average high
- Sep27° / 81°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec3° / 37°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Beijing weather and the best time to visit →
Beijing questions, answered
How many days do you need in Beijing?
Our route notes suggest 4 days in Beijing. On our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 10-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 24 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Beijing best known for?
Imperial capital of palaces, temples, hutongs and the Great Wall. Stay 4 days. Standouts on our list: Forbidden City (Palace Museum) (The Ming and Qing imperial palace, nearly a thousand buildings behind red walls); Temple of Heaven (Ming-era altar complex where emperors prayed for harvests, set in a large park); Summer Palace (Imperial lakeside retreat with the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake).
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
Our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route is best Apr – May, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in January (2°C / 35°F) and the most rain in July (about 151 mm).
What are the best things to do in Beijing?
Start with Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Beijing?
Our picks: Siji Minfu (Dongcheng); Guijie (Ghost Street) (Dongzhimen). Reserve or take a queue number early (Siji Minfu).
Plan Beijing with your crew
Open the Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.