Best Time to Visit Beijing

As the capital of China, nourished by the long history and the wonderful culture, Beijing has numerous cultural heritages and multiple scenic sites. There are always countless people gathering at the scenic area on weekends and holidays. Generally speaking, Beijing is a city you can go to visit whenever you want and the best time to visit Beijing is in autumn, from mid-September to November. During this period, it is neither too hot nor too cold, and it has changed from peak season (May to Sept) to off-season (Oct to April), so the number of tourists has been relatively going down, which allows a better travelling experience for most of the travellers in Beijing.

The Second Best Time to Visit Beijing

If it is not possible to schedule your Beijing tour in the best time, we also recommend you April to the early June as a backup choice, for the comfortable temperature and the low population density in the scenic sites.

Besides travelling in autumn and spring, if you don't mind the cold weather, we also recommend that you can visit Beijing from Christmas break to the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), namely from the late Dec to the early Feb, which is a period of time you can involve yourself in the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year. Many people who work in Beijing will leave for hometown thereafter. The population of the city is relatively smaller. Since it often snows, appreciating the white snow in the backdrop of the red royal buildings is quite stunning.

According to the different types of scenic spots in Beijing, there may be a little bit difference in the optimal visiting time. Air quality and weather conditions, as well as hotel prices, also affect your travelling arrangements. The followings are various factors we have analyzed for you to decide the best visiting time.

Average AQI: The sandstorm occurs occasionally in Spring, and March is recorded as the month with the worst air quality. The Best AQI month is September. The average AQI from March to June is over 100. Travellers who will do outdoor activities are suggested to wear a mask. As billions of money has been put into improve the air quality, the AQI gets a lot better since 2017.

Average Temperature: The gray area in the graph ranges from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, which is a comfortable zone for most of the people. From the mid-March to the end of May and from September to the mid-October are both overlapped by the comfortable temperature square. The other time zones are either too hot or too old.

Average Nightly Hotel Rate: Knowing the night rate in Beijing, we are possibly able to to gauge the population in Beijing: From June to October is the busiest time, and the average nightly rate is around CNY 500, while January and February are the least busy months, and the cost for one night is about 50% off, compared with the rate in peak-season.

Best Time to Visit Beijing Great Wall

Located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, the Great Walls that open to the public mainly include the Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, and Jinshanling Great Wall, etc.

Spring and Autumn are the most suitable time for hiking, but occasionally it will be sandstorm in Beijing in spring, therefore it’s necessary to check the weather forecast in advance to avoid the extreme weather. Hiking on the Great wall during the mid-October to mid-November, you may encounter the spectacular sunrise/sunset. In winter, although the coldness almost wiped away all the vibrant plants, you can also appreciate the snow-covered Great Wall, stretching afar zigzag, like a white dragon lying on the mountains.

In summer (especially in July and August), if you go to the Great Walls without planning ahead of time, you might be jammed with the massive tourists in the narrow trails. Generally, the most famous Badaling Great Wall also bears the most of people, and going to the nearby Mutianyu Great Wall or Jinshanling Great Wall might be much wiser. If you do not want to squeeze yourself there and pant in the sultry summer air, we would recommended you to start visit it from the early morning and head back by the noon, since more and more people will flood into it as the afternoon approaches.>>Learn More about the Best Time to Visit Great Wall

4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

Itinerary: Beijing
Highlights: Great Wall Section(s): Jinshanling

Best Time to Visit Scenic Sites in the City

Besides the Great Walls, you can also enjoy the historical and architectural relics of ancient Chinese palaces in the city, including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, and so on. These scenic spots are relatively less affected by the weather, and are splendid and attractive in all the seasons. Trying to avoid the crowd, the sandstorms and thunderstorms, you will have a great time at these scenic sites for most of the time.

4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package (Leisure Paced)

Itinerary: Beijing
Highlights: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, Local Family Visit

Worse Time to Visit Beijing

Although the best time to visit Beijing varies, affected by multiple factors, the following Times are certainly less recommendable for the newcomers in Beijing. However, with a thoughtful plan and professional guidance from our experienced travel consultant, thousands of customers from China Discovery have had a great experience in Beijing even in a bad timing. Check Chinese Public Holidays 2025 >>

National Holiday

Chinese National Day holidays usually start on October 1st and end on October 7th. A large number of tourists travel around China during this week. As a popular scenic city, Beijing shares millions of tourists. Both scenic spots and transportation junctions are very crowded. It is recommended to stay indoors in the first week of October and avoid traveling anywhere.

Labor's Day

Labor's Day is usually on May 1st. A large number of tourists will go to Beijing in the early May. Tourist attractions are often filled with people from all over the country.

Summer Holidays

Most schools in China have their summer break from the beginning of July to the end of August. Families often travel in Beijing together. Even on weekdays, the scenic spots are very crowded. Moreover, July and August are hot and thunderstorms and rainfalls are intense, and most of the scenic spots in Beijing are outdoor attractions, which challenges a lot visitors to plan their Beijing tour to avoid the crowd and bad weather.

Insider Tips

● It is very cold in Winter, and the night gets colder, reaching sub-zero temperatures, but almost every household in Beijing has a heating system indoor. Please keep warm and do not stay outdoors for too long.

● When the sandstorm occurs in spring, it will make the air quality a lot worse in Beijing. If you notice the air quality is getting bad, please stay indoors and close all your windows. If you need go out , please wear a mask.

● Rainfalls are intense in summer, and thunderstorms always come all of sudden. Please take your umbrella before going out.

● Beijing is dry nearly all year round. Drinking more water may be helpful for your body moisturizing.

● During the Chinese New Year, the population in Beijing may go down dramatically. Many shops and restaurants will be closed, which may cause many inconveniences for you. Please purchase the goods you need before the Spring Festival holidays.

How to Plan Your Travel in Beijing

To explore Beijing's highlights, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall (with Mutianyu as the top recommendation), the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and the Beijing Hutongs - plan for about 4 days, including arrival and departure.

☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

☛ 3 Days Beijing Essential Highlights Tour

If you have extra days, consider hiking the scenic Jinshanling Great Wall, enjoying the stunning night views of Simatai Great Wall, or visiting other sections like Huanghuacheng, Gubeikou, and Juyongguan.

☛ 4 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Simatai Great Wall Night Sightseeing

☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

Families with children should not miss Universal Beijing Resort, while museum enthusiasts should visit the National Museum of China, home to the nation's most valuable treasures.

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☛ 5 Days In-depth Beijing Tour with History and Culture Discovery

As a major transportation hub, Beijing offers easy access to other top destinations in China by flight or train, such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, and Tibet. China Discovery provides a variety of tour packages from Beijing, or we can customize an itinerary to suit your preferences.

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We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable wonderful trips to Beijing for the past few years. Among them, a special team of over 50 VIPKID teachers from North America traveled with us to see their dear studends in China with amazing experience in Beijing and shared us their special travel story! Travel with China Discovery to create your great China trip memories!

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