Winter in Beijing
Winters in Beijing are cold, with an average temperature below 0℃ (32℉) from December to February. Despite the constant complaints about Beijing's chilly winter, there's at least one major upside to the chilly season: winter activities! There is a wide range of winter activities in Beijing: Snow Skiing, Hot Spring Spas, trekking on the snow-covered Great Wall sections, the Ice Lantern Festival, and the Chinese New Year.
Here's a guide to what and where you can grab a slice of the freezing fun. Wrap up warm and grab your friends or family, and start enjoying the nicer side of the capital's coldness!
Skiing in Beijing
Skiing adventures in and around Beijing make for the perfect winter getaway that's certain to please skiers of all ages and skill levels. With over 10 ski resorts and ski hills in the surrounding area, there is bound to be something for everyone.
Here is a listing of ski resorts in Beijing that we would like to recommend to snowboarding fans. Most of the ski resorts are located in the mountainous areas and are considered the best places to take winter sports.
Related Reading: Skiing Resort in Beijing
Great Wall Hiking
Great Wall hiking is suitable for all seasons, while doing it in winter could be more exciting and challenging. In winter, the Great Wall takes on another charm, especially after the snowfall. It wriggles its way like a silver dragon. The plants and hills are covered with silver clothes.
Even without snow, the grand system of the Great Wall, plus blue sky and white clouds, must attract you. Standing on the Great Wall, you may feel on top of the world. But even more important, it is off season for the Wall, and tours and Hotels are at their cheapest. So, travelling to the Great Wall in winter is a dollar-saving idea.
It is a big challenge to trek the Great Wall in winter due to the chilly weather or even a slippery ice road if you visit after a snowfall. Here are some safe tips that you should pay attention to:
- Go with someone else.
- Have a mobile phone and know who to call for any emergency, and let others know what you are planning.
- Be prepared to back off if you do encounter ice, as there are very steep sections and a fall would be too serious to contemplate.
Recommended Tour: 2-6 day trekking on different sections
Beijing Hot Spring Spas
Hot springs have been enjoyed in China for centuries because of their ability to relax as well as their positive effects on the human body. A nice soak in one of Beijing's many hot springs in winter is an excellent way to escape modern urban life and warm up on cold days.
Beijing is abundant with hot springs, and many of them are located just an hour's drive north of the city. Here is some information and tips on Beijing hot springs. Have a try at a hot spring spa break when you are in Beijing.
Related Reading: A Complete Guide to Hot Spring Spas in Beijing
Winter Fun in Parks
Beijing has many parks, most of which will freeze over as the chilly winter comes. A fantastic array of winter activities will take place in Beijing's major parks, and a whole new world of fun opportunities will open up.
There are many fun activities, including ice skating, ice sledges, dog sledding, ice-bikes, ice-chair, and modified amusement park-style bumper cars. The major parks and lakes include the Houhai, Beihai Park, Zizhuyuan Park, Chaoyang Park, No Name Lake at Peking University, and the Summer Palace.
None of this fun is expensive, either. It generally costs 10 yuan to walk onto the frozen lake, and CNY20 or CNY30 to rent an ice-bike, ice-chair, or other amusement equipment.
Warm up and join the locals by having some fun at a nearby frozen lake.
Beijing Temple Fairs
The temple fair is a kind of social activity in China. It used to be the time and event to worship the gods and pray for blessings. It gradually evolved into a marketplace for people to sell crafts and exchange products as well as a place for cultural performances, including talk shows, kungfu shows, lion shows, and dancing shows.
This century-old tradition is still preserved today and is a part of celebrating the Chinese New Year. Our Beijing Chinese New Year Tour includes a visit to the temple fair.