Beijing Four Seasons Cultural Tourism Guide: Themed Routes & Featured Activities for Foreigners

The charm of Beijing lies in the changing scenery and daily warmth of the four seasons. This city not only boasts the profound heritage of an ancient capital, but also presents diverse styles with seasonal changes—endless peach blossoms bathe in the warm spring sun, cool evening breezes blow along Shichahai in summer, Xiangshan is covered with fiery red leaves in autumn, and winter is filled with the excitement of ice, snow and temple fairs. No matter when you visit, you can find unique cultural tourism joys. This guide breaks down featured activities by season and matches themed tour routes, helping foreign tourists accurately capture the essence of Beijing in different seasons and make every trip rewarding.

Beijing in spring is awakened by flowers and vitality. From late March to mid-April every year, the Pinggu Peach Blossom Festival kicks off. As the largest peach blossom event in North China, millions of mu of peach forests stretch along the Yanshan Mountains, with pink and white flower seas reflecting distant mountains and villages, like a paradise. Tourists can drive along the Peach Blossom Avenue, hike through the peach forests, check in at the internet-famous peach blossom tunnel, and experience picking fresh peaches and tasting farm food, enjoying the idyllic poetry of Beijing’s suburbs. In addition to Pinggu’s peach blossoms, cherry blossoms in the Summer Palace and Yuyuantan Park also bloom one after another. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Yuyuantan is particularly lively—you can take a boat through the cherry blossom waters to immerse yourself in the romance of “falling cherry petals”, and the park also has Japanese snack stalls and cultural and creative markets, combining ornamental value and experience. Recommended spring cultural route: Yuyuantan Cherry Blossom Festival → Summer Palace → Forbidden City, connecting natural scenery and royal heritage to experience the spring charm of the ancient capital in one day.

Beijing in summer is all about “coolness and comfort”, and boating on Shichahai is an iconic experience. From June to August, Shichahai sheds its gentle spring charm and turns into an urban summer resort. The rippling lake reflects the ancient buildings and willow trees on the shore, and the evening breeze brings coolness. Tourists can take traditional pedal boats or rowing boats to shuttle between Houhai and Qianhai, admire the courtyard houses and bar streets along the shore, and feel the integration of “water town charm” and “Beijing-style daily life”. In the evening, night markets and snack stalls around Shichahai come to life. You can taste Beijing-style snacks such as quick-boiled tripe and stewed pork intestines, or sit in a lakeside café to enjoy Beijing’s summer night. For summer, the recommended hiking route is Xiangshan Park → Badachu Park. The mountains are covered with lush trees, which not only provide shade from the heat, but also offer a panoramic view of Beijing’s urban area. The ancient temple complex in Badachu allows people to feel the profound religious and cultural heritage. In addition, from July to August, the Pinggu Karst Cave Scenic Area, with a constant temperature of 18℃ all year round, is a natural summer resort. It is suitable for family trips with cave exploration activities.

Autumn is the most poetic season in Beijing, and Xiangshan Red Leaves are a “limited annual beauty”. From mid-October to early November every year, trees such as smoke trees and maple trees in Xiangshan Park gradually turn red, covering the mountains with fiery hues, forming a stunning picture with pavilions, terraces and mountain paths. Tourists can hike up the ancient Xiangshan Road, take a cable car to overlook the red leaves, and check in at the best viewing spots such as Incense Burner Peak and Yuhua Cave. In addition to Xiangshan, the red leaves in Pofengling are also distinctive—with higher density and fewer tourists, it is suitable for immersive photography. Recommended autumn family-friendly route: Pofengling Red Leaves → Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site. You can not only enjoy natural scenery, but also visit the ancient human site to learn about the evolution history of East Asian ancient humans, combining fun and knowledge. Moreover, in autumn, ginkgo leaves in the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven Park turn golden, reflecting the ancient buildings, making them perfect places for taking cultural photos. The sunset shining on the ginkgo leaves in the evening creates a full sense of atmosphere.

Beijing in winter hides double surprises of “ice, snow and excitement”. The Ditan Temple Fair is the highlight during the Spring Festival, held from the first to the fifth day of the first lunar month. As one of Beijing’s most representative temple fairs, it gathers traditional folk performances, intangible cultural heritage displays, featured snacks and other elements. Tourists can watch dragon and lion dances, Sichuan opera face-changing and other performances, taste Beijing-style snacks such as soybean paste rolls and glutinous rice cakes, and buy intangible cultural heritage handicrafts as souvenirs, immersing themselves in the traditional cultural atmosphere of Chinese Spring Festival. In addition to the temple fair, Shougang Ice and Snow Park is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. As a model of Winter Olympic legacy renovation, it offers various ice and snow projects such as skiing, ice skating and snowmobiling, with complete supporting facilities. You can also get a close-up view of Winter Olympic landmarks such as Shougang Big Air and the Third Blast Furnace, feeling the unique charm of “industrial style + winter sports”. Recommended winter leisure route: Ditan Temple Fair → Shougang Ice and Snow Park → Nanluoguxiang. Experience traditional New Year flavor in the morning, enjoy ice and snow in the afternoon, and wander around the hutongs to feel Beijing’s winter in the evening, combining dynamic and static activities for a fulfilling day.

For practical tips, foreign tourists should check the specific dates of four-season activities in advance. It is recommended to avoid peak hours for popular events such as the Peach Blossom Festival and Red Leaf Festival; boating on Shichahai in summer can be booked online in advance to avoid on-site queuing; the temperature is low in winter, so warm clothing should be prepared when visiting Shougang Ice and Snow Park, and protective equipment is required for some ice and snow projects; themed routes can be adjusted according to personal interests. Priority is given to subway transportation, with taxis or chartered cars to suburban scenic spots. Downloading the Chinese-English Beijing Metro APP can help accurately query routes.