Written by Veronica |
The 850 years of capital history has endowed Beijing with magnificent imperial buildings and ancient wonders. It is the most popular destination for tourism in China and also one of the best places to visit in the winter. The city experiences its snow season from December to February. Beijing weather in the winter usually has temperatures between -8ºC (17.6ºF) and 6ºC (42.8ºF).
If you’re planning a winter trip to China, come see Beijing snow cover the ancient capital in white. You’ll see Chinese history, the local life and culture in a different light. Here’re the 10 best places to see and experience Beijing snow.
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- 1. The Forbidden City: A Snowy Imperial Majesty
- 2. Jingshan Park: A Panoramic View of Snow-Kissed Beijing
- 3. The Summer Palace: A Beijing Winter Wonderland
- 4. Longqing Gorge: Marvelous Ice and Snow Sculptures
- 5. Snow World Ski Resort: Thrills and Chills on the Slopes
- 6. Tao Yuan Xian Valley: A Snowy Hike in Beijing Winter
- 7. The Southeast Corner Watchtower: Snowy Remnants of History
- 8. Houhai: Local Beijing Life in the Winter
- 9. Nanshan Ski Resort: A Snowy Paradise for Skiers
- 10. Badaling Ski Resort: Snowy Thrills Near the Great Wall
- Essential Tips for Visiting Beijing in Winter
- FAQs about winter destinations in Beijing
- Plan Your Memorable China Winter Trip with China Xian Tour
1. The Forbidden City: A Snowy Imperial Majesty
- How to get to: Take metro line 1 to Tiananmen East Station or Tiananmen West Station and leave from exit B, then walk north for about 10 minutes to get there.
- Best time of day to visit: To avoid crowds, it is recommended to enter when the scenic is opened or after 15:00 in the afternoon.
The No. 1 place to see Beijing snow is the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties. White snowflakes slowly fall against the bright red palace walls and onto the golden roofs. The ancient complex is distilled with a sense of time and wonder.
Winter is a good time to visit Beijing, especially the Forbidden City, because there won’t be as many visitors as other seasons. You can take your time pacing around the massive palace and have an unobstructed view of the marvelous architecture.
Tips from real experience of our local guides in Beijing:
After several visits to the Forbidden City on snowy days, we find some niche shooting places and useful tips to share with you:
- The Taihu stone and the snow in the Cining Palace Garden can create an ink painting style.
- We find that the Shenwu Gate City Wall offers a bird’s-eye view of the strong contrast between the warm golden roofs and the cold snow carpet.
- The picture surprises us when we retain at least 30% of the pure white snow-covered area in the camera.
- The magical moment of Corner Tower is at about 10:00. When the sun shines through the clouds, the brilliant snow-covered tower will be reflected on the water surface. To catch this amazing moment, we find that the best effect can be achieved by using a polarizer to eliminate the reflection and adjusting the focal length to around 70mm.
- Besides, as the 5G phone signal is not stable, so we suggest you download the map in advance and bring a 20000mAh power bank with you.
2. Jingshan Park: A Panoramic View of Snow-Kissed Beijing
- How to get to: Take metro line 8 to Shichahai Station exit A, and walk southward for 15 minutes to the park.
- Best time of day to visit: At around 07:00 at dawn and 17:00 – 19:00 at dusk
Jingshan Park is one of the best places to appreciate the Beijing skyline. On Jingshan Hill, you can overlook the Forbidden City and other attractions blanketed in snow. You’ll see the massive complex and the long history of the ancient capital unfold below you. The park is also the ideal setting for winter stroll in Beijing snow.
Tips from our real experience:
In most cases, we will follow the classic route to explore the park. Specifically, enter from South Gate, climb to the peak via the east route, which is Qiwang Tower – Zhoushang Pavilion – Guanmiao Pavilion – Wanchun Pavilion. And go downhill via the west route: Jifang Pavilion – Fulan Pavilion – Shouhuang Pavilion – East Gate. We enjoy a leisure time to enjoy the snow scenery of the park.
But once, we planned to ascend the Wanchun Pavilion first, and through our practice, we found that entering from the west gate is the fastest way. After entering, turn right and walk for about 30 – 50 meters. Here, you will see a fork, turn left and pass through Jifang Pavilion. Then continue walking to arrive at Wangchun Pavilion. Only in 5 – 10 minutes, you will secure the prime spot to overlook the Forbidden City. It is very convenient on snowy days.
The reason we prefer Wangchun Pavilion is its perfect shooting position. The panoramic view of the snow-covered Forbidden City is in the south. The Bell and Drum Towers are in the same frame as the central axis in the north. Looking westward, the White Pagoda of Beihai Park is covered with white snow. And looking eastward, the modern skyline is before our eyes.
3. The Summer Palace: A Beijing Winter Wonderland
- How to get to: Tourists can take metro line 4 to North Palace Gate Station or Xiyuan Station, then head to the east gate on foot in about 15 minutes.
- Best time of day to visit: After 16:00 in the afternoon.
The Summer Palace is definitely one of the best places to admire Beijing snow. It was once the imperial garden of Qing Dynasty. The entire garden is centered around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill and is dotted with elegant pavilions, corridors, bridges, and rock formations. As an essential stop on Beijing tours, it becomes even more magical in the winter.
See the slender tree branches made heavy by the thick white snow. The lake will be completely frozen. The pavilions and bridges are blanketed in white. Take a walk along the lake like the emperors once did and take in the tranquility. The Summer Palace has the largest natural ice rink of Beijing. The locals love to go sledding there in Beijing winters.
Useful advice from our local guides
In winter, the Kunming Lake in Summer Palace freezes and turns into a natural ice rink. It is very popular among locals to go skating there. Single-person ice vehicles, double-person ice vehicles and ice bikes are all provided. We recommend the ice bike most. It is more stable, safer, and easier to control. There are even kids around us riding it.
About the snow photos, we prefer the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The snow and stone bridges form a strong contrast. At sunset, the sunlight is gentle and it is very easy to catch pictures of the golden warm sunlight shining on the ice surface. Another recommended place is The Tower of Buddhist Incense. We are amazed by the panorama of Summer Palace. The snow-covered golden glazed tiles and the vermilion palace walls complement each other perfectly. If you seek a tranquil environment, we think Garden of Harmonious Interests and West Causeway suit you more.
√Recommended classic Beijing tours:
4. Longqing Gorge: Marvelous Ice and Snow Sculptures
- How to get to: Take high speed trains or S2 urban railway train from Beijing North Railway Station to Yanqing Railway Station, then transfer to bus line Y43 to the gorge directly.
- Best time of day to visit:all day
Longqing Gorge is about 2 hours from the city downtown. It would not disappoint you with its scene of Beijing snow. Its gorgeous mountains and clear brooks attract many visitors all year around. In the winter, stunning waterfalls freeze up, and the trees are blanketed in white. You can hop on a boat on the frozen river by icy cliffs.
Every year from around January 15th to February 28th, Longqing Gorge hosts its Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, where there’ll be many impressive ice and snow sculptures among the spectacular Beijing snow landscape. It’s a popular event for families and locals of Beijing. It is the best alternative to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival if you can’t make it to Harbin. There’ll be colorful lanterns lighting up the night.
Good to know:
- In 2026, the Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is from 10:00-22:00 during January 15th – early March. On New Year’s Eve, the opening hours is adjusted to 10:00-18:08.
- A total of 350 ice lanterns, 240 ice sculptures and 80 snow sculptures will be displayed in sequence. The night landscape is the most beautiful, it is advised to get there 1 hour earlier.
- A glacier valley has been newly opened this year with an area of 300,000 sq m. Here, you can appreciate the magical bubble ice landscape. It opens from 10:00 to 16:00, so it is advised to visit first in the morning to avoid crowds.
- 500 new entertainment facilities are also equipped this year, including ice tug-of-war, ice bowling, snow tubing, etc.
- Recommended one-day route: enter at 10:00 – glacier valley – enjoy lunch near the scenic area or at Yongning Ancient Town – ice lantern art area before 15:30 – light show and flower lanterns at night – return
- If time permits, combine it with the nearby Badaling Great Wall. Visit there on the second day for snow scenery.
5. Snow World Ski Resort: Thrills and Chills on the Slopes
- How to get to: Take bus line 886 from deshengmen west stop to Changping Xiguan Roundabout east stop first, then transfer to Chang 53 line to Xiaogongmen village.
- Best time of day to visit: It is recommended to arrive there before 11:00.
Snow World Ski Resort is Beijing’s largest and closest natural ski resort. It’s the perfect place to see and play with Beijing snow for adventure seekers. As a professional skiing facility, it sits among the mountains. You can go skiing and snowboarding. There’re even lessons for beginners.
If you only want to see the mountain views of Beijing in the winter, there’re sightseeing cable cars and other winter activities. It’s almost like an amusement park with activities like snowmen building, horse-drawn sleighs, and ice carving, an ideal destination for families with kids traveling to Beijing.
6. Tao Yuan Xian Valley: A Snowy Hike in Beijing Winter
- How to get to: Take bus line 980 at Dongzhimen Transportation Hub to Miyun Theater, then take bus line 61 to the valley.
- Best time of day to visit: Since 4 – 6 hours are need to visit the scenic area, so it is suggested to get there before 11:00.
Experience tranquility of Tao Yuan Xian Valley about 2 hours from Beijing. It is a popular day trip destination to see Beijing snow and take winter hikes. The valley has ice waterfalls, snow-laden forests, and cozy wooden cottages.
Taoyuan Xian Valley is Beijing’s best-developed site for ice climbing. When the waterfall freezes up, it forms an ice screen on the surface which you can climb up. The site provides you with professional clothes and equipment, and you will be protected by a rope. It’s one of the best activities for adventurers in Beijing winter.
7. The Southeast Corner Watchtower: Snowy Remnants of History
- How to get to: Get to Beijing Railway Station by metro line 2 and exit from exit C, then walk about 15 minutes to the watchtower.
- Best time of day to visit: In the early morning and in the late afternoon
The Southeast Corner Watchtower was originally built in Qing Dynasty as an addition to the Ming city wall. It’s an ancient, fortified stone structure that has withstood and witnessed much of important Chinese history. Today, many find it a wonderful viewing platform for admiring the Beijing snow in the winter.
8. Houhai: Local Beijing Life in the Winter
- How to get to: Take metro line 6 to Beihai North station or metro line 8 to Shichahai station, then walk about 10 minutes there.
- Best time of day to visit: From afternoon to evening
Houhai Lake turns into a fun playground in Beijing winter. Many locals, kids and elders alike come here to ice skate on the frozen lake water. If you want to observe and experience the local life, Houhai is the best place to do it. Around it, there’re many hutongs you can walk down. In Beijing snow, the best feeling is to have a hot cup of tea of coffee in one of the charming lakeside cafes.
Useful tips from our local guides:
- We recommend you to plan a half-day trip from the afternoon to the evening.
- Remember to bring gloves and warm clothes, which are not provided but can keep you warm when skating.
- It is an interesting experience to explore the nearby hutongs. With snow, the old hutongs exude an ancient charm. Here, we also find some special stores, taste fried cakes and Binglang Hulu.
- If lucky, you may see the snow-covered Western Hill from afar when standing on the Yinding Bridge.
9. Nanshan Ski Resort: A Snowy Paradise for Skiers
- How to get to: There are direct buses at Shaoyaoju, Sanyuanqiao and Wudaokou. Or take high-speed trains to Miyun Railway Station, then take a taxi to the resort.
- Best time of day to visit: before noon and in the evening
Compared to Snow World Ski Resort, Nanshan Ski Resort is more professional for dedicated skiers. There’re more trails with better facilities. After a thrilling day of adventures, sit down in the cozy lodges and enjoy the beautiful Beijing snow landscapes with delicious meals.
10. Badaling Ski Resort: Snowy Thrills Near the Great Wall
- How to get to: First, take high-speed trains from Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall Railway Station, the transfer to the shuttle bus to the ski resort.
- Best time of day to visit: In the morning
Next to Badaling Great Wall, the Badaling Ski Resort is a great place to participate in winter activities while taking in the magnificent view of the Great Wall. See the ancient bricks and stones covered in new snow.
Essential Tips for Visiting Beijing in Winter (From Our Real Experience)
What to Wear When Visiting Beijing in Winter?
The winter in Beijing is cold, so warm clothes are quite necessary. Down coats, winter jackets, wool sweaters, fleece jackets, sweatshirts thermal underwear, fleece-lined pants, thick trousers are recommended. And do not forget to wear hats, scarves, gloves, thick socks and snow boots.
Useful tips to take great photos of snowy scenes
The golden time to take beautiful snow scenery is after sunrise and before sunset, when the lights are gentle and warm. To form contrast with the white snow, it is recommended to wear clothes with bright colors like red, blue or yellow. At night, use lanterns, firework sticks or other light sources as props, it can not only fill in the light but also add warmth atmosphere to the pictures.
Specific winter foods or drinks to try in Beijing
Instant-boiled mutton in the hotpot is the most representative dish in Beijing in winter. The most popular snacks in winter are baked sweet potato, sugar-coated haws and roasted chestnut, etc. And some beverage shops will sell some seasonal hot drinks.
The perceived temperature is actually much lower
In general, the sensible temperature on snowy days is actually about 5 ℃ lower than the actual temperature, let alone when the wind blows. Bottoming shirt, cashmere sweater, long down jacket, waterproof ski pants, anti-slip hiking shoes and wool socks are all necessities. Of course, a hat,a scarf and gloves are needed. Other useful items include telefingers gloves and warm paste. The phone may shut down suddenly due to low temperature, applying a warm paste to the back can prevent the situation effectively.
Relying on the Beijing Metro as much as possible in snowy days
On snowy days, the possibility of traffic jams doubles. Since metro is not influenced by road traffic and snow, it becomes the most reliable transportation means. It can ensure punctuality and more trains will be added in the peak hours. The trains will also be preheated to make passengers feel warm as soon as they board the train.
FAQs about winter destinations in Beijing
What time of year is best to see snow in Beijing?
From December to March in winter is definitely the best season to see the snow-covered landscapes in Beijing. In detail, from mid-December to mid-January, the snowfall increases, so there is condition for the accumulation of snow. And in January and February, there may be heavy snow with thick snow accumulation. So the best months should be December to February.
How often does it snow in Beijing?
In fact, Beijing has fewer days of snowfall, with an average of 10 to 12 days every year. The heavy snow is even rarer. The average number of days with heavy snow or above in Beijing each year is only 0.4 days, which means it takes about 3 years to see a heavy snowfall. The most important factor is the lack of moisture. The mountains around Beijing make it difficult for the humid air current to enter Beijing. So it lacks conditions of snowfall.
Is it safe to visit tourist attractions after a snowfall?
In general, it is safe. Because after snowfall, the scenic areas in Beijing usually start clear the snow in front of the gates, on the main roads and steps in the early morning. Besides, carpets and mats is usually laid in slippery areas such as steps and ramps. To ensure the safety of tourists, the high-risk areas like bridges and forests will be closed.
What are some recommended activities to do in the snow?
It is popular among locals and tourists to view the snow scenery of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace when the snow falls. You can also climb to the Wanchun Pavilion in Jinshan Park to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Forbidden City covered by the white snow. Also, it will be nice choice to experience ice skating for fun in the local parks like Shichahai.
Are there places to go ice skating or skiing near Beijing?
Of course, the skating rink in Shichahai Park is the most famous and most characteristic open-air rink of old Beijing. Many locals have enjoyed skating here in their childhood. Other famous skating rinks are situated in the Summer Palace and Beihai Park. As for ski resorts, there are several resorts in the suburb area of Beijing. Nanshan Ski Resort in Miyun District is a large ski resort with several primary, intermediate and advanced trails. Jundu Mountain Ski Resort and Huabei International Ski Resort are also famous.
Is public transport reliable during snowy days in Beijing?
Generally, it is reliable. The operator will check the equipment and facilities and prepare emergency supplies in advance to ensure the safe operation of subway and buses. Beside, the monitoring of important sections of roads will be strengthened during snowy days.
Plan Your Memorable China Winter Trip with China Xian Tour
The winter snow scenery of Beijing is unique and charming. It will be unforgettable memory for tourists to enjoy the snow scenery and experience ice and snow activities in China. If you plan to visit China in winter, we can tailor a winter trip at a reasonable price based on your likes, and arrange a guide and a driver to deal with the inconvenient transportation in some scenic areas. China Xian tour is always glad to offer help, so feel free to contact us at any time.
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