"Beijing in the winter" Beijing by easyoar

Beijing Travel Guide: 7,369 reviews and 14,732 photos

My first thoughts of Beijing as I went into the city from the airport was that it looked remarkably like Madrid (which is a bit of a shame as I find Madrid a very unexciting place). However as you explore it, Beijing starts to grow on you more and more. Sights well worth seeing are the Temple of Heaven, the Summer and Winter Palaces, Tianenmen Square and the Forbidden Palace (although I did find the latter started to get a bit 'samey' after a while. An essential day trip is a visit to the Great Wall. An optional extra would be a visit to the 'dirt market', just for the experience!

Something to be aware of before visiting in the winter is that Beijing is absolutely freezing. On the plus side however there are very few tourists.

I have had feedback that I have rather a lot of Warnings about Beijing here on my Beijing page. Probably true. I am not however trying to put anyone off going to a wonderfully interesting country!

I am anticipating that as this is an English language website, most people reading this will be from the "West". Customs vary all over the world, and there can be a big difference between the way things are done in the "East" and the way things are done in the "West". Hopefully my Warnings will hep people unfamiliar with Eastern customs to know some of what to expect when they do visit!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lots to see and do, it would take a long time to get bored.
Cons:Initially looks like Madrid, Rather restrictive around Tiananman Square
In a nutshell:If you go, make sure you visit Guilin too.

Last visit to Beijing: Dec 2000
Intro Updated Dec 4, 2004
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Reviews (17)

Raising the Red Flag Things to Do (12)

Every morning, and every evening, the huge flag in Tianenmen Square is raised/lowered with a good deal of military... more travel advice

Marble Boat at the Summer Palace - Beijing

Marble Boat at the Summer Palace Things to Do (12)

The Summer Palace is a huge park which was where the Chinese Royalty used to spend the Summer months. Within this... more travel advice

Monument to the Peoples' Heroes - Beijing

Monument to the Peoples' Heroes Things to Do (12)

The Monument to the Peoples' Heroes is a large obelisk in the middle of Tiananmen Square (nearby to Mao's... more travel advice

Tiananmen Square at night Things to Do (12)

At night time, huge electric lighting systems illuminate Tiananmen Square to the point where it is almost brighter by... more travel advice

What to Pack (1)
A guide book with Chinese translations

Warnings Or Dangers (4)
See All Always stay calm

Comments (44)

elpariente Aug 26, 2007 at 6:17 AM Report Abuse

Very good and interesting Beijing pages . They are helping me to prepare my China travel Gracias , Xié xié
houstonalle Sep 12, 2006 at 6:06 PM Report Abuse

This was amazing. The Summer Palace was one of our favorite places in Beijing area. We went in December and so missed it in its floral glory, but it was till pretty amazing.
budapest8 Jun 15, 2006 at 1:43 AM Report Abuse

The marching gaurds in Tiananmen Square remind me of the soldiers marching past Lenins tomb in the Red Square in Moscow. And these tips make me remember that I was at this page before in May.Derrr My brain hurts! My memory not like it was
asianbelle May 5, 2006 at 9:30 PM Report Abuse

Beijing was a 4-hour lay over enroute to Inner Mongolia. I'm glad the oldest lady in our group "forced" us to get out of the airport and hop on an Audi cab... Will definitely be back to explore more.
TheView May 5, 2006 at 11:51 AM Report Abuse

Hi Andy wonderful tips and very informative. And thanks for your warnings. We all know the history of Tiananmen square :-(
sugarpuff Feb 19, 2006 at 7:25 AM Report Abuse

How on bloody earth did you manage to be at all those places with not one single person in sight..i have had to FIGHT to get my foot on the round altar at Temple of Heaven!!!!
royalempress Nov 14, 2005 at 1:58 PM Report Abuse

Great Beijing Page! I really enjoyed it.
cheesecake17 Oct 29, 2005 at 4:48 PM Report Abuse

another nice page andy, very informative.....I guess only a crazy one will attempt the great wall in the cold freezing winter..;)...U...
BluBluBlu Oct 29, 2005 at 1:08 AM Report Abuse

Nice pages Andy. I never got as far as Beijing on my trip, but its on my 'list'. Blu
filipdebont Oct 6, 2005 at 4:03 PM Report Abuse

Great Big wall pictures, what a difference I was there last year in July, and it was very, very hot to climb the wall