Top 9 Things to Do at Night in Beijing
The nightlife in Beijing is always full of surprises where one can enjoy a variety of Chinese cultural activities, such as theatres featuring opera, drama, acrobatics, and dancing, as well as night tours in the hutongs, bars, food streets, and even on the Great Wall.
Here we’ve summarized the top 9 things to do at night in Beijing. There must be something that suitable for you.
1. Take a Bird’s Eye View of the Forbidden City
Forbidden City at Night
Facing the northern gate of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park is the best place to get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City and central Beijing. It is open from 06:30 to 9 pm in summer and to 8 pm in winter.
Climb on the highest point of the mountain at dusk in the park, you will get a totally different view of the imperial city, which is even more eye-catching than views from inside.
2. Lose Yourself in the Hutongs
Small Shops in the Hutongs
Hutongs are one of the unique features of Beijing. These maze-like traditional alleys are associated with courtyard dwellings, making them an excellent place to catch local life. Strolling around the hutongs on a summer night, you’ll see residents playing mahjong or traditional instrument on the street.
The best hutong areas are around the Drum Tower and Tongluoguxiang. You can walk there from Jingshan Park within 30 minutes.
3. Go for a Crazy Shopping
Qianmen Street
Beijing is a paradise for shoppers. From local souvenirs to the latest high-tech devices and fashion, there’s nothing you can’t buy home. Just go on a crazy shopping spree!
Wangfujing Street is a nice option after a day trip to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Qianmen Street can also be your place if you are a fan of Beijing’s old-brand products- clothes, shoes, and traditional specialties. Sanlitun and Xidan are contemporary large shopping malls that feature world-famous brands, more suitable for young shoppers.
Click and see the Best 9 Places for Shopping in Beijing.
4. Try Street Foods in a Night Market
Night Market
Exploring night markets of any city is a good way to experience local food culture. Beijing is no exception. You can easily find many outlets in any night market or food street to feast on local street foods and snacks.
Huguosi Snack Street is the best place to sample Beijing traditional snacks, while Niujie Muslim Snack Street features halal street food. Ghost Street (Guijie) is a night market where there are street-side restaurants open all night.
There are 11 Beijing street foods you should try, from the delicate imperial snack Pea Cake to the wired Stewed Liver and fried insects.
5. Enjoy Live Music in a Bar
Live Music in a Bar
Not only is Beijing famous for its cultural heritage and long history in the world, but it’s celebrated for its prosperous bar culture, highlighted by its numerous high-end bars, laid-back pubs, and luxury nightclubs.
The bars in Beijing are mainly concentrated in three districts: Chaoyang, Xicheng, and Haidian. Sanlitun Bar Street in Chaoyang District, where is close to the embassy area, is favored by many foreigners in Beijing.
6. Savor Peking Opera
Peking Opera
Peking Opera, combining music, acrobatic dance, theater, and bright costumes, creates the narrative of stories based on the historic past and Chinese folklore. The best place for Peking Opera in Beijing is Liyuan Theatre. It performs from 19:30 to 21:00 in the evening.
Maybe you want to try our night tour: Beijing Roast Duck Dinner and Beijing Opera?
7. Watch a Kung Fu Show
Kung Fu Show
Watching a night show is very popular for foreign travelers to experience traditional Chinese culture. Kung Fu Show is the most exciting one. It performs twice at Red Theatre every night. The first performance starts at 17:15 and the second one at 19:30.
It combines music, dance, and acrobatics and tells a story about how a monk becomes a grandmaster by hard work. The theme of this show is Hardship and Growth. The average age of the talented performers in this show is only 17. English subtitles are applied for visitors to follow.
There are also other famous shows and concerts in Beijing, such as the Golden Mask Dynasty Show in Beijing Happy Valley, and the acrobatics show at Chaoyang Theatre.
8. Experience a Night Tour on Simatai Great Wall
Simatai is the only section of the Great Wall open for night visits, which means you can get a rare chance to explore the magnificent Great Wall at night. The night walk starts from Gubei Water Town (Beijing WTown), a lovely ancient town at the foot of the subtly lit wall itself.
9. View the Nighttime Cityscapes
Scenic spots are scattered everywhere in Beijing. many buildings in the central area look fabulous when night falls down and lights up. Below are two best places for you to get Beijing’s night views:
Tiananmen Square and Chang’an Avenue
Tiananmen Square at Night
The area around Tiananmen Square is one of the most beautiful places in Beijing at night. The majestic Tiananmen Tower and the mystery Forbidden City are more prominent against the dark sky.
Chang'an Avenue stretches along the north side of Tiananmen Square. It is one of the busiest streets in Beijing, which is brightly lit at night.
The Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube
Bird's Nest at Night
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games made the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube world famous. After the Olympic Games, they have become the icons of Beijing.
When night falls, the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are illuminated. The light of Bird's Nest is orange, which represents hospitality. The light of the Water Cube is sea blue standing for soft beauty.
Experience Beijing Nightlife with Us
Our Beijing tours include golden opportunities in the evenings. If you want to add any of the above activities to your itinerary, please let us know. If you don’t know how to plan your nightlife in Beijing, maybe our most-selected tour packages will inspire you: