Beijing June/July: We Braved It For You. Here's the Real Story.

[Kelley Balistreri]

Hi there, friends planning to visit Beijing in June and July! Let me give you some advice -- don't rush into sightseeing without proper research! Many places require advance reservations; if you don’t make them, entry may be denied. First-time visitors especially need to secure reservations beforehand or else wasting their time and money might become inevitable -🤯

️ Key Point: Reserve, Reserve, and Reserve Again!

• Most attractions in Beijing (particularly popular ones) now mandate online ticket reservations well in advance.
• Without a reservation, you will likely be denied entry! This is especially true for newcomers who wouldn't benefit from Beijing without making any reservations.

Some practical tips:

• ⎇ Pack lip balm and a water bottle (drink plenty of water)! Being in the north, the air is significantly dry. I experienced nosebleeds after only two days of arrival!
• ⎇ Don’t order too much food at once! Northern meals are usually large compared to southern ones — over-ordering can result in wastage. Instead, start with smaller portions and add more as needed.
• ⎇ Yiheyuan (Summer Palace): You don’t necessarily need to buy those all-inclusive tickets that encompass every little site. Yiheyuan is extensive, and exploring it all during one day is out of the question! It is best to pick a few focal points aligned with your interests.
• ⎇ Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven): Do purchase the combined ticket for this one! Otherwise, you won’t gain admission to visit the main Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests (the symbolic circular hall).
• ⎇ National Museum of China: Always ensure timely entry according to your reserved time slot, otherwise, security personnel will not allow you in!
• ⎇ Raising Flag Ceremony at Tiananmen Square: Raising times differ daily, as determined by dawn times, so it is crucial to look up the exact timing beforehand using reliable sources!

Approximate ticket sale times for various attractions (recommended to check via official channels before visiting):

• Tiananmen Square: One day before
• Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony: Nine days before Midnight 00:00
• Potala Palace Gate: Seven days before Evening 17:00
• Great Hall of the People: Three days before 17:00
• Chairman Mao Memorial Hall: Six days before Noon 12:00
• National Museum of China: Seven days before Evening 17:00
• Forbidden City: Seven days before Evening 20:00
• Temple of Heaven Park: Seven days before Evening 21:00
• Prince Kung’s Mansion: Ten days before Evening 21:00
• Lama Temple: Seven days before Evening 20:00
• Beijing University: Seven days before Morning 8:00 (generally through university official channels for reservation)
• Tsinghua University: Seven days before Morning 8:00 (same, follow official guidelines)
• Beihai Park: Varies between 1 and 7 days
• Bird’s Nest Stadium: Seven days before Midnight 0:00
• Water Cube: Seven days before Midnight 0:00
• Beijing Zoo: Three days before Evening 18:00
• Badaling Great Wall: Ten days before Evening 20:00
• Mutianyu Great Wall: Two days before
• Beijing Science and Technology Museum: Seven days before Midnight 0:00
• Beijing Natural History Museum: Three days before Morning 11:00
• Friendly reminder: The ticket sale times provided here are just a reference; please verify again from official applets or websites before traveling!

For first-time visitors to Beijing:

1️⃣ Summer Palace: If you enjoy boating, flower sightseeing, and hiking within parks, this perfect scenic spot won’t disappoint!

2️⃣ Old Summer Palace: Fans collecting tourist stamps at each site would be delighted since Old Summer Pavilion provides numerous opportunities to collect them!

3️⃣ Forbidden City: No explanation needed – it’s a must visit!

4️⃣ Great Hall of the People and Monument to the People's Heroes: The landmarks situated around Tian'anmen Square come under Chang An Street's purview with their stringent安检 regulations where multiple ID checks might be required upon entry (Foreign friends are advised to carry passports).

5️⃣ National Museum: A must-go destination for history enthusiasts.

6️⃣ Temple of Heaven Park: The architectural wonders are spread out, implying more walking to explore.

7️⃣ Hutongs (Narrow lanes in old Beijing): Head over to Wushaying Hutong, Nanlou Gulzhu lane and Shi Jia Hutong to capture an authentic Beijing flair.

Places less recommended (especially during summer):

• South Nantang Drum Lane Main Street: Too commercialized with crowded streets and repetitive shopping offerings.
• Gubei Water Town: An artificially constructed holiday resort mimicking southern Chinese water towns (like those seen in Zhejiang province) with heavily commercialized zones and rather distant from city center.
• Great Wall: Not ideal for summer visits, as it gets extremely hot and tiring! You're welcome to go, but proper sun protection is paramount.
• Di Tan Park: Not so much of a draw unless there’s an event on, which may interest tourists otherwise.
• Bejing Zoo: Despite its charm, the peak summer crowds can deteriorate the experience.

Food tips:

• In case you do visit South Nantang Drum Lane, try some snacks such as Xiao Fu Crepes and Qing Yu Yogurt.

🥰 A fun pastime:

• A large number of sites in Beijing offer stamp collecting (e.g., forbidden city, museums, and some creative shops etc.). Lovers of collections can pack a cute notebook to capture their exclusive mark-in-beijing-vestige!

[Hannah Rogahn]

I'd like to know how to book in advance. Do I do that through a group ticketing platform/vendor?

[Lewis Larkin]

Through their official public account.

[Mr. Ryan Hermann]

I'm planning a trip for about ten days to Universal Studios, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the National Museum. I've visited other places already. I'm just wondering how easy it will be to get bookings during the summer vacation.

[Andrea Hand]

When's the weather usually good in Beijing?

[Lucille Borer]

Are the lines long to get into the attractions?

[Mrs. Beverly Glover-Crist]

Is it hot there?

[Cathy Gulgowski]

Is the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) really just a five-minute walk from Tsinghua University?