Beijing events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling, Summer Palace, plus Beihai Park. December in Beijing averages 4°C / 39°F highs, -7°C / 19°F nights, and about 2 rainy days.
Expect 4°C/39°F days and about 2 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling★ 4.8 · 1.4k reviewsBadaling is the most connected wall section from Deshengmen and Qinghe rail links, while Mutianyu is greener and often calmer by tour car.
- Summer Palace★ 4.6 · 9.8k reviewsThe imperial garden in Haidian surrounds Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, with the Long Corridor, Marble Boat, bridges, temples, and lakeside paths.
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Beijing in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
39°F / 19°F
3.8°C / -7°C
RainPrecipitation
2d
0.1in · 2mm
LightDaylight
9.2h
December is dry winter, best for museums, duck dinners, and short outdoor stops around the palace axis.
About Beijing
City overview
Beijing is a northern China capital built on imperial axes, ring roads, hutong lanes, subway corridors, and mountain passes north of the plain. Dongcheng and Xicheng hold Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, hutongs, and temples; Chaoyang handles Sanlitun and embassies; Haidian points to universities, the Summer Palace, and old imperial gardens.
Food & drink
Beijing food is wheat, roast, and street-snack heavy: Peking duck is carved into thin pancakes with scallion, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce, zhajiangmian covers noodles with soybean-paste pork sauce, and jianbing folds egg, herbs, and crisp cracker into a breakfast crepe. Guijie in Dongcheng, Qianmen-Dashilar, Wudaoying Hutong, Sanlitun, and old duck restaurants such as Quanjude or Dadong add hotpot, lamb skewers, dumplings, donkey burgers, lvdagun, wandouhuang, and tea.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Beihai Park
- 2Tiananmen Square
- 3Yonghegong Lama Temple
- 4Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
- 5Temple of Heaven
- 6National Museum of China
- 7Hutongs around Nanluoguxiang, Qianmen, and Liulichang
- 8798 Art District
1Beihai Park
4.5★ · 1,694outdoorOpen dailyThe former imperial garden west of the Forbidden City centers on a lake, bridges, pavilions, and the White Dagoba on Qionghua Island. It pairs well with Jingshan Park and Xicheng hutongs.
Wikipedia
2Tiananmen Square
4.4★ · 6,712outdoorThe enormous public square south of the Forbidden City is framed by the Great Hall of the People, National Museum of China, Monument to the People's Heroes, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. Security checks and closures can change access routes.
Wikipedia
3Yonghegong Lama Temple
4.7★ · 1,099indoorOpen dailyThe Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Dongcheng began as a Qing princely residence before becoming a monastery. It sits near the Confucius Temple and Wudaoying Hutong cafes.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
- 5Temple of Heaven
- 6National Museum of China
Neighborhoods
1Dongcheng
Dongcheng is central-axis Beijing, with Wangfujing, Tiananmen approaches, the Forbidden City edge, Lama Temple, Gulou, Nanluoguxiang, and many hutongs.
2Xicheng
Xicheng holds Beihai, Houhai, Qianmen, Dashilar, Liulichang, financial streets, and older neighborhoods west of the imperial core.
3Chaoyang and Sanlitun
Chaoyang is modern and international, with Sanlitun, embassies, Workers' Stadium, 798 Art District, hotels, offices, and nightlife.
Day trips
75km / about 1.5-2h by car or tour bus from central Beijing
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Restored wall, watchtowers, cable cars, and wooded mountain views make Mutianyu the balanced first Wall trip. Start early to beat tour buses and return traffic.
70km / about 30-40min by high-speed rail from Qinghe to Badaling Great Wall station, plus transfers
Great Wall at Badaling
Badaling is the most developed and accessible Great Wall section, with heavy crowds but simpler public transport than many alternatives.
45km / about 1.5h by car or bus from central Beijing
Ming Tombs
The imperial burial valley north of the city includes the Sacred Way and several accessible tomb areas. It pairs naturally with a Great Wall trip if time is tight.
Getting around
The Beijing Subway covers the core with numbered lines, airport expresses, ring Line 10, Line 1 for Tiananmen-Wangfujing, Line 5 for Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple, and Line 8 for Drum Tower, Qianmen, and Olympic Park. Use a Beijing Transportation Card, Alipay/WeChat transit QR where available, or station tickets; taxis need addresses in Chinese characters.
Planning a Beijing trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Beijing in December
- What to pack for Beijing in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Beijing checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 4°C / 39°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average -7°C / 19°F.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
- How many days do you need in Beijing
- 4 days covers the main Beijing highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Beijing worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Beijing averages 4°C / 39°F highs, -7°C / 19°F nights, and about 2 rainy days.
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