Season guide · Beijing · China
Beijing in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Hot and humid with most of the year's rain in thunderstorms; lotus ponds bloom and family crowds peak. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 34 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 19°C (66°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 30°C (86°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 | 15 h | 3/5 |
| July | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 13 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
| August | 30°C (86°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 11 | 13.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 71 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Dragon Boat Festival (late May or June)
- July: Lotus season at the Old Summer Palace and Beihai Park (usually July)
- July: Summer school holidays (July–August)
Good choices for summer
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Experience · Qianmen and Dashilar
Peking opera performance
Arrive early to watch the performers apply their make-up, which some theatres allow before the show.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Art
- Couples
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Museum · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
National Museum of China
On the east side of Tiananmen Square, this enormous museum's Ancient China galleries run from Neolithic jade and Shang bronzes to Ming and Qing porcelain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Gallery · Chaoyang
798 Art Zone
Visit on a weekday afternoon when galleries are open but the weekend crowds are absent.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Day trips in summer
- Jinshanling Great Wall (About 2.5 hours by car or tour bus) — A partly restored Ming section with dramatic watchtowers along a long ridge, popular with photographers and hikers who want fewer crowds than Mutianyu.
- Simatai and Gubei Water Town (About 2 hours by car or bus) — Gubei Water Town is a rebuilt northern-style canal town at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall, one of the few sections open for evening visits with lit-up watchtowers.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Beijing?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid with most of the year's rain in thunderstorms; lotus ponds bloom and family crowds peak. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Beijing in summer?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.