17 Wonderful Places to See Snow in Beijing: When it comes to Beijing winter, many tourists may ask several questions, like “Does it ever snow in Beijing? When does it snow in Beijing?” Yes, it snows in Beijing. Based on the historical weather statistics, Beijing snow season usually lasts for around three months, starting from late November to late February next year. The annual average snow days is 14 days during latest ten years with the yearly Beijing snowfall average of 8.4 mm. Most of them are light and moderate snow days.
Where can I see snow in Beijing? We recommend 15 wonderful places for you to enjoy the snow scene in Beijing, so that you can make the travel plan in advance and appreciate the snow timely.
17 Wonderful Places to See Snow in Beijing
1. Forbidden City
Located to the north of Tian’anmen Square in city center, Forbidden City, also called Palace Museum, is the one of must-sees in Beijing. 24 emperors and their royal families from Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties once lived here. The snowy Forbidden City is less crowded and more peaceful and quieter than usual days. You can fully feel the charm of Forbidden City after Beijing snow, when the white snow makes the red-and-yellow imperial palace more magnificent and solemn. The best sites to see Beijing snowfall in the Forbidden City are Gate of Supreme Harmony, Southeast & Southwest Corner Towers outside the moat.
2. Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park faces Forbidden City in the south from Divine Prowess (Shenwumen). Inside this royal landscape garden, Qiwang Pavilion and five pavilions on five summits are major attractions. Among them, Wanchun Pavilion on the highest summit is a perfect place to obtain a full view of Forbidden City and its surroundings covered by white snow, hence a good place to go in Beijing snow season. If you don’t have enough time to tour around Forbidden City, you can go there to appreciate the snow-covered Forbidden City.
3. Mutianyu Great Wall
As one of the best-preserved and best-known sections, Mutianyu Great Wall has an unforgettable scene during Beijing snow season. Located about 65 kilometers (40 miles) away from Beijing center, it is easy and safe to climb. Also it is equipped with cable car, toboggan and chairlift, which help tourists find different beautiful views of Mutianyu. During Beijing snow weather, Mutianyu totally turns white with thick snow lying on the walls and surrounding mountain slopes, particularly spectacular than ordinary days.
4. Beihai Park
Beihai Park is adjacent to Forbidden City and Jingshan Park in the east. As one of the most completed and oldest royal gardens in China, it displays a unique garden style, consisting of lakes, islet, hills, and traditional Chinese architecture. The landmark here is the white Dagoba on the summit of Qionghua Islet. It looks even more sacred on Beijing snow weather. To visit it closely, you need to take a boat to go across the lake, during which you can appreciate the snow covered trees reflected on the water, like a white-and-black Chinese ink painting, simple but beautiful as well.
5. Summer Palace
Summer Palace is the largest and best preserved royal garden in China and is also known as the ‘The Museum of Royal Gardens’. Summer Palace is built based on south China Suzhou classical gardens with the history of almost 270 years. It mainly consists of the Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake, and ancient buildings skillfully dotted here and there. After Beijing snow, the garden is just like a fairyland coming out of the painting. The best place to enjoy snow is the Pavilion of Heralding Spring where you can not only see the glimmer of the lazy winter sun reflecting on the ice surface of Kunming Lake, but also appreciate the snow-covered Longevity Hill.
6. Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven is regarded as China’s largest preserved ancient sacrificial building complex. It was the place where emperors and royal families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties held Heaven Worship Ceremony. The whole temple is divided by two encircling walls into Inner Part and Outer Part. Main buildings and attractions are located inside Inner Part, such as Circular Mound Altar (Huanqiutan), and Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu). In Beijing snow days, the Inner Part becomes more stateliness and quieter that visitors even dare not to speak too loudly to disturb the God of Heaven. In the Outer Part, plant many ancient trees, where visitors can also appreciate natural scenery covered by snow.
7. Tanzhe Temple
Referring to the places where you can see snow in Beijing, Tanzhe Temple should be on the list. The location of this temple is Mentougou District, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Beijing downtown. As one of the earliest Buddhist Temple in China, it has a kind of tranquility atmosphere in Beijing weather of snowing. It seems that people can ease their mind off troubles and get some relaxation here in the white snow world with ancient mulberry trees, halls, courtyards and pavilions.
8. Longqing Gorge
Longqing Gorge is a recommended place where you can visit with children during Beijing snow season. During the daytime, you can walk along the gorge to watch beautiful natural snow scene on both sides of the mountain slopes. Longqing Dam Ice Waterfall is also a must see in daytime, which is about 70-meter-high (230-foot-high). At night, it is advised to see the various ice lanterns. Decorated by colorful lights, they are so beautiful and favored especially by kids. Ice Lantern Festival is usually held from mid-January to the end of February.
9. Gubeikou Great Wall
‘What a spectacular scene of the Great Wall in snow!’ Most tourists will have this feeling after touring around Gubeikou Great Wall in Beijing weather of snow. The snow and frost congealed on the Gubeikou make people fully gain the original beauty of the Great Wall. This section is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, which is suitable for experienced hikers and photography enthusiasts.
10. Lingshan Mountain
Having the highest summit of Beijing, Lingshan Mountain is about 122 kilometers (76 miles) away from downtown area. It is reputed as the first place to welcome snow fall in Beijing every year. So it is a good place for people who are eager to watch Beijing snowfall. If there is a snowfall in Beijing, the snow in Lingshan Mountain is usually the biggest. Although the scenic area are closed from October to April next year, tourists can still appreciate the charming snow scenery from a distance.
11. Taoyuan Xiangu — Ice Climbing & Ice Camping
Taoyuan Xian Gu (‘Taoyuan Fairy Valley‘) is an ecotourism scenic spot with dense forest, about 90 km (2 hours) from Beijing city center. It is a good place for a day trip from Beijing.
In winter, you can see the beautiful scenery of ice waterfalls, ice flowers, and ice caves everywhere in the valley. It’s like walking in an ice and snow kingdom.
Taoyuan Xian Gu has Beijing’s best-developed site for ice climbing, which is climbing up an ice wall made by a frozen waterfall. You are provided with ice-climbing clothes and equipment including ice axes and crampons and will be protected by a belay rope throughout. Ice climbing is actually easy compared with other ice activities, but it still seems very adventurous and thrilling.
12. Houhai — A Natural Skating Rink
Houhai (an artificial lake in central Beijing), together with Qianhai and Xihai, as well as Prince Gong Mansion and Garden, the Drum Tower, and the nearby hutongs, forms the famous Shichahai tourism scenic area.
In the winter, Houhai will be frozen, becoming a natural skating rink. It becomes a big playground for the locals. After skating, you can find a bar in the famous bar street in Houhai to warm you up.
The old hutong buildings behind Houhai look more special in winter when covered by snow than at any other time.
13. The Southeast Corner Watchtower — the Best of the Old City Wall
Situated near the Ming Dynasty City Wall Ruins Park, the Southeast Corner Watchtower is the only remaining part of Dongbianmen (the old east gate) and the largest original city wall corner tower in China. Built in 1436 in the Ming Dynasty, it is a medieval fortified stone structure.
The watchtowers as a wonderful viewing platform, especially when covered with snow during winter. It is 500 meters from Beijing Ancient Observatory.
14. Beijing Snow World Ski Resort – the Nearest Ski Resort in Beijing
Skiing is becoming increasingly popular in China’s winters. In Beijing, you can find many different ski resorts. See Beijing’s Top 10 Ski Resorts.
Being the nearest ski resort to the city (about 30 minutes’ driving), Snow World Ski Resort hosts motorized, dog-drawn, and horse-drawn sleighs. It is certainly a nice place for a day trip in Beijing with kids to enjoy the snow. It is more like a snow theme park instead of a standardized ski resort ass there are only 3 trails .
We also suggest you visit nearby Jiuhua Spa Resort where you can bathe in a hot spring.
15. Nanshan Ski Resort – the Largest Ski Resort in Beijing
Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort is the largest ski resort with the most comprehensive range of ski trails near Beijing (26 trails including 12 beginners, 8 intermediate, 4 advanced, 1 Mellow Park, 1 mini-park). It has China’s first international standard half-pipe snowboard facility and Mogul ski trail.
The mini-park, kids’ nursery, and ski learning trail make it a family-friendly resort. The Alpine-style café and wooden villas in the resort bring you the atmosphere of skiing in the Alps. All in all, Nanshan Ski Resort is a perfect day trip destination for visitors and residents of Beijing or families with children.
16. Badaling Ski Resort – Near to Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Ski Resort is only 2 kilometers from Badaling’s Great Wall section, and thus you can visit the two in a day.
The Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Arts Festival is also nearby. Skiers can rent equipment and enjoy the four ski trails even at the night. If you are not a fan of skiing, you could enjoy the dog sleighs and snow tubes among other activities.
17. Huaibei International Ski Resort – Surrounded by the Great Wall
Beijing Huaibei Ski Resort is the only ski resort surrounded by the Great Wall and is considered to be “the most beautiful ski resort in Beijing. You can enjoy Mutianyu Great Wall — the most child-friendly Great Wall section, while on a skiing trip.
Although Huaibei Resort is a renowned skiing destination, it triples as a nice snow views location and a place to enjoy a variety of snow activities (snowmobile rides, archery on the snow, horse-drawn sled rides…). It features beginner, medium, and advanced level slopes.
Other Things to Do at Beijing Huaibei Ski Resort Beyond Skiing: Thanks to its location in Jiugukou Natural Scenic Area’s beautiful mountains and valleys, in addition to skiing, you can do rock climbing, camping, and Great Wall hiking from the resort. It is a resort for all seasons.