Weather: January is the coldest month in Beijing, with average temperature ranging from -7°C (19°F) and 2°C (36°F). It's freezing and windy. However, heating is supplied 24 hours a day, so it is warm inside the houses. There may be a little snow this month, but otherwise, it is very dry.
Clothing: A thin sweater is sufficient for indoors, but you need to bring warm clothes, such as thick sweaters, a down jacket, gloves and hat to keep warm outside.
Is January a Good Time to Visit Beijing?
To be honest, January isn't the most comfortable month in Beijing due to cold weather, with daytime temperatures often around freezing and the wind being quite dry and cold.
However, January has its advantages. If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy a quieter travel atmosphere, it's a great time to visit. Flights and hotel prices are often lower than during peak seasons, and you could experience a rare sense of tranquility at major attractions like the Forbidden City or the Great Wall.
Moreover, January offers special activities worth exploring: you could go ice skating at the Summer Palace or Shichahai, or catch the Chinese New Year temple fairs, featuring lively lion dances and lanterns. For those who can handle the cold, January in Beijing provides a unique experience.
Top Activities in January in Beijing
In January, besides visiting classic attractions like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven, you could also try the following activities.
Chinese New Year Celebrations - Lion Dances and Lantern Festivals
The Spring Festival is China's most important traditional holiday and the best time of the year to experience authentic Chinese culture. It usually falls between late January and late February. You could enjoy lion dances, lantern decorations, and temple fairs, with a festive atmosphere everywhere.
We highly recommend visiting the temple fairs at Ditan Park or Longtan Park, where you could see festival decoration stalls, traditional folk performances, and enjoy a variety of local snacks.
In the evening, stroll through Houhai Hutong or Liulichang East Street to admire streets adorned with red lanterns and feel the festive spirit of Beijing.
See our 6-Day Beijing Chinese New Year Tour.
Ditan temple fairLion danceTips:
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen, and the National Museum of China are closed on Lunar New Year's Eve but open at other times. The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace are open year-round.
The Spring Festival is the busiest travel time across the country, with trains and flights fully booked days in advance, and hotel prices in Beijing tend to rise. If you plan to visit Beijing during this period, it's best to book 2–3 months in advance. While transportation and accommodations might be tight, with careful planning, your trip can still go smoothly.
If you prefer to avoid the hassle of booking tickets and selecting hotels, we can arrange suitable flights, transportation, and accommodations for you. Just contact us.
Ice Skating at the Summer Palace - Traditional Winter Fun
Outdoor ice skating rinks in Beijing are open only in January, offering a unique winter experience.
We recommend skating at the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by ancient bridges, hills, and pavilions, providing a distinctive view.
There are two rinks in the Summer Palace. If you enjoy a lively atmosphere, head to the larger Kunming Lake rink, with Longevity Hill and the Tower of Buddhist Incense as a backdrop.
Kunming Lake rinkFor a quieter experience, visit the smaller Suzhou Street rink, flanked by quaint shops that evoke old Beijing charm.
Suzhou Street rinkYou could try ice bicycles, tandem ice cars, and electric ice boats with kids or friends.
For the best experience, we suggest visiting in the morning or before 4:30 PM, when there are fewer people, allowing you more freedom to enjoy.
If you visit the Summer Palace on a sunny day in early January, you might catch the "Golden Light Piercing the Bridge" phenomenon at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge at sunset. The sunlight streaming through the arches onto the ice is truly breathtaking.
Golden Light Piercing the BridgeHutong Cultural Visit - Calligraphy, Cooking, and Family Life
Winter in Beijing is cold, but stepping into a courtyard in the hutongs offers a different kind of warmth. A hutong home visit not only shelters you from the chilly wind but also brings you closer to the daily life of Beijingers.
You could chat with residents in their living rooms and try your hand at Chinese crafts: write your first Chinese character, paint a Peking Opera mask, or cut a red paper window decoration.
If you visit around the Spring Festival, these experiences are even more festive. You could write an upside-down "福" character, symbolizing "fortune arrives."
Our guests learned Chinese calligraphy You could also learn to make dumplings, a must-eat dish on New Year's Day in Beijing, symbolizing reunion. Enjoying your own freshly made dumplings feels like celebrating the New Year with a Beijing family.
Our guests learned how to make dumplingsIf you're interested, we can combine a hutong home visit with a trip to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City on the same day, or arrange it with other attractions as you prefer. Read our 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing.
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Beijing Climate Information by Month
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