Thursday is Going to Be 30 Degrees: How to Enjoy Beijing Before it Gets Too Hot

30 Degrees this Thursday: 10 Ways to Enjoy Beijing Before it Gets Too Hot

Margaux Schreurs | Apr 18, 2016 10:00 am | Add a comment | 3412 reads

This Thursday, the mercury is set to hit a toasty 30 degrees Celsius and while it's been a while since we had our thermals on, it's a far cry from the middling couple months we've been riding through. That's why we're here to remind you of what we used to do in the summer. These are some of our suggestions on getting out there, especially now that the fluffy catkins are finally on their way out.

1. Pack a picnic and rent a boat on Houhai, or go to a park near you. Chaoyang Park (RMB 5 entry) is a good option for picnics, as is Ditan Park.

2. Dine or drink al fresco, either at one of these new places, or at a long-time favorite. Blue skies and warm weather make for happy rooftops.

3. Go bird watching at Hanshiqiao Nature Reserve for an experience you never thought you'd have in concrete Beijing.

4. Get out of the city's confines with a day trip, your writer recommends Cuandixia for a day out of town, where there's plenty of hiking and exploring.

5. Explore Yuanmingyuan, followed by an evening in Wudaokou. You'd be surprised how even a 30-minute cab ride away, it can feel like you've gone on a trip.

6. Walk through historic Beijing with some sightseeing (nobody is judging if you haven't been to the Forbidden City or Jingshan Park yet, but these two are a must!) and a visit to Dashilar.

7. Sign up for a marathon. We know this is a pretty extreme jump from "the weather is good," but we see you all running. Why not test your boundaries with a marathon?

8. Beijing is in bloom! Enjoy some of Beijing's spring flowers before it is too late.

9. Borrow or dog, or steal a friend's, so that you have an excuse to go visit somewhere new.