BEST THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN BEIJING FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS
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Beijing is a great city but information can be hard to find. So it isn’t easy to decide what to do at night, especially if you are looking for something a bit quieter.
I am not really a bar and night club person and often find it a bit difficult to find fun evening activities when travelling alone. So in case you are the same and are looking for good ideas for things to do at night I have come up with the following suggestions. I hope you will find something that works for you!
Planning a trip to Beijing? Check out my tips for booking a hotel in China!
Some general remarks
I generally find going out at night on my own a bit challenging. Luckily, it was easier in Beijing than most places. Due to the location further north it doesn’t get dark mega-early, the city feels very safe, and public transportation is very easy to use (but do be aware that the subway stops running fairly early at night, usually before midnight).
The list consists of a mix of fun areas to hang out in, a couple of nighttime-spots, and some organized tours or activities. Unfortunately, I had maxed out my budget with my hotel splurge so didn’t really have any money left for evening tours. But I have still included a couple on the list that I have marked for a future visit. Like anything I didn’t personally experience they are marked with an *.
Do you have limited time and find it hard to choose what to see? Check out my curated 3-day itinerary for Beijing!
Best things to Do at Night in Beijing
1) Olympic Park Area – Top Tip
Probably my top tip if you are looking for a relaxed evening activity at low cost with a variety of things to do is the Olympic Park Area. A visit is free and you can get there easily on the subway. The stunning architecture of the stadiums really is at its best when illuminated at night but there is more to see and do here than just take cool photos!
There is a fair-sized underground mall and along the main plaza you will find plenty of entertainment. I saw a fountain show as well as live-music on smaller stages. There were loads of people strolling along and enjoying their evening and quite a few were performing dances or acrobatics etc.
A fun, low-key, and interesting way to enjoy your evening, immersed in local culture!
2) Royal Banquet Dinner Show*
Unfortunately, my budget did not allow for me to attend this dinner show but it looks like a lot of fun. You enjoy a multi-course meal while watching various acrobatic and music performances. If you pay extra you can even wear traditional costumes! It sounds like a Chinese version of the Medieval Times Dinner Shows in the US which are quite a lot of fun.
Especially if you – like me – are a C-drama fan or like Imperial history this dinner show will make it come alive (even if in a touristy way). The venue seems to be a bit out of the city center but Beijing’s public transit is extremely efficient so this shouldn’t pose any problem.
A chance to feel like you stepped back in history while enjoying dinner and a show.
3) Hang out along Wangfujing Street
The Wangfujing Snack Street you see recommended on some blogs no longer exists but Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is still worth a visit! It is a great spot for people-watching and checking out the stores lining this wide, modern street. And you can find plenty of international and local foods either in the shopping malls or along the side-streets.
The biggest advantage of Wangfujing Street – it is very close to the Forbidden City and many hotels. So if you are looking for a low-key evening after a hard day of sight-seeing this may be the most practical option.
A low-key place for some shopping, dining, and people-watching close to the main tourist area.
4) Enjoy Shougang Park’s Steampunk Vibe at Night
I was a bit unsure if I should mark this as one of the activities I have not personally tried or not. While I did visit Shougang Park (you can read a detailed review in my Shougang Park post), I did not stay until dark. However, I have seen photos of the abandoned factories and mills illuminated at night and they were stunning!
As Shougang Park is a bit far from the city center I probably wouldn’t recommend going there just for an evening activity. But if you have time it makes for a great afternoon exploring a lesser known Beijing highlight that can be extended so you still get to see the area at night. I loved the vibe of the Shangri-La Shougang Park so would probably have dinner or a drink there next time.
A cool area with a steampunk vibe that makes for great photos at night.
5) Book a Food Tour*
Again, my budget was too tight to take a food tour in Beijing but I did do food tours in Bangkok and Hoi An and loved the experience. You do pay a bit more than if you just order yourself, but it is a great way to meet people and have the food curated for you. Definitely a good idea if like me you aren’t too extroverted but still prefer eating in a group. I do wish I had booked a food tour in Beijing as I was a bit intimidated by the food selecting/ordering and didn’t try as many local foods as I would have liked.
On a future trip I would probably book either this Hutong Tour with hot-pot dinner or this Old Beijing tour.
A food tour is a great chance to meet people and learn more about the local culture while enjoying delicious food. So much food.
6) Explore Shichahai on your own – Top Tip
If you don’t want to spend much money or don’t like group tours, you can explore the Shichahai Area (where many food tours go) on your own. It is a fun, bustling leisure area around a pretty lake, crowded with (mostly) Chinese tourists.
Here you will find a huge number of restaurants, food stalls, and bars with a cute Old China look. Another great spot for people-watching! Easy to get to, free to visit, lively, but not at all intimidating (other than some noise and crowds).
Another great spot to just enjoy a fun evening – with a vibe that is more touristy and Old China.
7) Sip a cocktail with a view of the CBD – Top Tip
Now, I am not the nightclub or bar type but my hotel, the China World Summit Wing, offered an included happy hour and I am not passing up a free drink! Funnily enough, it was one of my favorite things to do in Beijing (and not just because it was free).
Relaxing with a tasty cocktail or glass of wine and nibbling on some snacks (or a full dinner) while enjoying a view of Beijing’s modern Central Business District makes a great end of the day. This option is especially recommended if you spent your day trudging through the Forbidden City or hiking along the Great Wall and are too exhausted to enjoy strolling through even the coolest nighttime spot.
A relaxed ending to the day with a view that makes a good counterpoint to Beijing’s more traditional sights of palaces and gardens.
8) Hang out with the hip at Taikoo Li in Sanlitun – Top Tip
Taikoo Li is an open-air mall in Sanlitun, similar to the Grove in LA. Here you will find the shiniest designer stores, the trendiest shops, and plenty of restaurants. It is clearly the destination for the young, hip, and rich – and plenty of foreign tourists.
In addition, you will find plenty of hotel bars, other malls, and night venues in the immediate area as Sanlitun is one of Beijing’s hippest areas at the moment.
A great choice if you are looking for a more modern, international vibe.
9) Enjoy sunset at Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park was one of my favorite activities in Beijing. However, I did not realize that it is open late and famous for the evening views so I visited it in the middle of the day. I still had an amazing time but seeing the view over the Forbidden City at dusk or sunset would be even cooler!
Jingshan Park is not too far from Wangfujing Street (about 20 minutes walk) so you could easily combine the two for an even more memorable evening!
The best view over the Forbidden City is even better in the evening.
10) Hang out at a pub with Expats*
Okay, this is more of a bonus point. When I returned to my hotel, A.C. Art Museum Hotel, I noticed a pub pretty much right next door. It seemed very lively and was one of the few spots in Beijing where I saw a significant number of Western tourists.
So if you are in town longer and want to speak English, eat (presumably) Irish food, and meet other foreigners, this may be a good place to check out (I just passed by so no personal experience).
An Irish pub with a lively atmosphere.
So what is best to do at night in Beijing?
Beijing has plenty of easy and accessible evening activities that can be enjoyed by solo travellers or anyone not up for serious nightlife. And most of them are cheap or inexpensive!
My main recommendation would be to consider how exhausted you will be after your plans for the day. If you walked 25k steps in the heat maybe a more sedentary activity would be better. But aside from that, all these activities make for a fun evening out – and offer an opportunity to immerse yourself into local life and culture.
