The 2024 "Beijing Under the Moonlight" night tour recommendation list have been officially released, featuring 60 nighttime cultural tourism projects. This comprehensive guide offers Beijing residents and visitors a wealth of options for evening outings, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.
Tradition meets modernity: Night attractions showcase the fresh charm of history city
As the lights come on and night falls, the Great Wall sheds its majestic beauty from the day, revealing a gentle and luxurious charm under the night sky. According to this list, many sections of the Great Wall, such as Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan, and Simatai, now offer nighttime tours. The ancient stones of the Great Wall glow softly and warmly in the light, while the watchtowers appear even more solemn and mysterious in the darkness. Through careful atmospheric creation, these scenic spots provide a unique visual feast along the Great Wall, allowing visitors to enjoy beautiful views alongside various performances that blend traditional culture with contemporary art, including innovative activities like drone displays. This transforms the ancient "dragon" that carries millennia of history into a vibrant spectacle at night.
The Qianmendajie(St), the Longfu Temple Cultural Block, the Dongxicha Block at the entrance of the White Pagoda Temple, and Nanluoguxiang—these neighborhoods and streets that embody both the "memories of the ancient capital" and a refreshed appearance are all making the list. Here, visitors not only experience the unique and complete historical landscape but can also enjoy coffee, taste desserts, and purchase cultural creative products. These old neighborhoods have become the "new influencers," connecting the culture of old Beijing with the vibrancy of modern city life. Each hutong and street, where history is tangible, the atmosphere is lively, and cultural charm is palpable, is radiating new vitality.
Shougang Park, the 798·751 Art District, Beijing Aquarium, and the Light Science and Technology Museum all feature high "technological content," utilizing advanced technologies like 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality to create immersive nighttime cultural tourism spaces. These innovations fully engage visitors' senses, enhancing their sense of participation and experience. Here, citizens and tourists can traverse between past and present, touch the future, and explore unknown worlds.
Vibrant night markets: A full-chain experience of authentic Beijing flavors
Guijie(St), Beijing Fun, and Wudaoying Hutong are always bustling with lights and crowds at night. With ongoing development and upgrades, visitors can now enjoy not only traditional Beijing dishes like Peking duck, zhajiangmian (fried sauce noodles), and douzhi (fermented bean juice) with Jiaoquan (fried ring), but also experience a higher quality and more diverse nightlife in Beijing. From traditional night markets to modern ones and shopping districts, these "night economy" formats are continually evolving, gradually offering a full range of services that include dining, accommodation, transportation, tourism, shopping, and entertainment, making them popular spots for both locals and tourists.
The Beijing Chaoyang International Light Festival, the 27th Beijing Music Festival, and the recently launched "Jingcai Lantern Festival—2024 Beijing Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Lantern Fair" are among the featured events on the list, allowing people to experience the vibrant new charm added to Beijing's nights.
Decoding the "fashion trend": Leisure and entertainment transform Beijing into a vibrant city that never sleeps
With the ongoing rise in consumer demand and the evolving lifestyle concepts of the "Z generation" as the main consumer group, urban consumption scenes are evolving and upgrading. This list features popular theme park destinations like Universal Beijing Resort and Beijing Happy Valley, as well as commercial complexes such as Chaoyang Joy City and Huaxi LIVE·Wukesong. It also includes creative hubs like the 798·751 Art District and Shouchuang Langyuan, alongside innovative business formats like THE BOX Chaoyang|Youth Power Center. Overall, the list captures the vibrant trends of Beijing's nightlife, radiating the captivating allure of "Night Beijing."
Some projects on the list also showcase the characteristics of multifunctional art and consumer spaces, including art galleries, concert halls, fashion show venues, innovative retail, sports facilities, and trendy nightclubs. Here, citizens and tourists can experience the limitless possibilities of urban life.
Unending spectacle: Cultural shows release new vitality
The list continues to feature nighttime performance venues with brand recognition, including the Beijing People's Art Theatre, the "South Central Axis: Night Tianqiao" series at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, the Beijing Performing Arts Center, the Huguang Guild Hall, and the Yanliao Guild Hall. Various forms of art, such as concerts, music festivals, dramas, Peking opera, and crosstalk performances, take the stage in these venues. Elements like the tension of drama, the fluidity of dance, the rhythm of music, the magic of lighting, and the enchantment of visuals intertwine here, providing visitors with an immersive and participatory viewing experience.
This list also highlights the distinctly Beijing aspect, as cultural institutions like museums, libraries, cultural centers, and bookstores are extending their nighttime opening hours. Venues such as the Beijing Books Building, Beijing Library, and Sanlian Taofen Bookstore are creating new nighttime exhibition and reading experiences. The Beijing Grand Canal Museum and the Light Science Museum are developing unique cultural themes as "cultural IPs" to meet the nighttime cultural consumption needs of the public.
Emerging accommodations: Discovering the distinctive allure of camping in the new wave of cultural tourism
Campsites and other emerging accommodations add a unique enjoyment to nighttime tourism in Beijing. Locations like Kuan Camp Campsite, Fort Lion City Campsite, Zigu Orion Flower Camping Site, Jinhai Lake Bibo Island Campsite, and Flower Port Campsite not only offer picturesque scenery and fresh air but also provide comfortable camping facilities along with a variety of outdoor activities for visitors. At night, under a starry sky, guests can gather around a fire for a barbecue, engage in deep conversations, and fully savor the tranquility and comfort away from the city.
Leisurely night walks: Experiencing the vibrant nightscape of the city
The list introduces nighttime options such as sightseeing buses, cruise boats, and cycling tours, allowing visitors to appreciate Beijing's nightscape from fresh perspectives.
On the sightseeing buses, guests can sit around tables for interactive conversations while gazing at the starry sky through panoramic windows. The buses offer snacks like nuts, Peking duck, and Western-style light meals, passing by various cultural landmarks and trendy shopping districts, enabling visitors to enjoy beautiful views alongside delicious food. The "Grand Central Axis Night Tour" bus takes passengers through the ancient architecture of the old city, showcasing the cultural charm following the successful heritage application of the Beijing Central Axis. Meanwhile, the night tour of Shichahai lets visitors experience the beautiful blend of tradition and modernity, as well as the integration of nature and culture on the shimmering lake surface.
Multiple cycling routes included on the list connect various nighttime tourism spots and create a "night tour" product through cycling. This approach represents a multidimensional fusion of cultural experiences, leisure fitness, and cultural tourism consumption, marking an innovative attempt.
To help citizens and tourists better appreciate Beijing's rich historical and cultural heritage, the list also features a series of hutong tours utilizing cycling and Citywalk as exploration methods. During these tours, visitors can learn about the history, culture, and architecture of the hutongs, hear the stories behind each brick and tile, and experience a different side of Beijing under the lights. They can savor authentic local flavors while enjoying a leisurely lifestyle amidst the bustling city, feeling the charm and vibrancy of Beijing.
The 2024 "Beijing Under the Moonlight" night tour recommendation list is jointly organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Beijing Gehua Media Group. Among the 60 recommended spots are nighttime open attractions, parks, creative cultural districts, and theme parks, as well as vibrant nightlife districts and specialty markets. The list also features themed performances, garden parties, light shows, and the trending options of night cycling, night sailing, and nighttime sightseeing buses. It comprehensively showcases Beijing's rich nighttime tourism resources, inviting more citizens and tourists to explore this dazzling city where history and modernity intertwine.
The list covers Beijing's diverse nighttime cultural tourism resources and new formats and scenarios, offering citizens and tourists a wide array of new leisure choices and experiences. With the release of this night tour recommendation list, Beijing's nighttime economy will encounter new development opportunities, injecting fresh vitality into the city's growth.
In addition, Meituan has launched a special webpage for the 2024 "Beijing Under the Moonlight" series, where citizens and tourists can find over 200 nighttime cultural tourism projects featured in the night tour recommendation guide. They can directly find information, purchase tickets, and leave reviews on the dedicated page. Relevant information about the night tour recommendation list will also be gradually published on the official website of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and on social media accounts such as "Wenlv Beijing" on Weibo and WeChat official accounts. Citizens and tourists are encouraged to bookmark, check in, and experience these offerings.
This autumn, let us step into "Beijing Under the Moonlight" together, exploring the treasures hidden beneath the night and experiencing the unique charm and endless possibilities of this city.
2024 "Beijing Under the Moonlight" night tour recommendation list
Exciting nights in Beijing—Enjoying the vibrant nightlife
1. Badaling Great Wall
2. Mutianyu Great Wall
3. Juyongguan Great Wall
4. Simatai Great Wall
5. Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Area
6. Beijing WTown
7. Night Tour of Shichahai
8. Liangma River International Waterfront
9. Olympic Forest Park
10. Chaoyang Park
11. Shougang Park
12. 798·751 Art District
13. Shouchuang Langyuan
14. Universal Beijing Resort
15. Beijing Happy Valley
16. Beijing Aquarium
17. Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park
18. Qianmendajie(St)
19. Beijing Fun
20. Wangfujing
21. Guijie(St)
22. Longfu Temple Cultural Block
23. Moshikou Historical and Cultural District
24. Dongxicha Block at the entrance of the White Pagoda Temple,
25. Nanluoguxiang
26. Wudaoying Hutong
27. Sanlitun Taikooli
28. Chaoyang Joy City
29. Huaxi LIVE · Wukesong
30. Xiushui Street(St)
31. THE BOX Chaoyang | Young Power Center
32. COFCO · Xiangyun Town
33. TANKO
34. Beijing Grand Canal Museum
35. Light Science and Technology Museum
36. Beijing Books Building
37. Beijing Library
38. Sanlian Taofen Bookstore
39. Beijing People's Art Theatre
40. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center "South Central Axis · Night Tianqiao" Series
41. Beijing Art Center
42. Beijing Huguang Guild Hall
43. Yanliao Guild Hall
44. Mahua FunAge Immersive Performance Space · Colorful World
45. "Jingcai Lantern Festival" - 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Lantern Fair
46. 27th Beijing Music Festival
47. Beijing Chaoyang International Light Festival
48. Panjiayuan Cultural Night Market
49. Grand Central Axis Night Tour Sightseeing Bus
50. Chang'an Street Night Sightseeing Bus
51. Trendy Chaoyang Nightscape Sightseeing Bus
52. Qianmen Bird's Nest and Water Cube Night Sightseeing Bus
53. "北京(Beijing)" Character Cycling Route
54. "Riding along the Canal" Cycling Route
55. "Sunset Viewing at Western Hill and Yongding River" Cycling Route
56. Kuan Camp Campsite
57. Fort Lion City Campsite
58. Jinhai Lake Bibo Island Campsite
59. Zigu Orion Flower Camping Site
60. Flower Port Campsite
(Note: The above rankings are not in any particular order.)
