Looking for an unforgettable night? Check out the following 10 "Light-Chasing Routes" across Beijing – from photogenic displays and cultural markets to immersive activities – and unlock a new kind of urban romance.
Route 1: Central Axis at Night – A Cultural Journey Through Heritage and Time-Honored Brands
[Photo via VCG]
[Photo via Beijing Fabu]
Regions: Dongcheng; Xicheng
Itinerary:
Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower → Beijing Fun → Dashilar → Qianmen Street → Longtan Zhonghu Park
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Cycling/Walking
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Beijing apm; WF CENTRAL; Oriental Plaza
Recommended Hotels:
Capital Hotel; CitiGO Hotel (near Tian'anmen Square); Man Xin Hotel (on Qianmen Street)
Recommended Destinations:
Temple of Heaven Park; Natural History Museum of China; Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum
Route 2: Night Bus - Moving Restaurant & Sightseeing Fun
[Photo via The Beijing News]
[Photo via Beijing Chaoyang]
Region: Chaoyang
Itinerary:
Beijing Olympic Park → China Archaeological Museum → Beijing Chaoyang Gourmet Sightseeing Bus (Starting point: Wolfgang's Steakhouse (Huamao Branch))
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Cycling / Self-drive
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
DT51; Xin'ao Shopping Center; POLPAS; Xin Chen Li
Recommended Hotels:
Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel; V-Continent Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel; Hampton by Hilton (near the Bird's Nest)
Recommended Destinations:
China Science and Technology Museum; National Zoological Museum of China; China Ethnic Museum
Route 3: Olympic Park at Night - Carnival of Shopping & Concerts
[Photo via Beijing Fabu]
[Photo via Official WeChat account of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism]
Region: Chaoyang
Itinerary:
Olympic Forest Park → Beitou Shopping Park (Northern Investment Shopping Park) → National Stadium (Bird's Nest) / National Indoor Stadium → SOLANA
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive / Cycling
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Uni Elite Anzhen; Longde Plaza; You Yi Shopping City – Beijing Lufthansa Center
Recommended Hotels:
China International Convention Center Grand Hotel; Orange Hotel (near the Bird's Nest); Ji Hotel (near the Bird's Nest)
Recommended Destinations:
Sunken Garden; Beijing Olympic Museum; Liangma River International Waterfront; National Stadium (Bird's Nest); National Indoor Stadium
Route 4: Liangma River at Night - Ode to Fashion & Trends
[Photo via Beijing Fabu]
[Photo via VCG]
Region: Chaoyang
Itinerary:
Sanlitun → Liangma River International Waterfront (Cruise Tour) → Chaoyang Park
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Cycling / Walking
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Taikoo Li Sanlitun; Yoolee Plaza; You Yi Shopping City – Beijing Lufthansa Center; SOLANA
Recommended Hotels:
Hotel New Otani Changfugong; Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing; The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing; Ji Hotel (near Taikoo Li Sanlitun)
Recommended Destinations:
POP LAND; Phoenix Center; Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy; 798 Art District
Route 5: Western Beijing at Night - Synergy of Ancient Trails & Industrial Legacy
[Photo via Beijing Tourism]
[Photo via VCG]
Region: Shijingshan
Itinerary:
Moshikou Historical and Cultural Block → Pingdong Market → Shougang Park → New Shougang Bridge
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive / Cycling
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Chang'an Mills; Xirondo Plaza; Joy City Jingxi
Recommended Hotels:
Wanshangruyi Hotel (Pingguoyuan); Holiday Inn Beijing Shijingshan Parkview; Yinbao Jianguo Hotel Beijing; Shangri-La Shougang Park, Beijing
Recommended Destinations:
Shijingshan Amusement Park (venue of the 2025 Jingcai Lantern Show); China Quaternary Glacial Vestige Exhibition Hall; Badachu Park
Route 6: Grand Canal at Night - Lightscape of Cruises & Night Market
[Photo via the official WeChat account of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport]
[Photo via the official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism]
Region: Tongzhou
Itinerary:
Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area → Grand Canal (for cruise tour; departing from Olympic Park No. 2 Pier) → Qianhe Xielu Bridge (Dew-spilling Bridge) → Moon River Art Town
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive / Cycling
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Wanda Plaza Tongzhou; Link Plaza Tongzhou; MixC One Tongzhou
Recommended Hotels:
Park Inn by Radisson (near Universal Beijing Resort); Jianguo Boutique Hotel (near Universal Beijing Resort); Universal Studios Grand Hotel; NUO Resort Hotel
Recommended Destinations:
Lu County Ancient City Ruins Park; Universal Beijing Resort; Central Green Forest Park; Beijing Han Meilin Art Museum
Route 7: Wukesong at Night - Sonata of Concerts & Nightscapes
[Photo via Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau]
[Photo via VCG]
Region: Haidian
Itinerary:
Haidian Park → Huaxi LIVE Wukesong (for concerts) → Beijing Xishan National Forest Park (home to Guixiaoshi, a rock that "interprets" the sound of winds into laughter of ghosts)
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
GR Shopping Mall; CITY MALL; MixC One Xibeiwang
Recommended Hotels:
Beijing New Century Hotel (Hotel Nikko New Century Beijing); Beijing Xinyuan Hotel; Wanshou Hotel
Recommended Destinations:
Fragrant Hills Park; China National Botanical Garden; Summer Palace; Huaxi LIVE Wukesong
Route 8: Changxindian at Night – China-chic Elements & Bustling Food Street
[Photo via the official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism]
[Photo via the official WeChat account of Yanqing District Bureau of Culture and Tourism]
Region: Fengtai
Itinerary:
Beijing Garden Expo Park → Changxindian China-chic Fashion Block → Beijing World Park → Lize Guài Market
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive / Public Transport
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Longfor Paradise Walk (Lize); Wanda Plaza Fengke; Floral Village
Recommended Hotels:
Oriental Venice Hot Spring Hotel; Xiamen Air Jianianhua Hotel (Beijing); Grand Kingtown Hotel
Recommended Destinations:
Beigong National Forest Park; Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture; Lugou Bridge History Museum
Route 9: Great Wall at Night – Scenic Landscapes of Badaling & Gui River
[Photo via Beijing Tourism]
[Photo via Beijing Shi Yuan International Tourism Resort]
Region: Yanqing
Itinerary:
Day 1: Yanqing Sightseeing Bus → Badaling Great Wall (for night tour) → Gui River Forest Park (for the show "Nightscape of Gui River")
Day 2: Beijing Shi Yuan International Tourism Resort → Yanlong Commune Food Truck Market
Duration: 2 days
Travel Mode: Self-drive / Sightseeing Bus
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
Wanda Plaza Yanqing; Huanqiu Xinyi Department Store; Zhongta Plaza
Recommended Hotels:
Crowne Plaza Beijing Badaling; Beijing Shiyuan Yueqin Hotel; Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan; DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing Badaling
Recommended Destinations:
"Yanqing - Goods" Cultural Creative Park & Casting Art Zone; Yongning Ancient Town; Yanqing Museum; Longqing Gorge Scenic Area
Route 10: Water Town at Night - Magical Canvas of Drones & Starry Sky
[Photos via VCG]
Region: Miyun
Itinerary:
Yunfeng Mountain Natural Scenic Area → Beijing WTown → Simatai Great Wall (for night tour)
Duration: 1 day
Travel Mode: Self-drive
Nearby Shopping & Entertainment:
MixC One Miyun; Yansai Outlets (Miyun)
Recommended Hotels:
Baqi Inn at Beijing WTown; Grand Bay Hotel Beijing; RGHCM Garden Resorts; Singing Deer
Recommended Destinations:
Panlong Mountain Great Wall Scenic Area; Taoyuan Xiangu; Yunlongjian Natural Scenic Area
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
