Winter is an ideal season for unwinding via tea by the fire. Check out the routes below to enjoy Beijing's relaxing winter vibe.
Route 1: Tea in Hutongs: Where Old Days Return
Itinerary: Yonghegong Lama Temple → Chengxian Street → Beiluoguxiang → Meow Bar
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Cycling, walking
Highlights:
Begin your trip at Yonghegong Lama Temple, where red walls and grey tiles gleam beneath the clear winter sky. Stroll along Chengxian Street to explore the historic architectural complex of the Confucian Temple and the Imperial College Museum. Continue to Beiluoguxiang lined with cafés and creative boutiques. When you're ready for a rest, head to Meow Bar for a cup of hot tea beside a glowing brazier as you soak up the winter sunshine and the unique charm of Beijing, where tradition and modern life meet.
Route 2: Tea with Legends: Culture, Art and Echoes of the Past
Itinerary: Peking University Red House → Changchuntang Tea of Seasons (Peking University Red House Branch) → Former Editorial Office of La Jeunesse → Nanchizi Museum → Laijinyuxuan Teahouse → Beijing Exhibition Center (for International Art Biennale)
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Subway, cycling, walking
Highlights:
Begin at Peking University Red House, a landmark of modern Chinese intellectual history. Stop at Changchuntang Tea of Seasons (Peking University Red House Branch) across the street for a cup of wellness-enhancing tea. Visit the Former Editorial Office of La Jeunesse to revisit the intellectual ferment and spirit of a century ago. Wander through Nanchizi Museum, then enjoy another tea break at Laijinyuxuan Teahouse, a place closely associated with the renowned writer Lu Xun. End the day at the Beijing Exhibition Center, which will host the 10th Beijing International Art Biennale from December 29, 2025 to January 28, 2026, featuring nearly 600 artworks from 119 countries and regions.
Route 3: Courtyard Tea: Historic Architecture and Daytime Café Vibes
Itinerary: National Art Museum of China → Longfu Temple Cultural Block → Qianliang Hutong → Dongsi North Street → Jingxuezhai
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Cycling, walking
Highlights:
You're bound to find something you enjoy at the National Art Museum of China, which houses more than 130,000 artworks. Longfu Temple Cultural Block, with its mix of galleries, bookstores, cafés and bars, adds a lively note to winter walks. Stroll along Dongsi North Street for the time-honored brands alongside emerging shops. Relax in the serene courtyard of Jingxuezhai deep in the hutong, where you can savor tea by the fire on a calm winter day.
Route 4: Tea at Bookstore: What to See in Beijing's Hutongs
Itinerary: Niujie Street → Fayuan Temple → Lanman Hutong → Nanbanjie Hutong → Daji Xiang → Xuannan Bookstore (Liulichang Branch)
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Cycling, walking
Highlights:
Warm up with comfort dishes on Niujie Street. Then step into Fayuan Temple, one of Beijing's oldest surviving Buddhist temples. Continue through Lanman Hutong and Nanbanjie Hutong, both lined with traditional courtyard homes and former residences of notable figures. Walk through Daji Xiang, which features historic architecture and diverse businesses. Spend a cozy winter afternoon at Xuannan Bookstore (Liulichang Branch) with a good book and a cup of steaming hot tea.
Route 5: Tea in Parks: Wandering Along the Bahe River
Itinerary: Jiangfu Park → Langyuan Station → Bahe River
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Walking
Highlights:
Take a gentle stroll through Jiangfu Park, enjoying its quiet natural charm. Then stop by Langyuan Station, a hub of cultural creativity, to enjoy a cup of tea in a warm indoor space or semi-open courtyard. Afterwards, take a leisurely walk along the Bahe River, where you can embrace the slow rhythm of wintertime in the city.
Route 6: Lakeside Tea: Family Fun in Parks
Itinerary:
Sun Park → POP LAND → National Agricultural Exhibition Center → Zisheng Yuyao Teahouse → Liangma River → Solana
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Cycling, walking
Highlights:
Set out from Sun Park and enjoy a leisurely walk along the lakeside paths. Stop by POP LAND, China's first park centered on a trendy toy franchise, and greet POP MART's iconic "We are Twinkle Twinkle Series Figures". In the afternoon, visit the National Agricultural Exhibition Center for its distinctive Soviet-influenced architecture, then take a break at Zisheng Yuyao Teahouse for a cup of tea by a brazier. As evening falls, stroll along the Liangma River toward Solana, and wrap up your winter walk amid colorful lights and music.
Route 7: Tea on Old Streets: A Sip of China-Chic Charm
Itinerary:
Lugou Bridge → Wanping Fortress → Chang Xin Dian → Rendan Courtyard
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Driving, public transport
Highlights:
Take in the architectural beauty of Lugou Bridge, then step into Wanping Fortress to feel the weight of history. Continue to Chang Xin Dian, an artistic zone where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary artworks. End the day at Rendan Courtyard, where you can gather with friends around a charcoal brazier to savor the warm, unhurried moments.
Route 8: Tea on a Mountain: Ancient Paths and Timeless Temples
Itinerary:
Jietai Temple → Tanko Moofland Park → Tanzhe Temple → Moto Coffee (Tanzhe Temple Branch)
Duration: 1 day
Ways to Explore: Driving, public transport
Highlights:
Wander through the millennia-old Jietai Temple, where ancient pines immerse you in a sense of serenity. At midday, head to Tanko Moofland Park for sightseeing, dining and boutique browsing, and enjoy a tea break by a brazier in the valley. In the afternoon, visit Tanzhe Temple to admire the winter elegance of its famed millennium-old ginkgo tree, which is known as the "Emperor Tree". Finish the trip at Moto Coffee (Tanzhe Temple Branch), savoring tea slowly brewed over a charcoal fire in this poetic mountain setting.
Route 9: Countryside Tea: At the Foot of the Great Wall
Itinerary:
Day 1: Mutianyu Great Wall → Pumpkin Coffee
Day 2: Beigou Village → Getting Close to the Mountain Coffee
Duration: 2 days
Ways to Explore: Driving, public transport
Highlights:
Stroll between the watchtowers along the Mutianyu Great Wall, and marvel at its breathtaking panoramic views. In the afternoon, relax at Pumpkin Coffee and enjoy tea-scented tranquility on a winter day. Stay overnight at Brickyard Retreat or a boutique homestay, and soak in the peaceful countryside views under the stars. Explore Beigou Village the next day and visit the WA ART Architecture Museum, then head to a brazier at Getting Close to the Mountain Coffee to enjoy quiet moments amongst nature.
Route 10: Tea Above the Ground: A Fairytale in a Water Town
Itinerary:
Day 1: Beijing WTown → Duanjia Hotel → Simatai Great Wall (Night Tour)
Day 2: Yunmeng Gorge → Sunshine Valley
Duration: 2 days
Ways to Explore: Driving, public transport
Highlights:
Enjoy winter fun at the Beijing WTown, where enchanting ice sculptures are something you cannot ignore. In the afternoon, stop by Duanjia Hotel to try traditional babao tea (a herbal tea) infused with ginger. As dusk falls, ascend the Simatai Great Wall to look out over the illuminated water town and the surrounding mountains. On the next day, visit Yunmeng Gorge to admire frozen waterfalls hanging on the cliffs, then head to Sunshine Valley, where panoramic views of the Miyun Reservoir and the Yanshan Mountains set the stage for a distinctive tea experience.
(Source: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
