After we all struggled to pull ourselves by the scruff of our necks through the colder months of Beijing, we can finally see the literal light at the end of the winter tunnel. Even though Springtime officially started on February the 4th in China, according to the gregorian calendar it should be March the 20th. Spring is a time in which Beijing flourishes and truly becomes one of the best cities in the world to live in. The air becomes clearer, the temperature creeps up to t-shirt and shorts weather and all life starts to migrate outside. Here at ReFoX, we have compiled a list of 5 reasons as to why springtime in Beijing is just a great time to be around.
1 Cycling around
In Beijing springtime everybody cycles. Those of you familiar with the city know that the bicycle is a very popular mode of transport, but in spring this fact intensifies! You do not even need to possess a bike, with your subway card you can easily rent a public bike (公共自行车 gonggong zixingche) from one of the many spots around the city. Not only is this a healthy mode of transport, but it is also probably the quickest way to get around due to convenient and safe bike lanes all around the city. If you don’t fancy cycling around the inner city, Chaoyang Park is a great and cheap place to hire bikes, making it a perfect way to enjoy an active day outside. With the weather getting warmer there isn’t even any need for the classic oven gloves and bubble coat look to hold you back!
2 Outdoor/Rooftop Bars
All of the bars, particularly those around Houhai and on the fringes of Sanlitun, encourage outdoor seating and drinking at the soonest possible opportunity, which tends to be as soon as spring hits. Houhai Lake becomes a hotspot for live music, roof terraces and cocktails on the waterfront. Even many of the shops open up large outdoor seating areas in the streets for people to gather and enjoy the mild evenings. Also downtown Beijing blossoms with rooftop parties and cocktail bars terraces: Migas, Nali Patio or V Lounge are a must for the Sanlitun nightlife, while Yun Loung Bar at the Paninsula Hotel in Wangfujing is a unique mix of oriental opulence and chic décor. Check our post about the best rooftops here.
3 Exploring
There are endless things to do in Beijing without actually doing anything. It just seems to be the kind of place where something is always going on and this is never truer than in springtime. Whether you are wandering down the bustling Nanluoguxiang street snacking on churros and peering into all the quirky shop windows, or relaxing with friends in the much coveted 798 art district admiring the various art exhibitions, there are always things to do. There are constantly new shops to browse in, new cafes to pop in to, or new Hutong streets to explore. And these all become more alive with the springtime!
4 The street BBQ’s
Be it in early evening time while the sun is setting or later on as a post-dinner snack, there are few things better at this time of year than to perch on a mini camping stool and snack on some meat skewers (串儿 chuanr), fresh vegetables and fried bread. Particularly in the hutongs, where many of the houses seem to convert into street BBQ places for anyone to come and enjoy some meat and a cold bottle of Tsing Tao with expats and locals alike.
5 Street parks and public parks
As the weather gets warmer, people tend to gravitate towards the large number of outdoor leisure centres scattered around the city. These street parks usually consist of table tennis tables, basketball courts and even outdoor gym equipment and all are completely free to use. It’s no surprise that these areas become such popular hangouts in the spring and if you are really lucky, you may even catch an impromptu tai chi / dancing session in front of a boom box. The only real problem is that you will probably get challenged by the locals to a game of ping pong! In addition, Beijing features beautiful parks like the Summer Palace, Ritan Park or Chaoyang Park, perfect for a pic-nic or an improvised football match.
Now that we provided you with Five Reasons To Love Beijing Springtime we are sure you are as excited as we are for spring to really come into full flow. Make sure you get outside, explore new areas and see new things to allow yourselves to truly enjoy a beautiful season in a great city.
