BEIJING MUNICIPAL COmmISSION OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT WINTER TOURISM IN BEIJING Beijing Travel Feature Volume 7 Visit the Imperial City ––––– Experience Chinese New Year Traditions and Joys of Winter Wonderland 1 Winter Tourism in Beijing Beijing’s winter comes in a silvery whisper, and brings about beautiful tranquility that carries itself with a sense of nobility. One will see a sea of festive red colors decorating the entire city upon Christmas’ and New Years’ arrival, expressing a warm and homely atmosphere; when snow makes its entrance, pure white colors cast a dignified silence upon the lands. This volume will go into detail about Beijing’s winter tourism, mainly including the capital’s traditional New Year cultural festivities and various ice and snow activities, allowing visitors to gain a deeper, full-spectrum understanding of Beijing’s unique winter charm. 2 3 BEIJING WINTER TOURISM Highlights Traditional Temple Fairs 9 Ditan Park Temple Fair | Changdian Temple Fair | Longtan Temple Fair | Temples Grand View Garden Temple Fair | Chaoyang Park Temple Fair | Yuanmingyuan Temple Fair | Badachu Temple Fair | Shijingshan Amusement Park Temple Fair | Baiyunguan Taoist Temple Fair 3 Fun-filled Winter Activities Activities Snowy Imperial City | Snowy Capital | Winter Sightseeing 2 Popular Things to Do in Winter Trips Ancient Town New Year Celebrations | Hot Springs For more information, please continue below. 4 Traditional Temple Fairs Rich Heritage Welcoming the New Year Chinese New Year and its events have long been visited and followed by Beijing locals, a beautiful celebration that adds to the atmosphere of spring. From Ditan Park and Grand View Garden, to Longtan Lake Park and Chaoyang Park, temple fairs are held all over Beijing. Travelers can get a true feel of age- old Chinese celebrations through these traditional cultural activities in the midst of bustling crowds and nostalgic merchandise. 5 Rich Heritage Welcoming the New Year 6 Ditan Park Changdian Temple Fair Temple Fair Location: Ditan Park Location: Taoranting Park Tel: +86-10-64214657 Tel: +86-10-63511596 Website: http://www.dtpark.com/ Website: http://www.trtpark.com/ The Ditan Park Temple Fair attracts visitors from all over the The Changdian Temple Fair was first established under world to Beijing to appreciate the unique imperial culture. In Jiajing Emperor’s rule during the Ming Dynasty, and was one recent years, the Ditan Park Temple Fair has relied on new of the top eight temple fairs in Beijing’s history, as well as media practices to present cultural performances, letting being one of the largest, most famous fair, earning a cultural visitors experience age-old customs, and have invited a name for itself within Beijing. Its unique festive atmosphere group of well-known, time-honored restaurants to offer is demonstrated through performances with stilts, Taiping authentic Old Beijing cuisine. Drum, float parades, five tiger stick martial arts, various cultural parades, and elderly performers displaying their expertise. Grand View Longtan Garden Temple Fair Temple Fair Location: Longtan Lake Park Location: Grand View Garden Tel: +86-10-67144336 Tel: +86-10-63544993 Website: http://www.bjdgy.com/ The Longtan Temple Fair has been established since 1984, The Grand View Garden Temple Fair often demonstrates and is a relatively new addition to the capital’s temple concepts centering on the imperial “Red House” culture, celebrations amongst Beijing’s other fairs. During Chinese digging deeper into these cornerstones using opera as New Year, folk performances, float parades, car shows, the main anchor, and uses live streaming to expand its book fairs, etc. are especially intricately put together and influence; in previous years, they have invited professionals presented. Its traditional parade gathers performers from like the Jing Kun Opera Association to perform, holding all over the world, demonstrating relatable festivities to performances of such types, to showcase the cultural foreigners and tourists traveling in Beijing. aspects of Beijing. 7 Chaoyang Yuanming- Park yuan Temple Fair Temple Fair Location: Chaoyang Park Location: Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park Tel: +86-10-65953972 Tel: +86-10-62628501 Website: http://www.sun-park.com/ Website: http://www.yuanmingyuanpark.cn/ (Chinese) http://www.yuanmingyuanpark.cn/ymyen/ (English) http://www.yuanmingyuanpark.cn/ymyja/ (Japanese) http://www.yuanmingyuanpark.cn/ymyfr/ (French) The Chaoyang Park Temple Fair demonstrates a combination of traditional Chinese New Year charm and exotic foreign The Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) Temple Fair has elements, making it especially unique, attracting a large a long history, many exciting activities, including releasing number of tourists each year. Aside from the wonderful animals back into the wild, night light shows, fire shows, performances by artists from other countries, the fair has opera and theatrical performances. Thanks to the exhibition introduced new activities utilizing new technology, which of the history and culture of Yuanmingyuan and the Qing works to engage and interact with visitors further. Dynasty culture brought to light through the years, visitors can fully experience the true New Year traditions of a “royal family”, the fair becoming one of the most “imperial” experiences in Beijing. Other Temple Fairs Shijingshan Amusement Badachu Park Temple Temple Fair Fair Location: The Western Hills of Badachu Park Location: Shijingshan Amusement Park Tel: 86+01-88964661 Tel: 86+01-88925159/ 68862547 Website: http://www.badachu.com.cn/ Website: http://www.bjsjsyly.com/ Baiyunguan Taoist Temple Fair Location: Beijing Fenghuangling Nature Park Time: Starts first day of the lunar month and ends on the nineteenth day Traffic: 114 Bus Route 8 Fun-filled Winter Activities Passionate Winter Charming Beijing Aside from the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and temple fairs, Beijing also has a variety of breathtaking ice and snow scenes to offer in addition to fun-filled activities, all contributing to give tourists a taste of Beijing’s unique charm in the winter. Once this century-old Imperial City is blanketed with a layer of flawlessly white snow, one can only stand riveted with fascination at the mysterious vibe and beauty it presents. 9 Snowy Imperial City Forbidden City As Beijing locals would say, visiting the Forbidden City during winter season is the best, even better when snow stops during the early afternoon -- as you can see snow covering its red walls and stone structures, highlighting its dignified presence, enhancing each detail of the royal residence, and the mystery behind Chinese history and culture, which lets tourists bask in its magnificence and atmosphere. Address: 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing Summer Palace When it comes to viewing snow in the city, the Summer Palace is one place you can’t miss. As Wanshou Shan (Longevity Hill) is veiled with pure white snow, Kunming Lake gradually becomes frosted over, and as the cool wind rushes through the Long Corridor, you can almost imagine the old times when princesses’ laughter and chatter carried through the area, their conversations covering the latest stories and happenings of the city. Address: 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing Hutong A snowy day in hutongs truly accents its Old Beijing atmosphere, the sharpening of knives can be heard, and vendors pushing their trays of candied hawthorn sticks all become a part of the scenery. The Houhai area’s hutongs are best preserved, the most famous being Nanluoguxiang, with eight alleys coming parallel from the east and west, more often referred to as the “centipede street”. Address: Start of East Gulou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 10 Snowy Capital Among the many winter sports, skating happens to be the Skating most traditional and popular. There are many well-known skating parks and indoor rinks that are fully equipped, some even provide sleds, sleighs or electric bumper cars and boats for visitors to relax and enjoy with their families. Popular Skating Rinks: Shichahai Ice Rink (Outdoors) —— Suitable for all ages Address: Qianhai Nanyan, Xicheng District, Beijing Summer Palace Ice Rink (Outdoors) —— The Largest Natural Rink Address: Summer Palace Western Lake, Haidian District, Beijing LeCool Skating Rink (Indoors) —— Shop and Play Address: B2/F, China World Shopping Centre, 1 Jianguomen Outer Street, Beijing Skiing In recent years, skiing has been recommended more and more by sports enthusiasts, and the ski resorts throughout Beijing are fully equipped to serve visitors during winter, providing dog sleds, snow saunas, glacier hiking and crossing, so that tourists can fully enjoy the speed and passion of winter. Popular Ski Locations: Yunfoshan Ski Resort —— International Standards Address: Xiwengzhuangzhen, Miyun District, Beijing Badaling Ski Resort —— Activity-packed Address: 66 Economic Development Zone, Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing Beijing Jundushan Ski Resort —— Ski Performances Address: 588 Zhenshun Cun, Cuicun Zhen, Changping District, Beijing Winter Festivals As winter continues, ice and snow festivals around Beijing will be opened one after another, attracting tourists from all over the world to experience its joy. Many of these festivals, carnivals and the like vary, with an abundance of exciting themes, so that visitors can experience a full range of activities. Popular Winter Festivals: Bird’s Nest Happy Ice and Snow Carnival Address: Bird’s Nest National Stadium, 3 Anding Road,