Activities in Beijing

The Liyuan Theatre inside the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel offers nightly performances of Beijing Opera (Jingju), one of China's most important performing arts traditions combining singing, acting, acrobatics, and elaborate costumes.

The Legend of Kung Fu show at the Red Theatre is a spectacular martial arts stage production blending martial arts, acrobatics, dance, and drama. It tells the story of a young boy's journey to become a kung fu master.

Every morning, the ancient cypress groves of the Temple of Heaven park transform into Beijing's largest open-air exercise ground, where hundreds of residents practice tai chi, qi gong, fan dancing, and sword forms in an unforgettable communal ritual.

Houhai is the northernmost of the three Shichahai lakes, ringed by weeping willows, traditional courtyard houses, and a lively strip of bars and restaurants. It transforms with the seasons — from summer paddle-boating to winter ice skating.

A guided rickshaw (pedicab) tour through Beijing's historic hutong neighborhoods offers an intimate ground-level experience of traditional courtyard life, narrow alleyways, and local culture that is difficult to access independently.