Cheap Flights to Beijing in May
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Weather & Crowds in May
Warm, generally sunny, and probably the single best month to visit Beijing. Comfortable for all-day sightseeing before summer heat and humidity arrive.
Beijing in May
The best month in Beijing, full stop. Temperatures are warm but not brutal, humidity is low, skies are frequently clear, and the Great Wall is accessible and photogenic. Book everything at least a month in advance because sophisticated Chinese domestic travelers know this too. A week here in May will ruin you for visiting in July.
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Quick Reference
Daily Budget in Beijing
$12 hostel dorm in Gulou area, $15 food (¥2 jianbing breakfast, ¥25 noodle lunch, ¥40 hotpot dinner with beers), $4 subway all day, $10 one major site entry (Forbidden City is ¥60/$8.50, Great Wall varies by section), $14 miscellaneous (coffee, snacks, sim card data)
$90 mid-range hotel in Dongcheng or Houhai (courtyard hotel), $45 food (proper restaurant meals twice daily plus street snacks), $8 subway plus one DiDi (Uber equivalent) ride, $25 two major site entries with audio guides, $12 one craft beer bar in Sanlitun area
$200 room at Rosewood or Aman at Summer Palace, $120 meals including dinner at Da Dong or TRB Hutong, $30 private car or frequent DiDi rides, $80 exclusive experiences (private Great Wall sunrise tour, Palace Museum VIP entry), $70 wine/cocktails and shopping
Book Forbidden City tickets exclusively through the official Palace Museum website (pm.cn) — walk-up tickets are no longer sold, and third-party reseller tickets are both expensive and risky. The site opens timed-entry slots 60 days in advance at midnight Beijing time, and the first morning slot (8:30am) sells out in minutes for May, October, and any Chinese holiday. Set a phone alarm, use a VPN to access the site if booking from the US, and have your passport number ready. While you're at it: the rear sections of the Forbidden City (the imperial garden and the northwest quadrant near the Clock Museum) see about one-fifth the foot traffic of the front halls and are architecturally just as interesting.
Where to Stay
The tourist-accessible heart of old Beijing, walking distance from the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Hotels here run ¥600-1,200 ($85-170) per night for solid 3-4 star options; the boutique Orchid Hotel on a hutong lane is a standout at around $150. Wangfujing Snack Street is touristy and overpriced but fun for a walk; the real eating is on the side streets.
Beijing's expat and diplomatic hub where you'll find international brands, rooftop bars, and the city's best luxury hotels — the Rosewood Beijing and EAST Hotel both sit here. Prices at bars and restaurants approach Western levels ($12-18 cocktails), but this is also where you'll find the best English-language support and international pharmacies. Great base if you're mixing business with tourism.
The lake district in central Beijing with the most atmospheric hutong neighborhoods — narrow alleys, courtyard guesthouses, and some genuinely good local restaurants. Stay at a small courtyard hotel (siheyuan) like the Han's Royal Garden Hotel for ¥500-800 ($70-115) and you'll feel like you're actually living in Beijing rather than visiting it. Busy bar strip around Houhai Lake gets loud at night.
The backpacker and young local favorite, with cheap hostels (¥80-150/night in dorms, ¥250-400 in privates), independent coffee shops, vintage stores, and the best cheap eating in the city. Leo Hostel and Drum Tower Youth Hostel are solid choices. This area has the highest concentration of interesting street life and is still deeply residential — a real neighborhood, not a tourist zone.
Beijing's financial district is where corporate travelers stay — JW Marriott, China World Hotel, and the Park Hyatt are all here and frequently discounted on weekdays. Minimal sightseeing appeal but excellent subway access (Line 10 hits everywhere) and the best international restaurant selection outside Sanlitun. If you can get rates under $150/night here, it's good value for the quality.
Events & Festivals
The biggest event in the Chinese calendar, falling in late January or February depending on the lunar calendar. Beijing goes into a partial shutdown — many small restaurants and shops close for 1-2 weeks as workers return to their home provinces, and the city fills with lanterns, temple fairs (miaohu) at Ditan and Longtan parks, and midnight fireworks. As a tourist, the empty streets and surreal atmosphere of a mega-city celebrating are unforgettable, but plan your food stops ahead and book accommodation months in advance.
One of Asia's major film festivals, held each April, turning the Sanlitun and Chaoyang districts into a hub of screenings, red carpets, and industry events. Some screenings are open to the public with advance tickets, and the surrounding restaurant and bar scene gets particularly lively. Not a reason to plan a trip around on its own, but a nice bonus if you're visiting in mid-April.
October 1-7 marks the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the entire country takes a week off simultaneously. The flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square at dawn on October 1st draws hundreds of thousands of people and is genuinely moving to witness — but the crowds across all major sites for the full week are the worst of the entire year. If you must visit during Golden Week, book everything months ahead and arrive at sites the moment they open.
The 15th day of the first lunar month (usually mid-February) marks the official end of Spring Festival with lantern displays across the city. Chaoyang Park and the Olympic Park host major lantern exhibitions, and traditional yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls with sweet filling) are sold everywhere. Less chaotic than Chinese New Year itself but still festive and worth experiencing if your dates overlap.
Held across the 751 D·PARK arts district and various hutong venues in late September, this festival showcases Chinese contemporary design, architecture, and creative industries with pop-up installations, exhibitions, and workshops. Entry to most events is free or low-cost, and it's one of the best windows into what young, educated Beijingers actually care about culturally.
Other Good Times to Visit Beijing
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