Last month we brought you Part I of the Beijing Summer Special, and now we present to you, Part II. This time we bring you more of the summer-time, heat-loving activities that you’ve been waiting all winter to get back to doing. So, without further ado, here is Part II for your enjoyment.

Dust off your old bicycle and take in the Beijing summer.
Photo: timquijano

Cycling routes

1) The Hutongs; Houhai to Confucius Temple and Lama Temple
Ride through the hutongs of Beijing’s East District all the way through to Andingmen and Beixinqiao. Some of the best sights along here are Houhai Lake, the Confucius Temple and the Lama Temple. The best thing to do is to start at Houhai Lake in the West, and find your way through to the East.

2) Houhai LakeView In Map
Add: Shicha Lake Scenic Resort, Xicheng District, Beijing
北京市西城区后海

3) Confucius TempleView In Map
Add: 13 Guozijian, Dongcheng District, Beijing
北京市东城区国子监13号
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00-16:30
Price: 30 RMB

4) Lama TempleView In Map
Add: 12 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing
北京市东城区雍和宫大街12号
Opening Hours: April-October 9:00-16:30
Price: 25 RMB

5) Lunch recommendation: Stuff’dView In Map
British Gastropub style food, with amazing sausages, salads, burgers and pizza.

Add: 9 Jianchang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市东城区箭厂胡同9号
Opening Hours: Wed-Mon 11:30-2:45 and 18:00-20:00

6) Bar recommendation: Mai BarView In Map
Tucked away in a traditional Chinese courtyard house, this bar serves a long list of great cocktails.

Add: 40 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市东城区北锣鼓巷40号
Tel: 138 1125 2641
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday & Sunday 18:00-01:00; Friday & Saturday 18:00-02:00

Around Tsinghua University and Peking University

These old universities have a lot to offer and are nice to bike through, as there are fewer cars inside the university grounds than there are on roads outside. Tsinghua University has some great sights to offer, including a lotus filled lake, whereas Peking University has the famous Boya Pagoda alongside the Weiming Lake.

1) Tsinghua UniversityView In Map
Add: 30 Shuangqing Lu, Haidian District, Beijing
地址：北京市海淀区双清路30号

2) Peking UniveristyView In Map
Add: 5 Yiheyuan Lu, Haidian District, Beijing
地址：北京市海淀区颐和园路5号

Tourist activities further out

1) Marco Polo BridgeView In Map
Located about 15 kilometers southwest of Beijing’s city center in Fengtai district, this structure bridges the Yongding River. On the eastern end of the bridge is a historic 17th century fortress, which houses the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Add: Marco Polo Bridge, Yongding River, Fengtai District, Beijing
地址：北京市丰台区永定河卢沟桥
Opening Hours: April-October 7:00-19:00; November-March 8:00-17:00
Telephone: 8389 4614 or 8389 2355
Getting There:  Take bus 303 or 309 and get off at Diaosuyuan, or 310 and get off at Dujikan stop. Alternatively, take line 1 to Wukesong Station, exit from Exit D1 and take bus 624 to Diaosuyuan.
Price: 20 RMB (adults); 10 RMB (students)

2) China Aviation MuseumView In Map
All the way up north in Changping district, the China aviation museum has about 300 aircrafts on show, as well as lots of missiles, guns and military equipment. The most exciting things are the fighter jets outside, both Chinese and Soviet. There is also a replica of the Red Army’s first plane, as well as jets used during the Korean War. Although it is one of the less visited museums, it is certainly worth a visit if you have the time and are interested in China’s military aviation history.

Add: Shuiku Lu, Changping District, Beijing
地址：北京市昌平区水库路
Opening Hours: April-October 8:30-17:00; November-March 9:00-16:30
Telephone: 6178 4882
Price: Free (excluding some exhibitions)

3) Day trip to Cuandixia (爨底下) Village
Located about 100 km west of Beijing in Mengtougou District, Cuanxidia Village is a well preserved Ming style village well known for its traditional courtyard homes. It makes for a great day trip from Beijing.

How to Get There: Get bus 929 from Pingguoyuan Station on Line 1.

The mystic Cuandixia Village.
Photo: Conway L.

4) Rollerblading at the Olympic Stadium ParkView In Map
Rent some rollerblades or bring your own skateboard. The pavements here are amazingly straight and wide. It is especially fun when the sun is out, and there are always vendors blasting music creating a wonderful atmosphere.

Beijing Olympic Park
Add: 15 Beichen Donglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区北辰东路15号
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:00-22:00
Telephone: 8499 2008
Getting There: Take metro line 8 to Olympic Sports Centre
Price: Free

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Keywords: Beijing Summer Special