Top 10 Things to do in Beijing at Night
Beijing's nightlife is a draw in its own right. From Tiananmen Square at sunset to Sanlitun's bars and the lit-up CCTV Tower, here are the best things to do in Beijing at night.
Beijing is an interesting place to take a tour, and for visitors with an interest in a great time, the nightlife is an attraction in itself. There are many attractions and things to do in Beijing at night, with numerous opportunities to explore, learn, and experience the city. If you plan to visit Beijing, take the time to experience its nightlife. The top options you should definitely include are as follows:
#1: Visit Tiananmen Square and Chang’an Avenue
This avenue is considered to have the world’s widest and longest street, and it is also the first street in China, an outstanding and significant street for the country. It starts at Dongdan and ends at Xidan to the west. At sunset, the square lights up along with all the surrounding buildings. This makes it eye candy with multi-colors all around. It is one of the most wonderful places to experience after sunset.

#2: Guomao Area and the CBD
The CBD is the central business center, where international and domestic firms have set up shop. This is the center for media, the creative industry, finance, and trade in Beijing, where you can find all sorts of modern architecture. The CBD is on the east side of Beijing, where the China World Hotel is located as the most outstanding feature of the area. There is also the World Trade Center Tower, which used to be the highest skyscraper in this vicinity. This region is one of the best places to enjoy the skyline at night.
#3: Houhai / Shichahai Area
The literal meaning is “ten temples lake.” Once a lake called Haizi during the Yuan Dynasty, surrounded by ten temples, it was named after them. The lake was later narrowed and divided into three connected lakes, Xihai, Houhai, and Qianhai. Since then, the area has become a great place for leisure and a cooling spot during summer, dating back to the Qing dynasty. Today, many restaurants and bars around it provide the perfect nightlife experience.
#4: Qianmen Street
The name’s literal meaning is “the front gate.” This street is situated south of the Qianmen Tower. It runs along the central axis of Beijing and is one of the remaining business centers standing in old Beijing. The street was transformed into a commercial pedestrian street and is quite modern too, a walking street, just like Wangfujing Street found in downtown Beijing. This is one of the places with the best night views in Beijing.
#5: Sanlitun Bar Street
This is a bar street that is quite popular in Beijing. The first bar opened back in 1983. It is located near the embassy area, west of the Workers’ Stadium. This is an area popular with young people and expats looking for a way to drink, party, or just blow off some steam.

#6: The Place
The main draw here is the big screen placed between two high-end buildings. This is a place where people walk under the screen to enjoy the lighting, the technique, and the space art. It’s also a place where you can enjoy a great gourmet and luxury shopping experience. If you prefer to spend some time here, you can enjoy one of the open-air bars. It is near Guiyou Mansion in the center of the CBD. This is one of the best things to do in Beijing at night for most tourists.
#7: Solana
This is a lifestyle shopping park. It feels like a unique European town and is a perfect blend of the natural setting and civilization. There is much innovation here and you may find a couple of surprises too. The environment is highly waterside on three sides, supplied by Landmark Lake and Chaoyang Park, which is Asia’s largest city park. This is one of the most beautiful places to be. Many international brands have set up shop here, and you’ll find even more retail shops, bars, clubs, and restaurants.
#8: CCTV Tower
CCTV is the China Central Television tower. This is Beijing’s tallest structure, standing at 405 meters including the antenna tip. The place becomes magical at night when it starts lighting up all around, turning red so it resembles a big red lantern. Another highlight is dinner at the revolving restaurant, you can have a romantic dinner here while enjoying a well-lit Beijing just below.
#9: Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
The city’s national stadium is called the Bird’s Nest and is near the Beijing Olympic Park. This is where the 2008 Olympic Games were held, also where Usain Bolt broke the world record when he won the 200m and 100m medals. The Water Cube is an aquatics center with semitransparent bubbles spread over its surface, spectacular when lit at night.

Conclusion
There are many places and things to do in Beijing at night, each with its own special attractions. You can simply take a stroll for some nighttime sightseeing, walking around is one of the best ways to explore and experience Beijing. The other interesting option is the culinary experiences; there are so many interesting foods to try in Chinese cuisine. By knowing what’s available in Beijing, you have the power to plan a fulfilling time tailored to you.
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superinterpreter · selina@mychinainterpreter.com · Xiamen, China · UTC+8