In August, Beijing experiences the peak of summer. Temperatures range from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), with high humidity.
Occasional rain showers or thunderstorms are common, so it's wise to be prepared for sudden weather changes.
Clothing:
- Airy and ventilated T-shirts, shorts, sun protection clothing, thin long-sleeved jackets
- Sun hats, umbrellas, sun glasses
3 Travel Tips For Your August Itinerary
1. Late August Could Be a Better Time
Early August is hotter, with the most rain and more tourists.
After the start of autumn on the 7th, the temperature will start to drop, and it will be cool and pleasant in late August.
In addition, late August is close to the end of the summer vacation, and the number of tourists is less than that at early August. The prices of hotels and air tickets have also begun to drop.
So your trip at late August will be more enjoyable and more cost-effective.
There are relatively fewer tourists in late August- July or August: which month is more recommended?
In terms of crowds, there is not much difference between July and August. Both are peak summer seasons, and there is no obvious decrease in the number of people.
In terms of weather, Beijing often cools down after the start of autumn (Liqiu), which usually begins in early August according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Therefore, the best time to visit is late August or early July.
2. Ways to Avoid Crowds
August is the Chinese summer vacation and the peak tourist season in Beijing, so it is inevitable that there will be many tourists at scenic spots, especially popular ones. You could make corresponding preparations to avoid the crowds.
- For the Forbidden city
Choose not to bring a bag so you could enter faster through the bag-free inspection channel.
The central axis route has the most tourists. You could choose other tour routes, such as visiting the side halls first and then the central axis.
If you want to know the royal life of ancient China, explore our 4-Day Beijing Private Tour.
Our guests visited the Forbidden City- For the Great Wall
The Badaling Great section is crowded all year round. We suggest going to Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai sections, which have fewer tourists.
Our guestes visited MutianyuTo avoid the daytime crowds, you could also consider visiting Simatai Great Wall at night and a night stay in Gubei Water Town. See our 4-Day Beijing Private Tour to Visit the Great Wall at Night.
Night tour at Simatai Great Wall- For the Temple of Heaven
Among the four entrance gates, the east gate has the most people, we suggest choosing the north gate, which has fewer people and is closest to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests- For Universal Studio Beijing
You could use the one-hour early admission privilege to start enjoying the project before other tourists.
If you want to save more time in queues, considering using the Express Pass and VIP.
Universal Studios Beijing3. Plan for Indoor Activities
The weather in August is quite hot during the day, so we suggest not planning outdoor visits for a long time.
For places like the Forbidden City, you could visit for 2-3 hours in the morning, and avoid staying outdoors until 2 or 3 pm. Children and the elderly will not be able to withstand the heat and physical exhaustion.
You could also arrange some indoor activities appropriately, which can not only stay cool, but also help to restore the body and mind.
If you like history and culture, you could go to the National Museum. The air conditioning inside is very sufficient, and you could appreciate precious and exquisite cultural relics in a comfortably cool environment.
Golden Jade Burial Suit (the burial clothes worn by ancient emperors and nobles after death) in the National MuseumIf you enjoy gourmet food, consider go to the Palace Banquet. You could change into ancient costumes and savor the imperial dishes while watching the performance, with each act corresponding to a specific dish.
This offers a chance to experience the rituals of attending a palace banquet in a lively atmosphere.
Imperial Banquet ExperienceIf you want a quiet and pleasant time, considering the Prince's Mansion for afternoon tea. You could listen to guzheng performance and feed the koi fish in the open-air Chinese pavilion.
Afternoon Tea at Prince's MansionA cruise in the Summer Palace's Kunming Lake could be also an option for avoiding the heat. Feel the breeze on your face and fully experience the royal garden.
Our guests enjoyed a cruise in the Kunming LakeOur itineraries can be customized and adjusted according to your needs, just contac us.