Beijing Night Tours Shows

Beijing Night Tour Destinations

Simatai Great Wall at Night

You may consider going to Gubei Watertown to spend a night and see the Great Wall lit-up at Simatai. The unbelievable beauty of the Wall at night with lights to decorate should impress you.

You may leave Beijing in the afternoon. Spend 2 hours in Watertown. Enjoy dinner, then take the cable car to go up Tower #2. From there, you will find the Wall wired with lights up to three watchtowers. The stunning nightscape of Simatai Great Wall of the Wall looks vividly like a firing dragon.

The Bird's Nest - 2008 Olympic Stadium

At night, the Bird’s Nest becomes one of Beijing’s most iconic modern landmarks. Soft red lighting outlines its steel structure, creating a dramatic contrast with the dark sky—very photogenic and easy to appreciate even without historical background.

🌙 Striking night illumination, perfect for photos
🏟️ Symbol of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and modern China
🚶 Easy evening stroll; not physically demanding
💧 Best paired with the glowing Water Cube next door

Qianmen Streets

At night, Qianmen Streets by Tiananmen Square come alive with warm lantern lights, historic façades, and a lively yet relaxed atmosphere—a perfect place for foreign visitors to experience old Beijing after dark.

🏮 Traditional architecture beautifully lit at night
🚶 Flat, pedestrian-friendly streets—easy for all ages
🛍️ Home to famous time-honored brands and souvenir shops
🍜 Great spot to sample Beijing snacks and casual local food

Hutong at Night

At night, Beijing’s hutongs reveal a quieter, more intimate side of the city. Lantern light, low voices, and the sound of bicycles create an atmosphere that feels authentic, lived-in, and deeply local—something many foreign visitors remember as the highlight of their trip.

🏮 Soft lantern lighting and traditional courtyard houses
🚶 Calm, slow-paced walking—very relaxing after a busy day
📷 Natural, unforced photo opportunities
👀 A glimpse into everyday Beijing life, not a staged attraction

Houhai

At night, Houhai becomes one of Beijing’s most atmospheric evening areas—a blend of lantern-lit lakeside paths, historic hutongs, and relaxed live music drifting from waterfront bars. It’s lively without feeling overwhelming, making it especially popular with foreign visitors.

🌙 Beautiful night reflections on the lake—great for photos
🎶 Live music bars with pop, jazz, and folk (easy to enjoy without language barriers)
🚶 Flat, walkable paths around the water—easy evening stroll
🏮 A rare mix of old Beijing hutongs + modern nightlife

Nanluoguxiang

Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing’s most famous hutong streets and a lively cultural area at night.
After sunset, lantern lights illuminate the narrow lanes, shops stay open late, and the area offers a relaxed mix of traditional atmosphere and modern creativity—very popular with foreign visitors.

🏮 Classic hutong layout with atmospheric night lighting
🚶 Easy, flat walking street
🛍️ Boutique shops, souvenirs, and creative stores
🍡 Street snacks and casual dining options

Acrobatics, Kungfu and Peking Opera

Acrobatic Show

In the long course of development, Chinese acrobatic art has formed its own style. The ancient acrobatics stemmed from the people's life and had a close link with their life and productive labor. Instruments of labor like tridents, wicker rings, tables, chairs, jars, plates, and bowls were used in their performances of "Flying Trident", "Balance on Chairs", "Jar Tricks", and "Hoop Diving". Wushu and Lion Dance originated from folk sports and games. All of these acts became commonplace in acrobatic performances throughout China. Though having a long history of development and enjoying great popularity among the people, acrobatics in old China was never performed in theaters because it was looked down upon by the upper class.

Venue: Chaoyang Theatre

Times: 5:15–6:15pm and 7:15–8:30pm, daily, year round

The Legend of Kungfu

A National Famous Brand Production Only Available at the Red Theatre.

"The Legend of Kungfu takes Beijing into a new ear of modern theatrical performance." -- Metropolis Magazine

Chinese martial arts, sometimes referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu, consist of a number of fighting styles that were developed over the centuries. Those fighting styles can be classified according to common themes that are identified as "families", "sects" or "schools" of martial arts. Example of themes are physical exercises that mimic movements from animals or a history and training method that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies, myths and legends. Some styles focus on the harnessing of qi and are labeled internal, while others concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness and are labeled external. Geographical association, as in northern and southern, is another popular method of categorization. Each fighting style offers a different approach to the common problems of self-defense, health, and self-cultivation from a Chinese perspective.

Times: 7:30–8:50pm daily

Beijing Opera

Beijing Opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.[1] The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.[2] Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. Fundamental to the performance and overall ambience of traditional Beijing opera is the venue. There are many restored venues in Beijing dating from the late 17th century onwards, the opera stage at Prince Gong Mansion, Zhengyici-xi-lou and Huguang Guild Hall, being among them. However, modern venues for the general operatic and theatre stage are also common, such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Chang'an Grand Theatre located on the East Chang'an Avenue is an example of modern Beijing opera theatre.

Venue: Liyuan Theatre for the best taste.

Time: 7:30–9:00pm, daily

Beijing Night Tours and Shows