Tripomatic

Xicheng District

Quarter · Beijing, 🇨🇳 China
Population 1,106,214
Area 51 km²
Time zone Asia/Shanghai
Official website www.bjxch.gov.cn

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Featured Lists

Saad Akhtar / CC BY 2.0

Xicheng District Essentials

Xicheng District serves as the historical core of Beijing, anchored by the Forbidden City and the expansive Tian'anmen Square. The area features imperial landmarks like the 15th-century Gate of Heavenly Peace and the tranquil Beihai and Jingshan Parks. Beyond the palaces, the district contains the Prince Gong Mansion, the historic Shichahai lake district, and cultural institutions like the Capital Museum and the modern National Centre for the Performing Arts. Iconic structures such as the Drum and Bell Towers and the Qianmen Gate define the city's ancient central axis.

13 places
颐园新居 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Editor's Choice

Centered in Beijing's historic Xicheng District, this selection encompasses the city's imperial architecture and national landmarks. Key sites include the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City, the 12th-century Beihai Park with its landmark White Dagoba, and the historic Bell and Drum Towers on the central axis. The list spans from the Qing Dynasty elegance of Prince Gong Mansion to modern cultural institutions like the Capital Museum. Significant political monuments, including the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Monument to the People's Heroes, define the southern end of this heritage-rich area.

11 places
张瑜 / Public domain

Imperial Beijing

Beijing’s central axis anchors the city's imperial identity, stretching from the southern Zhengyangmen gate to the northern Bell and Drum Towers. This collection features the Forbidden City’s core ceremonial halls, the monumental Meridian Gate, and the symbolic Nine Dragon Screen. These sites reflect Ming and Qing dynasty urban planning, showcasing traditional Chinese architecture, symmetrical layouts, and structures used for state ceremonies, ancestral worship, and imperial timekeeping.

12 places
Dan Kamminga / CC BY-SA 2.0

Temples & Religious Landmarks

Xicheng District preserves a profound spiritual heritage, home to some of Beijing's most significant religious sites. This collection spans over a millennium of history, featuring the Liao-dynasty Niujie Mosque and the White Cloud Temple, the seat of the Quanzhen Taoist school. Architectural highlights include the 13th-century White Stupa at Miaoying Temple, the Gothic spires of Beitang Cathedral, and the unique Indian-inspired diamond throne pagoda at the Five Pagoda Temple. These landmarks offer a window into the Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, and Christian traditions that have shaped the capital.

15 places
giladr / CC BY 2.0

Heritage & Imperial History

Beijing’s central axis and its surrounding districts preserve the architectural legacy of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This collection spans the world’s largest palace complex at the Forbidden City, the ceremonial expanse of Tian’anmen Square, and traditional timekeeping structures like the Bell and Drum Towers. It also features specialized spiritual sites, including the Temple of Ancient Monarchs and the Tibetan-style white stupa at Miaoying Temple, alongside the 15th-century Indian-influenced architecture of the Five Pagoda Temple.

9 places

Xicheng District — Map

Xicheng District — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: April, May, September, October

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 2° (feels like -3°) · extremes -15°–8°
  • -9° at night
  • 1 rainy day
  • 14 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 6° (feels like 1°) · extremes -13°–14°
  • -6° at night
  • 1 rainy day
  • 12 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Fair
  • 15° (feels like 9°) · extremes -5°–24°
  • 0° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Great
  • 23° (feels like 18°) · extremes 0°–31°
  • 6° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 13 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Great
  • 30° (feels like 26°) · extremes 8°–37°
  • 14° at night
  • 6 rainy days
  • 13 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in June

Poor
  • 34° (feels like 33°) · extremes 15°–40°
  • 19° at night
  • 11 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 5 · moderate
Up to 12 days above 35°

Typical weather in July

Poor
  • 34° (feels like 36°) · extremes 19°–40°
  • 22° at night
  • 16 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high
Up to 11 days above 35°

Typical weather in August

Poor
  • 32° (feels like 34°) · extremes 16°–37°
  • 21° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high
Up to 5 days above 35°

Typical weather in September

Great
  • 28° (feels like 27°) · extremes 9°–34°
  • 15° at night
  • 8 rainy days
  • 9 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Great
  • 20° (feels like 17°) · extremes 0°–27°
  • 7° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 12 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 11° (feels like 6°) · extremes -6°–19°
  • -1° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 13 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 4° (feels like -2°) · extremes -13°–9°
  • -7° at night
  • 1 rainy day
  • 16 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Chinese Yuan CNY ¥ · Card payments · Cash preferred
Emergency numbers
110 Police
Electricity
Type A / Type C / Type I
220 V · 50 Hz
Languages
Chinese
Tap water
Not safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+86
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Forbidden City
Walk
Tian'anmen Square
Walk
Gate of Heavenly Peace

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