From Shichahai to the Bird's Nest — three night-view spots in Beijing

A lake you can row across after dark, a stadium that lights up in a different pattern at night, and a street where the shop signs never really go out — three very different sides of Beijing at night.

Words · Editorial desk

Beijing's night views aren't concentrated in one place. Here are three spots with very different characters: Shichahai, with its hutongs and lake; the National Stadium, a leftover of the Olympics; and Wangfujing, right in the middle of downtown.

Shichahai — a lake and its hutongs after dark

Shichahai is where old alleyways and open water meet in central Beijing. The name covers three connected lakes — Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai — and locals often just call the area "Houhai." It's free to enter and has no fixed closing time, so it works well as an evening walk once the sun goes down. Once the bars and cafés along the water switch their lights on, the mood shifts noticeably from daytime.

At the piers on the south shore, you can hire a traditional wooden boat rowed by a boatman — as of 2025, that ran about 80 yuan per person for 30 minutes, while pedal boats and electric boats started around 180 yuan per hour. Prices vary by season and operator, so it's worth checking the posted rates at the pier itself. Get there via Line 6 to Beihai North, or Line 8 to Shichahai (Exit A1), both an easy walk away. It gets crowded, so keep an eye on your belongings, and note that swimming or fishing after dark is generally not allowed.

The National Stadium (the "Bird's Nest") — light through the lattice

Built as the main stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the National Stadium earned its nickname from the steel lattice that forms a nest-like shape. At night, light filters through that structure and gives it a completely different look from daytime. It's at No. 1 National Stadium South Road in Chaoyang District, a short walk from Olympic Green station on Line 8.

As of 2026, regular opening hours run from 10:00 to 22:00, with last admission at 21:00. A basic ticket is 50 yuan; a "roof walk" ticket that takes you up to the elevated corridor is 80 yuan; and a VIP ticket is 110 yuan. Admission is free for people with disabilities, those 65 and older, and active-duty military. On days with concerts or major events, though, hours can be cut back to daytime only, or night viewing can be restricted — this happened more than once in August 2026 depending on the event schedule — so it's worth checking the official notice again shortly before you go.

Wangfujing — a street whose lights never really go out

One of Beijing's oldest commercial streets, Wangfujing sits in Dongcheng District, not far from Tiananmen Square. It's a car-free pedestrian street, so people are still out walking well into the evening, and once the department stores and shopfronts light up, it shows a different face of the city center. It's free and always open, and Line 1's Wangfujing station drops you right onto the street.

There's also a food alley tucked into the side streets, but individual shop hours — and whether a given night market is running — change enough by season that we've left specifics out of this piece. Check a local map app for current hours before you go.

※ Admission fees and hours are subject to change. Please check current information before you visit.

PARTNERS

JITOOL Woohe Business Hotel Jangsuhwaro Korean Restaurant Cheonji Golf Range Crystal Narodo · ITM Kim's Hair Salon Jang Chun-yeon Law Office CS Business Solutions Tianjin Korean International School Blue Eye · Asia Real Estate JESSICA Fashion ELIC · Study in China Tianjin CN Rent-a-Car