There’s a question I love to ask:
- Is it your first time in Beijing?
- Yes.
- And, which season did you come in?
The answer to this second question often comes with an expression of disbelief and doubt. The city changes radically with the seasons, and the good news is that, in all of them, Beijing remains spectacular.
Each season brings us something new. Spring: flowers and fragrances. Summer: greenery and water. Autumn: falling leaves bidding farewell. And winter? The icy blue of the sky and frozen water. All of this will have a significant impact on how we experience the city, on the places that come to life, and those that lose it.
Visiting the Great Wall in spring, summer, autumn, and winter is like visiting four different places. There’s nothing like strolling through the parks in March and April to enjoy the flowers. Summer immerses you in the lush green streets. Autumn offers clear skies and idyllic scenes wherever you walk. Wrapping up the year, winter brings people skating on the lakes, blue skies, and, with a little luck, snow.
Beijing cannot be fully appreciated in just one visit; each season offers and reveals something special. If you’ve been in spring, come back in autumn and tell me about it.
