With the May Day holiday fast approaching, Beijing is pulling out all the stops. The city's culture and tourism bureau has unveiled an ambitious lineup of more than 2,000 events, designed to draw visitors into both iconic landmarks and lesser-known corners of the capital.
For the first time, officials have launched six "Stroll Beijing" Color Walk itineraries. These self-guided routes weave through historical sites, trendy destinations, and tech-forward clusters.
The bureau has teamed up with ride-hailing giant Didi to offer travel vouchers at major stops along the way.
The holiday calendar is packed with distinctive experiences. On the Central Axis, open-air cinema and Drum Tower community fairs will bring old Beijing's hutong culture to life. Along the Grand Canal, the immersive water-stage show Ride the Water blends poetry and music with the lore of ancient grain transport. At the Great Wall, visitors can catch the Dream of the Great Wall performance, join a campfire night, or watch children tackle a Spartan obstacle race.
Elsewhere, Fangshan district is opening the Zhoukoudian archaeological site, Yunju Temple and Shihua Cave free of charge, while Pinggu's vast peach orchards and Shunyi's International Flower Port offer spring's finest blooms. For a slower pace, Fengtai has curated a "light, slow tour" of hot springs, tea tastings and seasonal cuisine.
The suburbs are getting their own spotlight. Three themed routes cater to different travelers: the Music & Youth trail leads to the Super Strawberry Music Festival at Yanqing's Expo Park; the Family route features farm stays in Fangshan and Miyun; and the Nature path offers cycling and hiking around Mentougou and Huairou.
A first-of-its-kind Greenway Village Cafe Map has also been released, pointing the way to 129 rural coffee shops tucked into mountain yards, campsites and ancient post houses. Visitors can find them on Meituan and earn stamps via the Dianping app for discounts. A new mini-program called Roaming Suburbs, powered by an AI trip-planning assistant, allows one-stop booking and personalized recommendations.
On the performance front, more than 1,400 ticketed shows will take place across Beijing.
Intangible cultural heritage is also in the spotlight. The Beijing Enamel Factory hosts Cloisonne Fun Week, Fenghuangling scenic area presents a cross-regional heritage fair, and Badachu Park celebrates Chinese tea culture.
More than 620 public events, including the 2026 Beijing Book Fair, will engage readers across the city's 2,000-plus bookstores.
The authorities aim to invite travelers to experience a holiday filled with culture, color and unexpected discoveries.
