Best Temple Fairs in Beijing

Temple fairs play an important role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) in Beijing. The best temple fairs in Beijing usually take place around the Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival from the 1st day to the 15th day of the first month on Chinese Lunar Calendar. They offer visitors a chance to enjoy traditional folk performances, handcraft works, and local snacks. As they are scattered across the city, visitors can easily go to the nearest one.

 

No.	Temple Fair	Date	Entrance Fee
1	Ditan Park Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 5	CNY 10
2	Longtan Park Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 5	CNY 10
3	Summer Palace Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 6	CNY 20
4	Dongyue Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 5	CNY 10
5	Grand View Garden Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 5	CNY 40
6	Chaoyang Park Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 5	CNY 5
7	Shijingshan Amusement Park Western Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 6	CNY 10
8	Beihai Park Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 15	CNY 5
9	Taoranting Park Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 6	CNY 10
10	Lianhuachi Temple Fair	Feb. 1 - Feb. 6	CNY 10

 

Making Dough Figurine

Ditan Park, known as the Temple of Earth, opened up a unique Intangible Cultural Heritage Square, where the representative inheritors of over 10 intangible culture heritage projects demonstrate respectively the production process of pottery, paper cutting, shadow play, homespun weaving, etc. The imitation of the sacrifice ceremony to the earth reproduces the scene that emperors of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) prayed to God of the Earth for blessing. The special imitation performance starts at 10:00 am from the Chinese New Year's Eve to the seventh day of the first lunar month, opening a window of civilization of Qing Dynasty. In addition, authentic unique skills such as diabolo, ancient magic and ventriloquism are staged, together with Tibetan folk songs and dances, traditional Chinese comedic crosstalk and other folk artistic shows.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st to the 5th day of the first lunar month)
Opening hours: 08:30 - 17:00
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: Ditan Park, Andingmen Outer Street, Dongcheng District
Transportation: Take subway line 2 or line 5 to Yonghegong Station, get out from Exit A and walk around 250 meters (300 yards) toward north; take bus Te 11, 18, 75, 104, 108, 113, 119, 124, 125, 301, 426 or 430 to the west gate of the Temple of Earth; bus 125, 117 to the east gate of the Temple of Earth.

It is famous for its particular fitness-featured project. You can watch the wrestling, judo, tae kwon do, free combat performances made by professional players, as well as sports stars exercising with visitors. In addition, visitors can play the game or go and chess with national players. Other interesting activities include performances of minorities with unique ethnic customs as well as carnival themed by snow culture including snow-capped mountains surfing, snow sculpture viewing, snow playing, sledding, snow farm, snow live CS ( A game named Counter-Strike), etc.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st to the 6th day of the first lunar month)
Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: Longtan Park, No. 8, Longtan Road, Dongcheng District,
Transportation:
Take bus no. 12, 34, 35, 36, 41, 54, 72, 139, 352, 561, 957 or 958, get off at Guangminglou Station and enter park form the North Gate.
Take bus no. 6, 12, 60, 116, 139, 352, 684 or 958, get off at Longtan Park Station and enter park from the Northwest Gate.
Take bus no. 34, 36, 51, 91, 122, Te 3, or Te 12 Outer, and get off at the west of South Jinsong Street Station and enter park form the East Gate.
Take bus no. 12, 139, or 684, get off at the Longtan Lake Swimming Pool Station and enter park from the West Gate.

The combination of traditional elements, such as the Southern Water Street, landscaped gardens, the royal cultural folk performances and joyful festive decorations, reproduce the prosperity of the Qing Dynasty. Dragon drum performance is also staged in the Summer Palace.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 6, 2022 (the 1st to 15th days of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 20
Location: No. 19, Xinjiangongmen Street, Haidian District
Transportation: Take subway line 4 and get off at Beigongmen Station; take bus 303, 331, 332, 346, 508, 579, or 584, and get off at Summer Palace Station.

There are many interesting activities held in Dongyue Temple. The outstanding feature is the blessing activities, including the midnight prayer, hanging blessing card, and wearing a red belt with one’s name and lunar birthday. (In Chinese Culture, one should wear a red belt in his Benming Year to drive out evil spirits.)
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st to 6th days of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: No. 141, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Changyang District
Transportation: Take bus 75, 101, 109, 110, 112, 139, 140, or 650 to Sacred Way Street Station; Take subway line 2 or line 6 to the Chaoyangmen Station, and then walk 650 yards (around 600 meters) eastwards.
 

Summer Palace Folk Activities

Grand View Garden Fair

You can take part in the outstanding costumed mothering parade of Imperial Concubine Yuan, experiencing the scene describe in the famous book, Dream of the Red Chamber. The show is staged at 9:30 and 13:00 every day. Puppet shows and shadow plays display the typical scenes described in the book, such as Granny Liu’s drunken and the wedding ceremony of Jia Baoyu and Xue Baochai. Intangible Cultural Heritage items are displayed in the Grand View Garden, such as prints, facial makeup, shadow puppets, paper cutting, etc. Visitors can participate in interactive activities and learn manual skills from folk artists.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st to the 6th day of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 40
Location: No.12, South Caiyuan Street, Xuanwu District
Transportation: Take bus 59, 122, 458, 474, Te 3, Te 12, or Yuntong 102, and get off at Grand View Garden Station.

The most distinguishing feature in Chaoyang Park is its richness of world-style performances. You can enjoy the authentic exotic performances of Britain, France, the Netherlands, Russia and Greece, etc. There are popular musical activities, such as 'guess the film songs' and 'I love the lyrics'. It is worth mentioning that there is an Ice and Snow World in the park for skiing and skating.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st to the 6th day of the first lunar month)
Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Ticket: CNY 5
Location: No. 1, South Road of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District
Transportation: Take bus Yuntong 111, 657 or 988 and get off at Chaoyang Gongyuan Dongmen Station; Take bus no. Yuntong 107, 402, 413, 418, 421, 503, or 677, and get off at Chaoyang Gongyuan Beimen Station.

You can have a taste of the unique charm of the combination of traditional Chinese culture and western culture in Shijingshan Amusement Park. Enjoyable activities include craftsmanship show, folk artistic performances like flag pole performance, wrestling and lion dance.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 6, 2022 (the 1st to the 7th day of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: East Bajiao Street, Shijingshan District
Transportation: Take subway line 1, and get off at Bajiao Amusement Park (Bajiao Youleyuan) Station. Take bus 318 or 527, and get off at Bajiao Beilu Dongkou Station. Take bus 663, and get off at Shijingshan Amusement Park West Gate (Shijingshan Youleyuan Ximen) Station. Take bus 325, 327, 527, 914, 941, 958, or 959, and get off at Jingyuan Lukou Xi Station. Take bus 961, and get off at Jianxiyuan Nanli Station.

Beihai Park Temple Fair

Beihai Park is known as the Winter Palace, where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty held grand ceremonies of blessing. The Park is divided into five parts respectively themed by 'blessing’, 'prosperity’, 'longevity’, 'joy’ and 'fortune'. You can watch or participate in various events, such as the Royal Blessing Ceremony, the intangible cultural heritage performances, and ice entertainment.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 15, 2022 (the 1st to 15th days of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 5
Location: Beihai Park, No. 1, Wenjin Street, Xicheng District
Transportation: To the south and southwest gates of the park: take bus 5, 101, 103, 109, 124, 128, or Sightseeing bus 1 or 2, and get off at Beihai Station; to the east gate: take bus 5, 58 or Sightseeing Bus 3, and get off at Xibanqiao Station; to the north gate: take bus 3, 13, 42, 107, 111, 118, 612, or 701, and get off at Beihai North Gate Station.

Before 2011, it was called Changdian Temple Fair. In 2011, as the location moved from Changdian Area to Taoranting Park, the name was changed. Used to be the largest and the most prestigious activity of Beijing with a history of 400 years, it has always been a civilian-targeted festival activity. It functions as a shopping center during the Chinese New Year.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 6, 2022 (the 1st to the 6th day of the first lunar month)
Opening hours: 09:00 – 16:00
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: No. 19, Taiping Street, Xuanwu District
Transportation: Take bus 50, 122, 458, 485, 692, 958, 997, Te 3, Te 12, Te 17, or Yuntong 102 to South Gate of Taoranting Park.
 

Sacrificial rituals are held before the five Gods of Fortune in Lianhuachi Park. The old traditional folk shows, comic talks and rich traditional snacks bring a joyful and peaceful atmosphere to the park. There also exhibit some rare old photos.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 6, 2022 (the 1st to the 6th day of the first lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 10
Location: No. 48, Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District
Transportation:Take bus 6, 38, 53, 57, 74, 76, 122, 133, 309, 349, 477, 691, 820, 890, 941, 941 Express, 968, 982,or Te 7 and get off at Lianhuachi Station.
 Imitation model of gods and 12 zodiac animals appear in the Happy Valley, playing and touring with the visitors.
There are also clowns to amuse visitors.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 15, 2022 (the 1st - 15th days of the first lunar month)
Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00
Ticket: CNY 160
Location: North Xiaowuji Road, 4th East Ring Road, Chaoyang District
Transportation: Take subway line 7 and get off at Happly Valley Station; Take subway line 1 and get off at Dawang Lu Station from Exit A at the north side of Dawang Qiao to change bus 31 and get off at Houfengqiao Nan Station. Then walk 50 meters to the park; take bus 31, 674, 680 or Zhuan 166 and get off at Huaqiaocheng Nan Station.
 A series of blessing activities allow you to pray for your family and friends.
Time: Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2022 (the 1st - 5th days of the first Chinese lunar month)
Ticket: CNY 25
Location: Fenghuangling Nature Park, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District
Transportation: Take subway line 4 to  Beigongmen (the north gate of Summer Palace), and then change to 346 to the terminal; or take bus 346 at the Summer Palace directly to the terminal.

Further Reading:
Top 10 Things to Do in Beijing in Winter