A first weekend in Beijing: palace courtyards and a lakeside day
The Forbidden City: booking, courtyards and a sensible route
Jingshan: Wanchun Pavilion and the palace moatAn example packing list for Beijing in December
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Long-sleeved tops
- Thermal base layer
- Warm sweater
- Long trousers
- Warm coat
- Scarf
- Gloves
- Warm hat
- Warm socks
- Walking shoes with grip
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport used for reservations
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
- Compact umbrella
- Saved Chinese destination names
Monthly weather and packing notes
December is a winter-clothing month: bring a warm coat, base layers, gloves and a hat. Keep shoes comfortable for long paved approaches and check for ice before attempting Jingshan’s steps. A short temple visit with a warm break can work better than a full outdoor day.
- Daytime
- 1–5°C
- Evenings
- -9–-5°C
- Rain
- Mostly dry; snow possible
- Daylight
- Short days; put outdoor sights first
- Packing style
- Winter layers and insulated outerwear
Broad planning bands rounded to around 2°C either side of the WMO/CMA Beijing December mean daily maximum (3.3°C) and minimum (-6.9°C). Mean monthly precipitation is 2 mm, including rain and snow. This published series covers 1961–1990 and is an older historical baseline, not a current forecast or a limit on temperatures; recent conditions may be warmer. Check the forecast for your dates.
Outfit ideas for your outings
A December Palace Museum visit
- Long-sleeved tops
- Warm coat
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small day bag
Jingshan steps and a viewpoint pause
- Walking shoes with grip
- Gloves and warm hat
- Long trousers or suitable walking bottoms
Summer Palace shoreline or Temple of Heaven
- Warm outer layer
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Charged phone
- Refillable water bottle
What to leave behind
- Summer-only outfits: exposed palace and lake walks need winter warmth.
- A large sightseeing suitcase: attraction visits work better with a manageable day bag.
Reviewed 2026-10-21
WMO / China Meteorological Administration — Beijing 1961–1990 climate averages · Beijing government — seasonal clothing and departure advice