As early summer arrives, Beijing is rolling out a packed season of cultural and tourism activities under the theme "Colorful May, Explore Beijing", offering visitors a mix of history, art, music and countryside leisure.
More than 100 events are being staged across the capital in May, ranging from immersive performances and music festivals to museum exhibitions, craft and food markets, and rural tourism programs.
A major highlight is Beijing's sub-center in Tongzhou district, where the city is showcasing the cultural legacy of the Grand Canal. The newly opened Tongzhou Fuyuan Park has quickly become a popular leisure destination, while the immersive waterfront production Yun Shang Xing ("Journey on the Canal") is drawing audiences with a blend of water-screen projections, live performances and lighting effects that re-create scenes from the canal's profound history.
The district's three landmark cultural venues — the Beijing Performing Arts Centre, Beijing Library and the Grand Canal Museum — are also presenting concerts, exhibitions, lectures and public reading programs throughout the month.
Across the city, theaters and new performance spaces are expanding offerings in drama, musicals, opera and symphony concerts, while immersive productions combining technology, dining and tourism are helping energize Beijing's nighttime economy.
Music and visual arts are another key focus of the season. The Beijing Qianfan Music Season will open on May 23, featuring popular singers and bands in a large-scale outdoor celebration.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Beijing Art Season at the 798 Art District will bring together galleries, museums and international cultural institutions for exhibitions and auctions across May and June. Public spaces throughout the city will also feature sculptures and digital art installations.
One of the season's major exhibitions, Corn, Gold and the Jaguar: Ancient Civilizations of the Maya and the Andes, opens on May 18 at the Capital Museum, presenting artifacts and immersive displays exploring ancient Latin American civilizations.
Beijing is also highlighting creative consumption and suburban tourism. The inaugural China New Cultural and Creative Market in Chaoyang Park will showcase traditional crafts, designer goods and specialty foods, while Shougang Park is hosting esports events, concerts and industrial-style cultural fairs.
In the capital's outer districts, including Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu, visitors can enjoy camping, rural sightseeing and boutique countryside homestays connected by the city's growing network of greenway trails.
Officials say the campaign aims to present Beijing as both a historic cultural capital and a vibrant modern destination for summer travel.
