2026 Beijing’s Hottest & Trendiest Travel Trending(Constantly Updated) | Trip.com

Spring has arrived right on cue, and boundless spring at Universal Beijing Resort is here in full swing! From March 20–May 31, 2026, springtime celebrations and surprises will bloom across Universal Studios Beijing. Join us for the fifth anniversary special season, and experience an unforgettable spring together! Tang splendor: song of Tang interactive theme restaurant Inside Universal Studios Beijing, the all-new Song of Tang theme restaurant, inspired by the film Thirty Thousand Miles of Chang'an, invites you to an immersive feast from the grand Tang era. Savor fine food and drinks, and dive into interactive moments, dance, and music that bring you face-to-face with historical luminaries. Celebrate like honored guests at a cultural banquet unlike any other. Cross-world collaboration: Genshin Impact Mondstadt celebration zone During the event, a special Genshin Impact Mondstadt celebration zone will appear inside the park. Colorful banners ripple over a gate, and vine garlands sway in the breeze to evoke the free-spirited vibe of Teyvat. Meet fan favorites like Fischl and Klee up close, join in fun festival mini-games, and capture every moment of shared memories with friends. Colorful celebrations: boundless spring party and limited-time character meet-and-greets On Hollywood Boulevard and major stages throughout the park, the boundless spring party lights up the day with nonstop energy. Enjoy close-up interactions with characters in spring-exclusive outfits, strike your best pose for photos, and soak up the lively, whimsical spirit of the season. Fresh choreography and music turn up the joy, and every guest becomes the star. Great value: limited-time two-visit tickets early access Lock in spring-only savings in advance! Buy at least 15 days ahead, and get an even better price on two-visit tickets, making it easy to kick off your Universal spring getaway and enjoy multiple days of fun. Spring at Universal means endless celebration. This season, start from Universal Beijing Resort to encounter beloved IPs, immerse yourself in a cultural feast, and ride the wave of springtime parties. Set your plans in motion now, and bring your vision of a boundless spring to life! 🌷

From January 18–August 18, 2026, the National Museum of China will present Twin stars illuminating the world: Sanxingdui–Jinsha Site ancient Shu civilization exhibition in South Galleries 8 and 9, bringing together more than 200 major artifacts from the Sanxingdui Museum and the Jinsha Site Museum to highlight the splendor and mystery of the Ancient Shu civilization. [Exhibition highlights] ✨ Iconic treasures including the gold mask, bronze standing figure, Sun Bird gold foil ornament, gold crown band, and bronze head with gold mask will be on view. ✨ Limited display periods: gold mask, April 18–August 18, 2026; Sun Bird gold foil ornament, June 13–August 18, 2026. ✨ As the Jinsha Site Museum closes for upgrades, its core exhibits come to Beijing for a joint showcase, appearing alongside Sanxingdui national treasures for the first time—a rare moment. [Visitor experience] An extended eight-month run lets you journey across 3,000 years of Sanxingdui and Jinsha in one visit, exploring Ancient Shu craftsmanship, mysterious beliefs, and top-tier aesthetics. An immersive exhibition perfect for history and culture lovers, families, and travelers seeking in-depth experiences—miss it and you may not get another chance. [Visitor information] ⏱ Please refer to the limited display schedule for the gold mask and Sun Bird. 📍 Location: National Museum of China, South Galleries 8 and 9 (Dongcheng District, Beijing) 🎫 We recommend signing in on the National Museum of China website to reserve tickets in advance, plan your visit, and avoid peak crowds. Kick off 2026 with a must-see exhibition. Seize the chance this summer to experience the awe of the ancient civilizations of Sanxingdui and Jinsha, and bring your kids, family, and friends to witness the pinnacle of China’s bronze age.

Papa, an internet‑famous cat once adored at the Forbidden City, used to be the feline world’s top influencer. With irresistibly cute looks and a built‑in royal aura, he won over fans across the country. People got their daily cat fix through their screens, and plenty of travelers made special trips to the Forbidden City just to snap a photo of him. His popularity was sky‑high. But recently, the story flipped. Exposed as the cat world’s drama king with a not‑so‑gentle side, Papa went from nationwide sympathy to a meme‑worthy fall from grace in a full‑blown viral saga. Staff shared that Papa plays timid in public, ducking into hidey‑holes, then turns around and strong‑arms his buddies Jixiang and Ruyi for their kibble. After boasting over the stolen bites, he’ll leisurely polish off his own portion. His well‑fed physique is proof of those double servings, and fans joke that five meals a day still wouldn’t cut it. Stroll through the Forbidden City and you just might cross paths with Papa—kick off a heartwarming, playful cat‑spotting adventure

Within the Palace Museum, a rich variety of plant communities thrive. As of December 2025, 228 species have been recorded, spanning trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ground covers, vines, aquatic plants, and ferns. Together, they form a distinctive man-made and natural hybrid system with historical depth, ornamental value, and ecological function. These plants grow around and beyond the palace walls, in the gaps between bricks and stones, and beneath eaves and corridors. Amid red walls and golden roofs, they quietly flourish, offering a delicate interpretation of the Eastern philosophy of life’s continual renewal. Wintersweet Best viewing period: mid-February–early March; where to see it: Jingqi Pavilion at Ningshou Palace, south of the icehouse, east side of the Arrow Pavilion ecological flower bed, Lansheng Gate at the Cining Palace Garden. Elegant and fragrant with gnarled branches, its blooms release a subtle scent beneath the red walls. From afar, it’s like the reserved blank space in an ink painting; up close, you can admire the petal textures and cool, layered fragrance. It’s the most poetic, tranquil encounter of early spring in the Forbidden City. Gold-and-silver honeysuckle Best viewing period: winter; where to see it: East road of the Imperial Garden, west side of the Arrow Pavilion ecological flower bed. A deciduous shrub bearing clusters of red berries in winter like agate beads. It provides food for sparrows and, though modest, brims with vitality, conveying gentle resilience amid the season’s austerity. Heavenly bamboo Best viewing period: year-round, with red berries and green leaves most striking in winter; where to see it: Cining Palace Garden, west side of the Arrow Pavilion ecological flower bed. An evergreen dwarf shrub whose scarlet fruit gleams against green foliage in the snow—fresh and eye-catching. Echoing the classic “most beautiful in snow,” it’s a rare four-season delight in northern gardens. Flowering peach Best viewing period: March–April; where to see it: east side inside Shenwu Men, along both sides of the road from Zuoyi Men to Xiehe Men. Blossoms in white, pink, and deep red mingle together, and you may spot a rare branch with two colors. Bright and exuberant, it adds a dynamic touch of spring to the central axis, making a stroll feel like walking through a classical handscroll. Yellowhorn Best viewing period: April–May; where to see it: south side of the rockery in front of Yangxingzhai Gate. Flowers shift from pale white to deep purple on the same branch. Historically called the “official’s flower,” it carries the scholar’s spirit from the Tang and Song dynasties, standing quietly in the Ningshou Palace area and telling thousands of years of cultural stories without a word. Weishi Best viewing period: May; where to see it: Jianfu Palace Garden, west side of the Arrow Pavilion ecological flower bed. Small pink flowers hang in cascades on flexible branches—simple and fresh. It’s the gentlest breath at the turn of spring to summer, inviting you to pause, gaze, and slowly capture its grace. Dawn redwood Best viewing period: early summer or late fall; where to see it: woodland in front of Wenhua Men, outside Youyi Men. The tender green of early summer is refreshing, while the reddish-brown fall foliage gleams in sunlight. This ancient relict tree stands in silent dignity, evoking a solemn, time-transcending awe. Jujube Best viewing period: May (flowering), and winter (fruiting); where to see it: courtyard of Juanqinzhai at the Ningshou Palace Garden. Tiny pale yellow or pinkish flowers drift softly in the breeze like little bells tapping the steps. In winter, black dates dangle from the branches, attracting birds to flit and dance. Each season brings a new story. In addition, self-seeded plants such as inula, Chinese violet cress (er yue lan), dayflower, mazus, and early violet appear with the changing seasons. After a few gentle rains, they weave a colorful ground cover, keeping a light, lively rhythm of life moving beneath the weighty palace walls. Come to the Forbidden City, and start your own unique journey!

If giant pandas have melted your heart and you’re dreaming of seeing them in person, China is ready to wow you. Beyond Chengdu, many cities across the country offer unforgettable panda encounters—each with its own superstar personality. Here’s your playful, panda-forward shortlist 👇 Sichuan 🐼 Hehua (Huahua) 📍 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Born in 2020, this “short, chubby, and fluffy” sweetheart stays zen even when her bamboo gets swiped. In 2023, her “triangle rice ball” look dominated trending charts and sent base ticket sales soaring—up ninefold. Her Weibo super-topic has 800,000+ followers, and she’s widely hailed as today’s top female star in the panda world. 🐼 Fubao 📍 Wolong China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Shenshuping Base Born in 2020 at Everland in South Korea. Her keepers made her a guitar, flower crowns, and glasses; before her return, a petition with tens of thousands of signatures swept Korean sites. She came home to Sichuan in April 2024, trailed by Chinese and Korean media with a celebrity-style airport welcome. 🐼 Xiangxiang 📍 Ya’an Bifengxia Base Born in 2017 at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo. A nationwide naming vote drew 320,000 ballots, and her economic impact in Japan reached billions of yen annually. On her return to China in February 2023, Japanese media aired a 12-hour, tearful farewell live. Beijing 🐼 Menglan 📍 Beijing Zoo Born in 2015, the zoo’s repeat “escape artist” has been caught climbing walls atop a red ball, twisting door handles, and cheekily teasing visitors. One Douyin clip topped 300 million views, earning him the nickname “Beijing’s high-IQ panda on the loose.” Shanghai 🐼 Qianran & Qianyi 📍 Shanghai Wild Animal Park A male–female twin duo born in 2025 and first shown to the public this February. They’re the newest breakout panda stars—right at peak cuteness. Jiangsu 🐼 Mengxun & Aobao 📍 Suzhou Taihu National Wetland Park This brother–sister pair, born in 2022, are full-on foodies. Come for the snacks, stay for the play—they’re endlessly lively and adorable. 🐼 Jiujiu 📍 Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo Celebrated as “the most beautiful panda in East China,” with looks and talent to match. You might even catch Jiujiu dancing. Chongqing 🐼 Shuangshuang, Chongchong, Xixi, & Qingqing (“Four Happiness”) 📍 Chongqing Zoo Home to 23 pandas—there’s always one to steal your heart. The viral “Four Happiness” quartet hails from here, and if luck’s on your side, you might even see them “playing mahjong.” Liaoning 🐼 Feiyun 📍 Dalian Forest Zoo The zoo’s original female internet star, with a round head and snowy-white coat. Fans affectionately call her “Feiyun Piggy.” Alongside Jinhu and Miaoyin, she’s one of the “Dalian Three Treasures.” Her livestreams regularly pull 100,000+ concurrent viewers. Shaanxi 🐼 Qizai 📍 Qinling Four Treasures Science Park The world’s only captive brown giant panda, discovered in 2009 in Foping, Shaanxi. With chocolate-colored fur, he’s fondly dubbed “the Labrador of the panda world.” Shandong 🐼 Yaji 📍 Jinan Zoo A born crowd-pleaser and a true hidden gem. When all fours touch the ground, he looks just like a tiny bench—hence the nickname “Little Bench.” Which panda has stolen your heart? Beyond these cuties, countless pandas across China are waiting to meet you. Start planning your panda journey and witness the irresistible charm of China’s national treasure for yourself.