Originally Posted by
ElevatorEnthusiast
Perhaps, dead of winter is the key - it’s so hot and humid right now that I can barely walk a block without having to throw away my clothes from the sweat
I completely disagree! Summer in Beijing is amazing, as long as you are strategic about your mid day time. The parks (e.g. Beihai, Chaoyang, Summer Palace), in particular, are wonderful places. There are numerous cool neighborhoods to explore. The mountains/hills to the north and west (Xiangshan if you want to knock of another "famous" site) offer good hiking opportunities and funky resorts. And, nights can be quite adventurous (it's normal to stay out very late during the summer months).