When the evening breeze of millennia-old gardens meets the everlasting innovation wave of Zhongguancun; when the cultural heritage of the Three Hills and Five Gardens converges with the trending tide of digital intelligence, Haidian is embracing a global cultural and tourism rendezvous.
After many years, the 2026 Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit returns home to Haidian in June. Guests from over 50 countries will gather here to explore brand-new possibilities of future tourism empowered by digital intelligent technologies. People travel to Haidian not merely for scenery, but to perceive the unique development logic of a city where ancient charm coexists with modern vitality, and humanities integrate with science and innovation.
How do mountains and rivers pass down eternal charm? How does cultural lineage carry on through ages? How does scientific innovation embrace new vitality? The answers lie in the layered urban texture of Haidian. Follow three exclusive tour routes to wander through its landscapes and savour its charm across time. In every plant and tree, every brick and tile, every technology and scenic spot, you will unveil Haidian’s unique model for future tourism.
What defines the true essence of Haidian? It is the millennial historical charm nurtured by the Three Hills and Five Gardens, and the gentle humanistic grace where antiquity and modernity blend as one.
This route serves as the prelude to understanding Haidian’s cultural lineage. Start your journey amid the grand scenery of the Summer Palace. As a World Cultural Heritage site weathered by a century of trials, it has witnessed the elegance and prosperity of the Garden of Clear Ripples, endured wartime destruction and multiple renovations, and finally embodied the ultimate realm of Eastern gardening — "Crafted by human hands, yet looking naturally formed". Longevity Hill is covered in rolling green hills; Kunming Lake stretches far into the mist. Ancient buildings spanning 70,000 square meters are scattered in perfect layout. Every beam and pillar embodies the supreme aesthetics of classical Chinese gardens; every tree and blade of grass bears the vicissitudes of a hundred years. Step into the Summer Palace Museum, where cultural relics silently recount the past, turning historical heritage from written words in books into tangible and vivid history.
The cultural lineage flows on endlessly through generations. Move on to the Three Hills and Five Gardens Culture and Art Center, a cultural highland of Haidian. It integrates heritage conservation, exhibition and study tours, and cultural communication in multiple dimensions, sorting, revitalizing and passing down the historical context of the Three Hills and Five Gardens. Not far away stands Wanshou Temple, an ancient millennial temple along the Grand Canal. Transformed from a royal Buddhist retreat in the Ming and Qing dynasties into a comprehensive art museum, it houses tens of thousands of cultural relics that trace the millennia-long development of Chinese art. The ancient charm of the temple blends perfectly with the new vibe of modern art.
The profound weight of history ultimately blends with youthful energy. As night falls, Weigong • Fanghuali unveils the vibrant youthful side of Haidian. This newly developed youth-friendly block brings together flagship stores, trendy art and authentic street food. Eye-catching sci-fi art installations have gained wide popularity, while youth entrepreneurship thrives here, forming a mature 15-minute youth development ecosystem. The age-old cultural heritage is no longer set apart from daily life. Instead, it merges with the worldly hustle and bustle, brimming with fresh vitality amid modern trends.
What shapes the true spirit of Haidian? It lies in sober reflection on the past and bold innovation for the future. Half immersed in historical contemplation, half surging with scientific and technological momentum — this defines the unique charm of the Route of Relic Exploration, Sci-Tech Innovation and Art Trends.
Bathed in morning light, the Old Summer Palace Ruins stand as an indelible monument of memory for the city. Once hailed as "the Garden of Gardens", it combined the grace of northern and southern Chinese gardens as well as the exquisite craftsmanship of oriental and western landscape design. Built through the reigns of six emperors, it grew into an unparalleled masterpiece, only to be reduced to ruins amid wars. Amid the broken walls, traces of its former prosperity can still be seen, and its turbulent past strikes a chord with every visitor. As a National Demonstration Base for Patriotism Education and a National Archaeological Site Park, the Old Summer Palace is far more than a scar of history. It embodies the nation’s resolve to remember history and forge ahead. Thanks to digital revival technology, the grand views of the Forty Scenes are recreated in the cloud, breathing new life into the ancient ruins empowered by technology.
Draw lessons from history and march toward a new future. Traveling from historical relics to the forefront of scientific and technological innovation embodies the unique romance of Haidian. The Exhibition Center of Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone displays over 560 cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements, including AI Plus, embodied intelligence, high-end medical devices and other core technologies. Boasting research breakthroughs and industrial application of achievements, the venue serves as a vivid epitome of Beijing’s innovation strength and a fertile cradle for future industries.
The old and the new coexist and evolve continuously. Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Factory Science Park has transformed from the birthplace of Dongfanghong-1into a high-end intelligent manufacturing park. This former industrial site has taken on a brand-new look, gathering top tech enterprises and featured flagship store brands. Its profound industrial heritage and dynamic innovation vitality reinforce each other.
As night deepens, Wukesong Huaxi LIVE brims with vitality. Sports events, trendy performances and lively night scenes blend together, realizing the integrated development of culture, tourism, commerce and sports. The booming night-time economy presents Haidian as a stylish, vibrant, open and inclusive district.
What embodies the tenderness of Haidian? It lies in the pure and exquisite beauty of mountains and rivers, as well as the heartwarming vibe of ordinary life. This route featuring natural scenery, ancient charm and innovative glamour showcases the most laid-back and diverse urban texture of Haidian.
Climb the Western Hills and embrace the stunning views. The Fragrant Hills stand as a precious gem of nature and humanity in Haidian. Nurtured by 900 years of history, it boasts the renowned Yanjing scenic spot "Sunny Snow over the Western Hills", elegant and serene ancient temples and courtyards, as well as the spectacular autumn scenery of red leaves covering the mountains. With a forest coverage rate of 96%, it serves as a natural urban oxygen bar, while more than 5,000 ancient and famous trees witness the passage of time. Praised as a famous apricot -blossom mountain by men of letters, it is also a red landmark preserving revolutionary memories. Natural charm, age-old cultural lineage and red heritage blend and thrive here. Every step presents a new view, and every view carries a piece of history.
Descend the hills and enter the urban area for an encounter between nature and culture. Lush vegetation abounds in the National Botanical Garden of China. Its 14 specialized gardens feature a rich variety of rare plants thriving in full bloom. Wofo Temple exudes timeless antiquity, and the Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall is quiet and refined. The beauty of natural ecology and profound cultural heritage complement each other perfectly. Amid the tranquility of woods and hills, visitors can calm their minds and feel the gentle flow of time.
Mountains and rivers hold poetic charm, while ordinary life warms every heart. Arriving at Zhongguancun Grand Mix, you are instantly embraced by the dynamism of the city. As a park-style lifestyle shopping mall, it features a rooftop green valley landscape and houses diverse businesses including international fashion brands, premium catering and parent-child leisure facilities. More than a hundred first-opened stores and distinctive shops have settled here, where high-end taste blends harmoniously with the genuine vibes of daily life.
Some say Haidian is a city without boundaries. It embraces the profound heritage of a millennium-long cultural lineage and showcases the sharp edge of cutting-edge innovation; it preserves the tranquility of mountains and woods and accommodates the vibrancy of urban trends.
From classic elegance to the surging tide of innovation, from exploring historical relics to experiencing the charm of landscapes and local life, the three tour routes connect Haidian's past, present and future. As the 2026 Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit arrives as scheduled, the eyes of the world turn to this district where landscapes, culture and technology coexist in harmony. Powered by digital intelligence, rooted in cultural heritage and nourished by natural scenery, Haidian is writing a brand-new answer for the future of tourism. It awaits guests from all corners of the globe for a wonderful rendezvous where antiquity meets modernity and mountains and rivers embrace endless vitality.
