Bustling Beijing is busy as usual in summer. May begins with a three-day holiday for Labor Day from 1st to the 3rd; watch the crowd and celebrations at Tiananmen Square and the flag hoisting ceremony. Immediately following this is the Youth Day on May 4th when the Government organizes various activities for youth to mark the memory of the first mass student movement in 1919. Music lovers will definitely enjoy the festival of Chamber Music held in May by the National Center of Performing Arts as well as the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival that celebrates music, dance at theater at various indoor and outdoor venues.

Other events in May include the Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon on May 18th and the Daxing Watermelon Festival on May 28th. The International Children’s Day is another major event that celebrated on May 31st and June 1st. Carnivals, children’s events and sales happen to celebrate the joys of childhood.

The much celebrated Duan Wu Dragon Boat Festival takes place in June. On June 12, 2013, people in Beijing celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with colorful Dragon boat races; zongzi and xionghuangjiu, rice dumplings with realgar wine are the main festival fare. Beijing looks colorful and cheerful with plenty of activities and hanging décor.

In July, Beijing turns Bavarian with the International Beer Festival; there’s plenty of good beer, German waitresses and open air concerts in Xiedao. The Tutti World Youth Music Festival is also celebrated in July.