planning a second trip to beijing at a slower pace

For a less rushed second stay, consider visiting during the best seasons of April to May or September to October. Average temperatures sit around 15.2°C in April, 21°C in May, 21.1°C in September, and 12.8°C in October, avoiding the summer heat that reaches 26.8°C in July. Key sights across the city include the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the National Museum of China, and Zhongnanhai. Spreading these major sights over several days will give you a much more manageable schedule.