Miyun County
Yunmengshan Forest Park
Yunmengshan Forest Park is located in the western suburbs of Miyun County. The total area is about 2,200 hectares, and the tallest mountain is 1,414 meters high. In the park, you can enjoy the undulating hills and the immense forest everywhere, and the forest coverage is more than 91 percent. Being one of the most famous mountains in the suburbs of Beijing, Yunmengshan Mountain is famous for the wonderful view from its peak, marvelous stones, deep pool, dense clouds and immense forest. Here you can feel the magnificence, danger, novelty, beauty and serenity of nature.
* Ticket: 35 yuan
* Take long-distance bus heading for Fengning at Dongzhimen or Xizhimen
* Open: April to November
* Average temperature in summer is 20-24 degrees Celsius, fit for camping.
Black Dragon Pool
Black Dragon Pool is 100 kilometers from Beijing city. There are 18 pools in the canyon, each with its own character. Here the green hills are linked to the clean water while the waterfall connects with the pool, allow you to enjoy the harmony of still and flowing water.
* Ticket: 20 yuan.
* Take long-distance bus from Dongzhimen, get off at Miyun station, then change to the long-distance bus to Black Dragon Pool. Total time is 90 minutes one way. Train is also available from Beijing North Station, get off at Shitanglu station, then hire a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage.
The No.1 Waterfall in Beijing
The No.1 Waterfall, located only 4 kilometers from the Black Dragon Pool, has a drop of 62.5 meters, and the water rushing down the precipice offers a splendid scene. Apart from the No.1 Waterfall, there are several others of varying heights. The most fantastic scenery is the connection of six pools of different sizes and depths, which seem to have been cut by God.
* Ticket: 20 yuan.
* Best time: July , August
* Take long-distance bus from Dongzhimen, get off at Miyun station, change to the mini-bus for Sihetang, get off at Zhangjiafen station. Train is also available from Beijing North Station, get off at Shitanglu station and hire a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage. During the travel season, there is a non-stop bus from Dongzhimen.
Yanqing County
Kangxi Grassland
With 32,000 mu (2133 hectares) of meadow and grassland, the Kangxi Grassland is sandwiched between Guanting Lake to the west and Haituo Mountain to the north. It offers a stunning landscape with mountains, lakes, forests and grassland. In summer, the average temperature here is 8.4 degrees centigrade lower than in the other famous summer resorts, such as Chengde and Beidaihe.
You can enjoy the wide range of amusement and tourist facilities: a folklore holiday village, a race course, an outdoor sports field and a maze. You can also enjoy horseback riding.
* Take the train from Beijing North Station, get off at Kangzhuang, then hire a horse-drawn carriage. Or take long-distance bus No.919 from Deshengmen. Or take the regular bus from Deshengmen at 6:30 or 10am, or 2 or 5pm.
* Ask the staff's help in choosing a horse to ride.
Longqing Gorge
Longqing Gorge is a natural gorge located in Yanqing County. It features a deep, quiet reservoir that stretches over 7 kilometers. You can enjoy the variety of scenery's charming, like that of South China, and vigorous, like that of the North. With exquisite natural scenery and delightful weather, Longqing Gorge has become one of the most popular scenic spots around the capital.
* Ticket: 35 yuan.
* Take Tourist Bus No. 8 from Qianmen (´32, $3.84, round trip) or take long-distance bus No.919 or No.920 from Deshengmen, get off at Yanqing station and change to a mini-bus.
* Wear comfortable walking shoes and take bottled water.
Huairou County
Hongluo Temple
Located at the southern foot of Hongluo Mountain, Hongluo Temple was built in AD 378 and was enlarged during the Tang Dynasty. Its original name is Daming Temple, also called Huguo Temple. It is a holy land to Buddhists. Hongluo Temple has three unique scenes: Chinese wisteria growing around pine trees for 600 years; 30-meter-tall ginkgos, having a history as long as 1,100 years; and bamboo woods that are 600 years old.
* Ticket: 30 yuan.
* Take long-distance bus No.916 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 6 from Xuanwumen or Tourist Bus No. 16 from Dongdaqiao.
Green Dragon Gorge
Green Dragon Gorge is a fantastic place combining the mountains, a canyon, waterfalls and the Great Wall. You can raft on the water, fish or take a dragon boat cruise, enjoying the marvelous landscape. There are also five water parks of different depths for swimming, boating and fishing.
* Ticket: 30 yuan.
* Time: It is opened to the tourists all the year, and camping is available in summer. Open from 8:00am until sunset.
* Take Tourist Bus No. 16 from Xuanwumen, or take bus No. 916. ItÕs a two-hour trip one way.
Yanqi Lake
Yanqi Lake, located 3 kilometers from Green Dragon Gorge, 5 kilometers from Hongluo Temple and 29 kilometers from the Great Wall (Mutianyu), is an aquatic amusement park. Activities on the lake include dragon boat rides, yachting and parachute surfing. On warm days, people can swim or sunbathe on the beach. In spring , you can also see gaggles of wild geese, as well as other waterfowl such as swans and cranes.
* Ticket: 25 yuan.
* Open: April to November
* Take bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen, or Tourist
Bus No. 6 from Xuanwumen or Dongsishitiao.
Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
The Mutianyu section is 2,250 metres, with the best quality and abundant water resources, offering three springs: Dragon Pool Spring, Pearl Spring, and Lotus Spring.
* Ticket: 35 yuan.
* Cable car is available (additional fee)
* Take bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen, or Tourist Bus No. 6 from
Xuanwumen or Dongsishitiao.
