The crisp autumn days are perfect for hiking. Hiking is a great exercise and it can help you to broaden horizons and relax and entertain yourself. Now let's have a peek at the must-goes for hikers!
Dingdu Pavilion
The Dingdu Pavilion is located on the top of the Dingdu Peak, Tanzhesi Town, Mentougou District, Beijing. The Dingdu Peak has an altitude of 680m and is surrounded by rolling mountains.
The Dingdu Pavilion and the Grand Canal are on the west and east end of the Chang’an Avenue – the most famous street in China – respectively. The Pavilion overlooks the entire Beijing City and therefore is the perfect spot to have a full view or take a full shot of the city. According to historical records, Yao Guangxia, a famous chancellor of the Ming Dynasty, climbed to the top of Dingdu Mountain to reconnoiter the terrain before building Beijing City. This was why the mountain was named Dingdu, which means the establishment of a capital in Chinese.
Ticket: 50 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:30-16:30 (the night tour starts after 16:30, for which a different ticket is required)
Phone: 010-61869088
Address: Dingdu Peak Scenic Area, Tanzhesi Town, Mentougou District, Beijing 北京市门头沟潭柘寺镇定都峰景区
Traffic Guide: Drive along Lianshi Road or Fushi Road to Shimenying roundabout, Mentougou District. Change for Highway 108 and go straight (through tunnels) to Nancun Village, and then drive 3km to the north to Dingdu Pavilion.
Yangtai Mountain
The Yangtai Mountain Natural Scenic Spot is located in Bei'anhe Village, Haidian District, covering an area of 26km2. It sits near the Jiufeng National Forest Park on south and the Fenghuangling Nature Park on north. The Miaogao Peak, the main peak of Yangtai Mountain, is 1,278m above sea level, the highest among all peaks on the plain land. At the top of the peak there is a broad and flat area. With a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%, Yangtai Mountain features refreshing air and beautiful landscape and scenery.
Ticket: 10 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00
Phone: 010-62464550
Address: Beside Lvyou Road, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing 北京市海淀区苏家坨镇旅游路旁
Traffic Guide: Turn off Beijing-Tibet Expressway at Bei'anhe Exit, and drive west along Beiqing Road according to road signs.
Shuanglong Mountain Forest Park
The Shuanglong Mountain Forest Park is located in Changling Town, Changping District, Beijing. It is in the west of Duijiuyu Village, about 8km northwest of the Ming Tombs and 50km from downtown Beijing. With a vegetation coverage rate of over 95%, the forest park has an excellent ecological environment. It boasts lush forest, fragrant fruit and various kinds of flowers and plants. It is shaded by dense trees and crowded with high hills and strange rocks. The relics of the ancient city walls also serve to add to the charm of the place. Here you can have an intimate contact with the nature.
The forest park is sandwiched between steep cliffs. So it is regarded as a smaller version of the Huangshan Mountain, one of the most famous natural beauties in East China, in western Beijing. It is also hailed as a heaven of peace and comfort as well as a healthy fruit picking site for its lovely scenery and rich resources. It is an ideal place for sightseeing, vacationing and fruit picking.
Ticket: 15 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00 (May 1-October 30)
Phone: 18710070878
Address: 3km west of the Duijiuyu Scenic Spot in Shisanling Town, Changping District 昌平区十三陵镇碓臼峪风景区往西3公里
Traffic Guide: Turn off Beijing-Tibet Expressway at Exit 32 and go in the direction toward the Ming Tombs. Turn left at the entrance of the Duijiuyu Natural Scenic Area and go forward for 3km.
Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area
The Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area is situated in the beautiful Liuke Valley, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, about 80km far from central Beijing. It is graded as a national AA scenic spot and it is a geological park featuring magnificent granite landscape and unique metamorphic core complexes. There are creeks, ponds, caves, rocks of various shapes and original secondary forest in the park.
Formed 120 million years ago, the main feature “Tianmen Cave” (also known as “Biandanyan”) reaches an elevation of more than 800m, with a height of about 60m and a width of around 40m. The cave is embedded on a precipitous cliff and is like a gateway to the heaven. This is exactly how the Tianmen Mountain got its name (Tianmen means heaven's door in Chinese). Since it lies in north China, it is also called the “North Tianmen Mountain”.
The Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area teems with towering peaks and bizarre rocks. The “cockscomb-shaped peak”, “gorilla-shaped rock”, “human-shaped cliff” and “sphinx-shaped peak” in the scenic spot are all remarkably true to life. Tianmen Mountain Scenic Spot is suitable for sightseeing, vacationing, hiking, Counter-Strike cosplay and scientific research.
Ticket: 32 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30 (May 1st-October 30th)
Phone: 010-69016228/69016673
Address: Liuke Valley, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing 北京市密云石城镇柳棵峪
Traffic Guide: Turn off Beijing-Chengde Expressway at the intersection with Shunmi Road and go in the direction toward the reservoir scenic spot. Go straight to the archway of the No. 1 Waterfall in Beijing, pass through the archway and walk 500m to the scenic spot.
Shengquan Mountain
The Shengquan Mountain Natural Scenic Area is 6km away from downtown Huairou. Covering an area of 15km2, it is next to the centuries-old Hongluo Temple in the east and faces the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall in the west. It sits in front of the majestic Yanshan Mountain and behind the beautiful Huaisha River. It incorporates natural and cultural landscape as well as Buddhist and historic culture. It is a holy place of Zen Buddhism.
Ticket: 35 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30
Phone: 010-60637288/60637289
Address: 200m north of Koutou Village, Qiaozi Town, Huairou District, Beijing 北京市怀柔区桥梓镇口头村北200米
Traffic Guide: Turn off Beijing-Chengde Expressway at Exit 13 (the intersection with Beitai Road) and drive directly to Shengquan Mountain Scenic Spot according to road signs.
Jinzu Mountain Scenic Area
The Jinzu Mountain Scenic Area is located in Fangshan District, only 48km far from the west 4th ring road of Beijing. With an altitude of 1,080m, it is characterized by beautiful scenery and fresh air. It is an ideal place for hiking in early autumn and moon viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Jinzu Mountain there are the relics of the Jin-Dynasty Imperial Mausoleums, the earliest imperial mausoleums in Beijing. The Jin-Dynasty Imperial Mausoleums (also known as the Jin Mausoleums) have three parts: the tombs of emperors, the tombs of queens and maids of honor as well as the tombs of princes. There is also the relic of the Shizi Temple in the mountain.
In the scenic spot, you can do outdoor exercise and participate in a variety of activities with your children, such as fruit picking and slacklining. Every family can have a great day here. When you feel exhausted, you can take a nap or just relax yourself in the hammock strung between trees.
Ticket: 50 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00
Phone: 010-69322638
Address: Chechang Village, Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan District, Beijing 北京市房山区周口店镇车厂村
Traffic Guide: East Lianshi Road–Wolonggang–Beijing-Kunming Expressway–Dajian Road–Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Company-Chechang Village
