Most people traveling to Beijing must be hoping to experience the profound historical wonders of Beijing. That’s correct! However, traveling to Beijing can also be a wonderful experience of mountain camping. But where can you camp in Beijing? As far as I know, the perfect site is nothing more than Haituo Mountain, an area between Yanqing, Beijing and Hebei province.

Haituo Mountain is about 18 km away from the seat of Yanqing district and about 130 km away from downtown Beijing. The highest peak of the mountain is 2,241 meters, the second highest peak in Beijing. Why is it the perfect place for outdoor camping? The secret is the top of the mountain is a relatively large flat area, where nearly hundreds of tents can be set up.

In summer, this area is about 10℃ cooler than the seat of Yanqing district and about 1,700 meters higher than the district seat, which has formed the various species of the plants all over the mountain. Areas above 1,800 meters are places where you can find high plateau grasslands. This is another reason why this is the perfect place for outdoor camping. In summer, parts of the mountain rain a lot and so the beautiful rain scenery can appear if you have the will to climb the mountain.

For people living and lodging in Beijing, this mountain also serves as a windbreak for Beijing, preventing the sandstorm from the north encroaching in Beijing. These days people visit the mountain frequently on weekends and spend cool summer nights on top of it. Our South Korean editor climbed the mountain on a weekend and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery of it by camping there to spend a cool summer night.

Admission: Free, but each visitor needs to buy a bag for 10 yuan, which will be used to take away your own rubbish. On your return, you will be given back 5 yuan.

Getting there:

1. Take Express Bus No. 919 at Deshengmen Bus Station (morning: 5:50, evening: 19:00) or Bus No. 919 (Deshengmen Bus Station----Longqing Gorge) at Deshengmen Bus Station (morning 6:00, evening: 18:00) to the seat of Yanqing (about 90 minutes) and then get on a private car or van to the mountain.

2. Take Train S2 at Beijing North Railway Station and get off at Yanqing (morning: 6:12, evening: 21:28) and then get on a private car or van to the mountain. Note: You can get on the train by swiping your Beijing Bus Card.