If you live in Beijing, or are staying there for a couple of weeks, holidaying outside the city for a few days can be a great idea. Here are five places we give the thumbs up to.

Remember that there are many other options beyond these five spots; these are simply the places that are manageable for a short stay (some can be done as a day trip rather than overnight) and are well worth your time.

Mentougou

Famous for its spectacular natural scenery, Mentougou’s main attractions are its hills, valleys, forest, ponds, rocks and plants. Be warned that once you’re out here, you’re really in the wild: There are no food stalls or water vendors up on the hills, so bring your own supplies.

Getting there:

Bus: Take bus 929 from Pingguoyuan subway station. Journey time is about one hour.

Car: Turn right at Pengshi Xilu, then take national road 109, following the signs for Mentougou.

Cuandixia Village

Cuandixia Village is over 400 years old and features around 70 courtyards, many preserved in their Ming Dynasty form, with over 500 rooms available for guests. The houses here are of a unique style, with high gateway arches to denote the owner’s social class.

The village is located at the basin of the Qingshui River, and the surrounding forest creates a tranquil and solitary environment for the villagers. “Cuan” in Chinese means “stove,” while “dixia” means under or below. It is said that the village took its name to reflect the hardship its people bore, and this adds an air of mystery to this little old town.

Getting there:

Bus: Take bus 929 from Pingguoyuan subway station. Get off at Cuandixia village. There are two non-stop buses to the village. One starts at 7:15am, the other 12:10pm.

Car: Turn right at Pengshi Xilu, then take national road 109, following signs for Cuandixia.

Daxidi Resort

Daxidi Resort is a vacation house allowing city-dwellers an escape from the exhaustion of city life and a chance to reconnect with nature.

Getting there:

Car: Exit Badaling Highway at Xiguan (Exit 16), head north 12km along national road 110, pass Deshengkou Reservoir, drive another 800m and the resort is on the left.

Baihe River

Baihe River in Huairou District provides fun in various forms. Good for a group trip, Baihe allows you the chance to drift on the river, play paintball and enjoy fishing, barbecues and other outdoor activities. The natural scenery also provides views of the flowing river, weeping willows and fine sandy beaches, along with wild ducks, fish and shrimp.

Getting there:

Bus: Take bus 916 from Dongzhimen Station, get off at Huairou Bus station, transfer to the bus to Qiananling station. Alternatively, take bus 936 towards Tanghekou from Yujiayuan Station, get off at Mayi Shanzhuang station, and walk ahead for 300 meters.

Car: Go along Jingmi Lu, or Jingcheng Lu, turn towards Fengning at Huairou roundabout. Go another 45km along national road 111, turn right and drive 3 km to Qingshiling Village.

Yanqing

Yanqing is known as one of Beijing’s top summer resorts. Average temperatures in summer are six degrees lower than in downtown Beijing. From spring every year, Yanqing becomes a good option for city residents to relax and have fun. The area contains attractions to entertain different types of visitor. Cycling enthusiasts can enjoy various trails, hikers can explore the forest, animal lovers can go to seek out the wetland birds, geology nerds can find a geological national park in the area, and history buffs can make their way to the Great Wall and the Guyaju cave dwellings.

Getting there: Public transport: Take the S2 railway line from Beijing North Station.