Besides the vast seaside, immense grasslands are also recommended to spend the midsummer in Beijing. You can leisurely ride on the grassland watching the cattle and sheep when the wind blows and grass lowers.
▶ Mulan Paddock
Mulan Paddock is also known as the royal hunting place in the Qing Dynasty. It stretches about 150km from east to west and 100km from south to north, with a circumference of nearly 700km and a total area of about 10,400km2. Saihanba National Forest Park is in the scenic.
It has been a natural garden with abundant aquatic plants and animals since ancient times. "Immense Pine Forest" was a hunting place for the emperors in the Liao Dynasty, and Mulan Paddock was the place for Mulan Hunting held by the emperors in the Qing Dynasty. According to the historical records, the royal family had hunted here for more than 100 times from Qianlong to Jiaqing periods
Name: 木兰围场
Address: Weichang Manchu and Mongolian Autonomous County, north of Chengde City 承德北部围场县境内
▶ Fengning Bashang Grassland
Fengning Bashang Grassland is 280km away from Beijing. There are beautiful mountains and rivers as well as a vast forest where there are singing birds and fragrant flowers. It is a natural kingdom for picking and hunting. Come here to have fun in spring and summer when the grass is fertile and the flowers beautiful. The main attractions include the Birch Forest, the Lovers Valley, the Willow Valley Scenic Area and the Lightning Lake. It is also known as the First Grassland in Northern Beijing and is the closest natural grassland to Beijing. Come here if you want an easy vocation!
There are lily flowers in May, wild vegetables in June, flowers of Limonium bicolor in July, and nasturtium flowers in August. There are also larks haunting around the Dragon Boat Festival. In October, there are hundreds of wild geese having a short break here, as well as hares, moles, foxes, leopards and other grassland dwellers, so it is a good time for hunting.
Name: 丰宁坝上草原
Address: Datan Town, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City 承德丰宁满族自治县境内大滩镇
▶ Fengning Datan Grassland
It is perfect for a summer trip. In July, the first grassland in northern Beijing has a cool climate, fresh air, and blooming flowers, including the charming flowers of Limonium bicolor. In August, there are nasturtium flowers as well as hares, moles, foxes, and leopards, making it an ideal place among the surrounding areas of Beijing and Hebei for hunting and taking a summer vocation.
There are horse riding, quad biking and many other programs along the Grassland Road. But later I found that the road was not smooth for a fun riding, so I went to the populus euphratica forest and spent about 30 minutes here. It was not as fun as riding on Datan Grassland, however. After all, grassland horse riding requires a broad place to ride at a gallop. At the downstream of the Lightning Lake reservoir, there is a flat and open wetland with migratory birds, absolutely ideal for horse riding amateurs.
Name: 丰宁大滩草原
Address: Fengning Baishang Grassland, Datan Town, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City 承德市丰宁满族自治县大滩镇丰宁坝上草原
▶ Zhangbei Bashang Grassland
Zhangbei Bashang is located on the northwest of Beijing, the south of Inner Mongolia grassland, and the south of Mobei (the area in the north of the Gobi Desert) outside the Great Wall. The place is cool and pleasant in summer with beautiful rivers and fertile grass. In addition to green grass, blue sky, white clouds, groups of cattle and sheep, and the sound of camel bells and birds singing, here you will enjoy the unique charm of yurts, milk tea, hand grilled meat, mutton and mushroom soup, and nest-shaped oat flour noodles, as well as the fascinating er ren tai, grassland song, Hada, bonfire, and chum dance.
With crowds of sheep and galloping horses, the grassland features clear sky, fine weather and rush grass. It is enclosed by towered mountains, with clear rivers running through. Compared with Fengning Bashang Grassland, it has many entertainment programs besides the beautiful landscape, including horse riding, archery, equestrian performance, wrestling, and grassland song and dance. There is always one that you like. Cattle, horses and sheep rest and forage in groups. The wild singing of herdsmen, the clear sound of the whip and the harmonious birdsong add infinite vitality to this natural grassland.
The Grassland Road extends to connect Chongli District of Zhangjiakou City and Zhangbei Grassland. Winding roads, rolling grasslands, staggered terraces and white windmills are the most beautiful views along this road.
Name: 张北坝上草原
Address: Zhangbei County, Zhangjiakou City 张家口市张北县
▶ Yudaokou Grassland & Forest Scenic Area
Yudaokou Grassland & Forest Scenic Area has many species of wildlife, including rare wildlife of dozens of species. Therefore, it is described by many people as "the source of water, the hometown of clouds, the world of flowers, the ocean of forests, and the paradise of rare and valuable animals". In summer, Yudaokou Grassland is covered by lush grass and beautiful flowers.
Yudaokou Grassland & Forest Scenic Area is extremely rich in tourism resources. The natural landscapes such as Fairy Cave, Taoshan Lake, Moon Lake, Baihuapo, Grand Canyon and Gui Shan are breathtakingly wonderful; and the human landscapes including Green Tea House, Cuihua Palace, Yuquan, Ovoo Hill, Drill Ground, Ancient Royal Road, Yadai Shan and Tianti Liang contain profound royal cultural connotations.
Half a day is enough to visit the scenic area solely. You can drive into the grassland. With meadows, lakes, springs and pavilions, the grassland has a very pleasant environment ideal for photographing, picnic and sightseeing. Besides, there are entertainment activities such as horse riding. Yudaokou Scenic Area is a warm-up for Saihanba National Forest Park. After visiting it, you can further go north to indulge in the grassland and forest sceneries in Saihanba National Forest Park.
Name: 御道口草原森林风景区
Address: Yudaokou Scenic Area, Weichang Manchu Mongolian Autonomous County, Chengde City. 承德市围场满族蒙古族自治县御道口风景区
