In the golden autumn of September, Beijing enters its most beautiful season. On September 13, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism held the "Art Empowerment: Colorful Rural Tours" event, launching 12 autumn art exploration routes in the countryside. The activity invites citizens and tourists to visit the suburban villages during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, allowing them to fully experience the colorful rural life.
Route 1:
Whispers of the village café: encountering art in the village
Rural exploration locations:
Beigou Village and Xinying Village, Huairou District
Exploration route:
WAAAM (originally named the Glazed-Tile Art.Architecture Museum) in Beigou Village → Beijing Brickyard Retreat → Xinying Village → Mutianyu Great Wall Scenic Area
Highlights:
Aesthetic architecture, contemporary art, and artistic living unfold like a painting in Beigou and Xinying villages, inspiring endless artistic imagination in the rural art museum.
Travel tips:
The Beijing Brickyard Retreat, WAAAM, and San Sa Village are cultural landmarks in Beigou Village, radiating a modern artistic vibe. From September 1 to December 31, the WAAAM will host intangible cultural heritage exhibition, showcasing paper-cutting art and shadow puppetry collections.
Xinying Village features a nearly 500-year-old ancient Great Wall fortress, where visitors can enjoy the popular "village café" and the pleasant autumn days.
Starting in late October, the Mutianyu Great Wall will enter its peak period for viewing red leaves, where visitors can enjoy stunning autumn landscapes that resemble a beautiful oil painting.
Nearby attractions:
Beijing Xiangshui Lake Great Wall Scenic Area, Shentangyu Nature Scenic Area
Route 2:
Mountain water and countryside: autumn art feast
Rural exploration locations:
Diaowo Village, Huangsongyu Village, Yuzishan Village, Nanshan Village, Pinggu District
Exploration route:
Huangsongyu Earth Art Festival → WanShengGu Art Museum in Diaowo Village → Power Station Art Museum in Yuzishan Village → Nanshan Art Season in Nanshan Village
Highlights:
The integration of mountain water landscapes and art performances transforms the countryside into a palace of art, immersing visitors in a wonderful rural art feast.
Travel tips:
Currently, Huangsongyu Township is hosting the "2nd Huangsongyu Valley Art Festival," themed "Re-Valley," featuring artworks along a 4-kilometer tourist route from Xiganqu to WanShengGu Art Museum. The event runs until the end of October.
WanShengGu Art Museum in Diaowo Village is currently exhibiting the contemporary children's art exhibition, showcasing vibrant artworks created by children, revealing the complex emotions behind the simple concept of "breaking."
The Huangsongyu Comprehensive Cultural Center is showcasing the "Our Dunhuang" mural exhibition, blending mountains and water. The stage modeling of the mural exhibition was created by the Central Academy of Drama, embodiment students' creation.
Power Station Art Museum in Yuzishan Village, transformed from a 600-square-meter idle substation, has become a new artistic space in the outskirts of Beijing, currently hosting events celebrating the first anniversary of the art museum.
Nanshan Village is hosting the "Colorful Fields - 2024 Beijing Nanshan Art Season," featuring over 30 collaborative artworks created by students from eight universities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region along with local villagers and artisans.
Nearby attractions:
Jingdong Grand Canyon, Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge Scenic Area, Jinhai Lake Scenic Area
Route 3:
Scrolls accompanying autumn moment: afternoon tea in fall
Rural exploration locations:
Heihanling Village and Dajixiang Village, Yanqing District
Exploration route:
Dajixiang Village → Heihanling Village → Seasonal Flower Sea
Highlights:
Bike through a picturesque seasonal flower sea under the warm autumn sun, enjoying rural life in the countryside with a cat by your side.
Travel Tips:
At Dajixiang Village, visit the Cat Mansion to select a good book, brew a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy a lovely autumn afternoon watching the cats play.
From mid-September to early October, the flower sea welcomes stunning autumn views, perfect for biking while enjoying the vibrant colors of purple verbena, fiery red cockscomb, yellow marigolds, and cosmos.
At Heihanling Village, visitors can enjoy a flower market featuring delightful "flower-themed snacks" and join kids at the newly renovated Dudu Primary School for flower viewing and autumn harvest activities.
Nearby attractions:
Baili Landscape Gallery, Jiuyanlou Watchtower, Xiangshui Lake Great Wall Scenic Area.
Route 4:
Climb high to appreciate autumn: the charm of ancient villages
Rural exploration location:
Huangshandian Village, Fangshan District
Exploration route:
Huangshandian Village → Pofengling Scenic Area
Highlights:
Stroll through the village and enter old courtyards, reminiscing about childhood memories as red leaves fall. Surrounded by mountains and trees, you can hike, watch the clouds, and listen to the wind—experiencing the idyllic mountain life that Wang Wei longed for, all encapsulated in Huangshandian Village.
Travel tips:
At the Huangshandian Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, you can experience traditional crafts like oil paper umbrellas, woodblock painting, ancient papermaking, dyeing with yellow bristlegrass, and Beijing embroidery. You can participate in the "Courtyard Music Concert" to enjoy rural music in the autumn air.
A 30-minute walk from Huangshandian Village takes you to Pofengling, dubbed "the most spectacular mountain red leaf viewing area in North China" by National Geographic. In mid to late October, the leaves will turn a brilliant red overnight, with 200,000 wild yellow bristlegrass trees showcasing a breathtaking scene, making you feel as if you're walking through a massive red ink wash painting.
Nearby attractions:
Youlan Mountain Fairy Tale Forest, Shangfang Mountain National Forest Park
Route 5:
Tanzhe's autumn charm: slow reading in time
Rural exploration locations:
Nan Village and Pingyuan Village, Tanzhesi Town, Mentougou District
Exploration route:
Tangu → Moofland Park → Tanwang Lu(Rd), Pingyuan Village → Tanzhe Temple
Highlights:
Discover the autumn depicted by Lao She, experiencing the beauty of "seeing red leaves in the West Mountain" and the essence of "there is nothing unsatisfactory in Beijing's autumn."
Travel Tips:
In Tanko Moofland Square and Tanko Moofland Park, stylish and avant-garde life continues to unfold, combining nature, art, music, and endless creativity. This autumn, Tangu is hosting various themed events, including an outdoor life festival from September 15-17, a "Surprise Film Festival" from September 21-28, the 10th One Way Street Library Literature Festival on October 26-27, and an "Earth Book" Art Festival in November—ensuring surprises await at any time.
You can choose to cycle from Tangu to Tanzhe Temple, withTanwang Lu(Rd) in Pingyuan Village being a classic cycling route in western Beijing. It offers both the challenge of mountain biking and beautiful autumn mountain scenery. In early November, the ancient ginkgo trees will make Tanzhe Temple "entirely adorned in golden robes," creating a unique autumn charm against the backdrop of red walls and blue tiles.
Nearby attractions:
Beijing Garden Expo Park, Tianmenshan Forest Park, Qianling Mountain Scenic Area, Shougang Park
Route 6:
Rural cycling fun: autumn art gathering
Rural exploration locations:
Xiayuan Village, Shangyuan Village, and Xinzhuang Village, Changping District
Exploration route:
Xiayuan cultural square → Xiayuan Contemporary Art Museum, → Shangyuan Village → Xinzhuang Village Walking Street→ Xinzhuang market
Highlights:
Enjoy an art exhibition, visit a creative market, and embrace the joy of cycling through the countryside, experiencing unexpected encounters with art.
Travel tips:
Xiayuan cultural square serves as a cultural exchange space shared by artists and villagers, hosting a series of events from September to November, including "Flash Markets," "Music Concerts," and the "Autumn Sports Meeting." Surrounding the cultural square, there are bookstores, art studios, qipao workshops, and photography-themed cafés.
The Xiaoyuan Village Contemporary Art Museum, located at the Xiaoyuan Village Committee, has been transformed from an old building of the village committee. The museum showcases works by several artists, including calligraphy, oil paintings, and sculptures by Tian Shixin and Cui Matai, among others.
The Xinzhuang Walking Street is filled with creative shops, artistic cafes, nature workshops, art galleries, and cultural-themed restaurants run by "new villagers." At the Xinzhuang market, you'll find various unique stalls offering handmade crafts, snacks, and locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Nearby attractions:
Zhenshun Art Town · 1983 Shun Garden, Taoyukou Reservoir, Strawberry Expo Agricultural Carnival.
Route 7:
Climb high and look far: autumn scenery in the heart
Rural exploration location:
Heishansi Village, Miyun District
Exploration route:
Heishansi Village → Yunlongjian Natural Scenic Area
Highlights:
In this old village with new lodgings, enjoy the autumn dusk in the mountains and gaze out over Miyun Reservoir while listening to the echoes of the Beijing Olympics beside the Chinese inscription rock carvings.
Travel tips:
Heishansi Village is adjacent to Miyun Reservoir, featuring beautiful mountain views and fresh air. The quaint and elegant farmhouses are scattered throughout, along with stylish and tranquil guesthouses. Whether you prefer hiking, sightseeing with kids, or relaxing, it's a great choice.
In October, Yunlongjian is awash with vibrant red leaves. Climb 700 meters to the platform for a panoramic view of the colorful Miyun Reservoir, capturing nature's grandeur through your lens. Stroll 8 kilometers through the mountains to admire deep pools, waterfalls, unique peaks, and forest seas, and don't miss the impressive Chinese rock inscription standing 76 meters tall and 38 meters wide.
Nearby attractions:
Yunmeng Mountain Scenic Area, Taoyuan Fairy Valley Natural Scenic Area, Yunmeng Sanyu Natural Scenic Area.
Route 8:
Autumn art tour: “drawing” the artistic village
Rural exploration location:
Baojiapu Village, Daxing District
Exploration Route:
Baojiapu Village Cultural Museum → No. 1 Space Art Exhibition Hall → Runlin Painting and Calligraphy Academy
Highlights:
Walking through the tranquil Baojiapu Village, you'll encounter sculptures on the streets and murals on the walls, immersing you in a vibrant artistic atmosphere. Enjoy the charm of art integrated into the countryside with every wall telling a story.
Travel tips:
Baojiapu Village hosts various cultural and artistic spaces, including the Cultural Museum, No. 1 Space Art Exhibition Hall, and Runlin Painting and Calligraphy Academy. Some spaces display the owners' artworks or collections, while others showcase villagers' creations, with courses available in painting and calligraphy.
Nearby attractions:
Yongding River Green Harbor, Yongding River Forest Pasture Off-Road Park
Route 9:
Fragrant wine and arts: an autumn of delight
Rural exploration location:
Liuzhuanghu Village, Shunyi District
Exploration Route:
Liuzhuanghu Village → Wucai Qianshan
Highlights:
Stroll through Wucai Qianshan, measuring the vibrant autumn forests with every step.
Travel tips:
As one of Beijing's most famous autumn viewing spots, Wucai Qianshan features thousands of acres of colorful leaf forests. In mid to late October, the area will reach its peak for enjoying the autumn foliage.
Liuzhuanghu Village is one of the first key rural tourism villages in the country, known for its beautiful scenery and well-developed facilities. You can visit the Oufeibao Winery for wine tasting, the Gourd Art Manor for gourd painting experiences, or the Village History Museum to reminisce about the passage of time and enjoy a beautiful life.
Nearby attractions:
Tang Zhishan Scenic Area, Beijing International Flower Port
Route 10:
Artistic homestay tour: autumn architecture appreciation
Rural exploration location:
Tangdazhuang Village, Tongzhou District
Exploration route:
Tangdazhuang Village → Taihu Performing Arts Town
Highlights:
Stroll along the Grand Canal, enjoying a rural cultural renaissance feast.
Travel tips:
Tangdazhuang Village is just 2 kilometers from Beijing Universal Studios and offers a variety of unique homestays, ranging from minimalist modern styles to retro national trends and artistic INS vibes.
Taihu is a town transformed by performance arts, featuring the NCPA Taihu Stage Art Centre, Taihu Performing Arts Workshop, Shuangyifa Performing Arts Center, and Moonlight Forest Theater, creating an elegant artistic atmosphere. Here, you can appreciate architectural beauty while enjoying various performances. From September to October, exciting shows like Magic Paint Brush will be ongoing, waiting for your visit.
Nearby attractions:
Beijing Universal Resort, Beijing Wenwangge Woodwork Museum
Route 11:
Colorful canyon: a poetic hike
Rural exploration location:
Baihebei Village and Qingshilin Village, Huairou District
Exploration route:
Baihebei Village → Qingshilin Village
Highlights:
Capture the autumn beauty of Baihe Bay, immersed in a vibrant, colorful landscape. Set up a tent by the river, listen to the gentle flow of water, and feel the tranquility and beauty of nature.
Travel tips:
The best time to enjoy the autumn colors at Baihe Bay is from mid to late October, when leaves transform from green to yellow to red. The clear waters reflect a dazzling array of colors as you stroll along the river, surrounded by a mix of trees like honey locust, redwoods, and wisteria, creating a stunning autumn scene.
In Qingshilin Village, you can find the train tracks where the movie Let the Bullets Fly was filmed, appreciating the artistic vibe of the location.
Nearby attractions:
Yunmeng Wonderland Natural Scenic Area, Yougushentan Natural Scenic Area, Baquan Mountain.
Route 12:
Exhibitions and birdwatching: autumn delights
Rural exploration location:
Huoshaoying Village, Yanqing District
Exploration Route:
Huoshaoying Village → Rural Aesthetic Education Museum → Wild Duck Lake
Highlights:
Experience the beauty of “Moonlight over the Lotus Pond” in Huoshaoying Village, and enjoy birdwatching and the joys of outdoor life at Wild Duck Lake.
Travel tips:
Huoshaoying Village is situated on the south bank of the Guishui River, surrounded by mountains on three sides and close to the Guanting Reservoir. Stroll along the river to admire the shimmering waters and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Explore the tranquil bridges and lotus ponds that capture the charm of northern China.
The Rural Aesthetic Education Museum, located in He Fu No. 2 Courtyard, is a comprehensive artistic space that integrates rural cultural exhibitions and art creation experiences. Here, you can witness the development of collaborative art projects involving local villagers and artists, experiencing the artistic vitality of the countryside.
From Huoshaoying Village, a 30-minute bike ride will take you to Wild Duck Lake, which is best for birdwatching from late September to early November. The hours between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM offer beautiful lighting for photography, where every shot captures the stunning golden reeds.
Nearby attractions:
Beijing Expo Park, World Grape Expo Park, Yanqing Banquan Sports Park
