The best season for self-driving tours is not only exclusive to the cities of Jiangnan and Yangzhou, but can also be found in the suburbs of Beijing. 

1. Juyongguan

Juyongguan is a famous ancient pass city along the Great Wall in northern Beijing and a national-level cultural relic protection unit. The gorge where the pass city is located belongs to the Jundu Mountain area of the Taihang residual range and has extremely dangerous terrain.

This route is 55km long and mainly passes through the main route of the Jingzang Expressway, which is a relatively short self-driving route. The road conditions are good and the driving difficulty is easy, suitable for driving.

2. Longqing Gorge

Longqing Gorge has both the elegance of the south and the magnificence of the north, deserving the title of "Little Li River" in Beijing. The scenery in the valley is beautiful, with the cliffs covered with uniquely shaped limestone, named after their shapes, such as Zhenshan Rulai, Shixiong Jumping Rock, Jiulian Cave, Jiguan Mountain, Jinkang Mountain, Mati Tan, and Jiangjun Rock, all of which are vividly portrayed. Taking a scenic boat ride through the gorge, you can feel the wonders of nature. Due to the lower temperature in Longqing Gorge than in Beijing, the ice on the lake surface and in the mountain streams has not completely melted, forming a unique spectacle when juxtaposed with the beautiful mountain flowers.

Driving route: Take the Jingzang Expressway and turn right (north) at the Yingchengzi Bridge onto Badaling Road. After driving 10.4km, turn left onto Longqing Road, then turn right onto Yanliu Road after 1.4km. Continue driving for 2.3km and turn left onto the old road to reach Longqing Gorge Scenic Area.

3. Yunmeng Hills

Yunmeng Hills, the "Little Huangshan" in the suburbs of Beijing, is located at the junction of Miyun County and Huairou District. With its towering mountains and numerous waterfalls and springs, it is a great place for camping in the wild. In spring, the blooming azaleas are as red as fire and clouds, dyeing the forest of thousands of acres red. On weekends or holidays, invite your family and friends, bring your tents, and go camping in Yunmeng Hills.

Driving route: Drive northeast from Sanyuanqiao, pass through Sunhe, and turn north at the Kuliushu Roundabout to reach Huairou District. Then, continue north on the Jingfeng Expressway for about 10 minutes, pass by Yanqi Lake in Huairou, and after another 25km, there will be signs indicating Yunmeng Hills.

4. Baishi Mountain

Baishishan in Laiyuan, Hebei Province, stands at the northern end of the Taihang Mountains, which rise in the northwest of the North China Plain. It is named after the large amount of white marble in the mountain. The terrain in the mountain is complex and the scenery is unique, with peaks, strange rocks, cliffs, canyons, waterfalls, forests, clouds, Buddha light, the Great Wall, temples and other landscapes. It is one of the "36 blessed places" in ancient China.

Driving route: Beijing-Kunming Expressway-Zhangshi Expressway-Laiyuan (Baishishan) exit.

5. Shidu in Yesanpo

Shidu is located in the upper reaches of the Juma River in Fangshan District, 100 kilometers away from the city center. It is known as the "Guilin of the North". From the Qianhekou exit of the Juma River to Shidu Village, you have to cross the river 10 times on the way, hence the name "Shidu". The scenery of the sixth crossing is the most beautiful, and it is also the best place to set up a barbecue grill.

Driving route: Beijing (Liuliqiao)-Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway (towards Baoding)-Liulihe (exit from the expressway)-Hancun River-Zhangfang-Yesanpo Shidu.

6. Wuling Mountain

Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve is dominated by forest landscapes, with towering peaks as the backbone and clear streams as the veins. Cultural relics and ancient sites are dotted among them, forming a vivid picture of static and dynamic landscapes, natural and human landscapes, and unique styles. The mountains here are overlapping, the water is clear and beautiful, quiet and magnificent, the streams are winding and crystal clear, the smoke is vast, and the peaks and strange rocks are like sculptures and paintings. Standing in it, the canyon is steep, the stone path is winding, and the gully is deep.

Driving route: Jingcheng Expressway can reach Xinglong County. From the Xinglong County site, you can go north to the Wuling Mountain Scenic Area. Self-driving is very convenient.

7. Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall is one of the most representative sections of the Great Wall, located at the junction of Luanping County, Hebei Province and Miyun County, Beijing.

Jinshanling Great Wall is also a masterpiece of ancient architectural art. It is 10.5 kilometers long, from Longyukou in the west to Wangjing Tower in the east. The horse-blocking wall, barrier wall, text brick wall, and qilin shadow wall here are unique in the Great Wall.

8. Yanqing Bai Li Shan Shui Hua Lang

The "Yanqing Bai Li Shan Shui Hua Lang" is located in the eastern mountainous area of Yanqing, with a scenic area of 850 square kilometers and a tourist route of more than 100 kilometers. The mountains and waters here are surrounded by each other, and the scenery changes with every step, with each scenic spot complementing each other. The picturesque Baihe Valley and the magnificent Heihe Gorge have nurtured rich tourism resources such as the magical petrified wood group, the beautiful dripping waterfalls, the mysterious Wulong Gorge, the solemn Chaoyang Temple, the ancient Guandi Temple, and the lush Datan primitive secondary forest.

Driving route: Take the Jingzang Expressway (Badaling Expressway) to Yanqing, towards the direction of Longqing Gorge, take the Xianglong Road tourist special line (or towards Shenjiaying, Yongning direction), and follow the signs for "Yanqing Bai Li Shan Shui Hua Lang" and "Wulong Gorge".

9. Tianjin Panshan

Located 15 kilometers northwest of Ji County, Tianjin, it is known as the "number one mountain in the east of Beijing" because it is located to the east of Beijing. The scenic area covers an area of 106 square kilometers, with the highlights of "Wufeng", "Bashi", and "Sanpan", as well as ancient buildings such as Tiancheng Temple, Wansong Temple, Yunzhao Temple, and Pagoda.

Driving route (south line): Starting from Beijing's Babaoshan, take the Jing Tong Expressway and Jingha Expressway, and go directly to Ji County through Sanhe County.

10. Wutai Mountain

There are four famous Buddhist mountains in China, and the closest one to Beijing is Wutai Mountain in Shanxi, which is the dojo of Manjusri Bodhisattva. The earliest Buddhist temples here were built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and have been expanded and renovated through the dynasties to form a certain scale. Not only is the number of temples spectacular, but the natural scenery is also worth admiring.

The average altitude of the mountains here is over 1000 meters, and the highest point, Beitai Yemen Peak, has an altitude of 3058 meters. It is known as the "roof of North China" and is a tourist area that integrates natural scenery, historical relics, ancient architectural art, and Buddhist culture.