"The sky gathers the colors of summer, and the rustling leaves herald the sound of autumn." After the Start of Autumn, the temperature in Beijing has cooled down a lot, but after this short drop, the high temperature of the "autumn tiger" will strike next. It's said that air conditioning is what keeps people going in summer, but there are always places where you can ditch the air conditioning and enjoy natural coolness.

01 Yougu Shentan Natural Scenic Area

In August, Yougu Shentan is so green that it touches your heart, and so cool that it refreshes your soul. Due to its unique geographical location and the difference in sunlight exposure, the temperature here is 6 degrees lower than outside. Even in the hot July and August, you might need to wear a thin long-sleeved jacket here.

With green mountains overlapping, blue waves rippling, and a vegetation coverage rate of over 96%, the negative ion content here is very high (9,300 per cubic centimeter), making it a veritable summer resort and natural green oxygen bar.

Walking into Yougu Shentan, you can enjoy various natural beauties and cliff carvings. Landscapes such as stone houses, the Five Cows Blessing, suspension bridges, and waterfalls are also distinctive. Strolling along the forest paths, with high mountains on both sides and clear ponds appearing from time to time, the gentle slopes bring physical and mental pleasure.

Ticket: 30 RMB/person

Address: No. 1 Huangtuliang, Duanshuling Cun, Huaibei, Huairou, Beijing

02 Yudu Shan Natural Scenic Area

Yudu Shan (Mountain) is a little-known land in Beijing, preserving nature's most primitive green memory. The scenic area has everything: mountains, rocks, forests, springs, waterfalls, flowers, and grass. Its stunning scenery is embraced in tranquility, seclusion, peace, and wildness.

Here, you can get close to the pure and transparent Wangyou Hu (Lake), the beautiful alpine meadows, and the primitive and mysterious forests. It can be said that all the beauty you can imagine can be found here.

Address: East of Yuhuangmiao Cun, Zhangshanying, Yanqing, Beijing

Ticket price: 60 RMB/person (half price for the elderly/students with valid certificates)

03 Guyuan Grassland

Summer is a great time to visit grasslands. While more and more people are flocking to Fengning Bashang, another grassland remains quietly beautiful. It is Guyuan Bashang Grassland, which, compared with other grasslands, has a more primitive feel like the Inner Mongolian grasslands.

Within the scenic area, there are well-preserved tree burial towers and a large number of imperial garden ruins from the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties. Along Luanchi Lu (Road) to Houcheng Cun, you can see the huge "Chibi" (Red Cliff) on the right. The so-called Chibi is the famous Dishuiya Cliff, known as "the First Peak of Youyan" and "the First Stone Under Heaven".

Another notable attraction is "the Pearl of the Frontier" — Caoyuan Hu (Grassland Lake). With beautiful scenery, the lake in summer has gentle winds like silk, soft water like silk, and blooming flowers. Flocks of wild ducks, seagulls, and ospreys gather and fly, while cattle, horses, and sheep dot the natural wild botanical garden on the frontier. It truly forms a plateau landscape beyond the Great Wall, making people marvel at the magic of nature. 

Address: Guyuan County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei

Translator: KAN Bowen

Reviewer: LIU Qingchen