Summer Escape Near Beijing: Longqing Gorge Boat Ride, Forest Wetland Splashing, Amusement Park & Red Base – A Treasure Trove for Family Fun!

By late June, midsummer’s sultry heat had officially seized Beijing. Unable to escape to the seaside due to the pandemic, I thought of this cool Yanqing, known as the "Summer Capital". That’s how I stumbled upon this "Ziyou Zizai Auto Theme Homestay"! Just 800 meters away lies Longqing Gorge, a 3-minute walk takes you to a forest wetland, and next door are an amusement park, the Pingbei Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, and farm pick-your-own orchards. On the way back we also visited Yudushan and Guyaju. This two-day, one-night summer escape itinerary couldn’t be more perfect~

Thanks to the Beijing-Chongli Expressway cutting right through the city, the drive was smooth all the way. Our group of 14 adults and 3 kids opted for a private five-bedroom courtyard plus two individual rooms. The biggest perk is that several attractions are within a one-kilometer radius, all within walking distance. The second highlight is the homestay’s super lavish Watt Wellness Steamer Feast and the chef’s signature dishes—highly recommended!

01 Little Forest Wetland: Green Shade, Stream Strolls, Photo Moments

A 5-minute walk from the homestay leads you to an open forest wetland. Streams and pools are everywhere; pick up any stone from the water and you’ll spot tiny snails clinging to it. Look around, and trees of all heights seem to have stood here for ages—some so thick a single person can’t wrap their arms around them! Countless wild apricot and grape vines line the paths, their green fruit quietly swelling...

Sunlight filters through the branches, dappling on passersby, murmuring streams, and roadside wildflowers. Whether you’re walking, picking flowers, splashing in the water, or having a picnic, every frame is a forest-chic masterpiece!

02 Longqing Gorge: Mountains and Waters Like Jade, A Summer Haven for Sightseeing

Just 800 meters north—a 10-minute walk—is Longqing Gorge Scenic Area, where "mountains lie in the water, caves hide in the mountains"!

Shortly after entering, you’ll see a huge dragon spiraling up the rock face. From the dragon’s mouth, an elevator takes visitors up. Once inside, a boat ride is a must. The cold emerald lake twists and turns through dramatic gorges, and the ripples echo between boat and cliffs. The phrase "hidden beauty beyond shady willows and bright flowers" couldn’t be more apt.

Beyond boats, there are cable cars, bungee jumping, and slideways, all threading through lush hills and turquoise waters—perfect for soaking in Yanqing’s landscapes. On the return path, you’ll pass through the Hundred Flowers Cave carved into the mountain. Since it’s hewn from rock, the cave air stays icy-cool, instantly wiping away the summer heat!

03 Pingbei Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall: Remember the Revolution, Honor the Martyrs

A 5-minute walk south of the homestay brings you not to landscapes but to a solemn red education base—the Pingbei Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall. Inside the grounds, a white marble stele embedded with a granite rifle-bayonet shape symbolizes defending the Pingbei region.

The towering, dignified monument stands at the highest point, inspiring awe. Indoor exhibition halls display nearly 200 artifacts, including weapons and daily necessities from those days, recreating scenes of the struggle. Ziyou Zizai Homestay even provides free Eighth Route Army uniforms, allowing you to embark on a solemn revolutionary-themed journey.

The road outside the homestay also makes for beautiful photos—lush locust trees on both sides, few pedestrians and cars, ideal for snapping pictures. Along the road, farm orchards and home-raised livestock greet you; villagers grow apricots, plums, apples, and common vegetables you can pick or buy.

04 Guichuan Carnival: Over 30 Rides, Satisfying Your Inner Child

From the homestay’s terrace, Longqing Gorge is on the left, and Guichuan Carnival is right at your fingertips! A grand double-decker carousel, a free-fall ride, a pirate ship... over 30 attractions that adults love too!

On the way back, we drove to Yudushan and Guyaju. Yudushan sits at the foot of Haituo Mountain and is the upper reaches of Longqing Gorge. Tucked deep in the mountains, it’s a little-known slice of paradise near Beijing, a pristine green memory preserved by nature, perfect for fishing and tent camping.

Guyaju, on the other hand, is a cluster of ancient cave dwellings carved into sheer cliffs by early inhabitants—one of China’s largest ancient cave settlement sites. The sight is so staggering that you can’t help but marvel at the wisdom and diligence of those ancestors who built the Great Wall, cliff dwellings, and cave homes!

Another Yanqing gem worth a stop is the Expo 2019 Beijing. Even after its grand opening in 2019, it remains a popular photo spot! Right now, the Horticulture Town is ablaze with a 360° boundless sea of flowers. Yongning Tower and the Botanical Pavilion still welcome visitors. On the second floor of the Botanical Pavilion, CITIC Bookstore offers more than 2,000 natural history titles and creative souvenirs worth browsing—plus you can see Yongning Tower right from the terrace. Hop on a sightseeing bus and you can also rest by the Guishui River.

Due to time, we couldn’t explore the Expo site exhaustively—it’s simply huge. With more time, you could check out Yongning Ancient Town or Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park, both about half an hour away.

Now, after all these nearby attractions, let’s return to the hub of them all—our lodging, the Ziyou Zizai Auto Theme Homestay!

Encircled by the Guishui River, it truly deserves the title of a cool "mountain-and-water home."

The staff told us the owner has been an auto enthusiast for 20 years. With a passion for road trips and freedom, he created this car-themed homestay, and those elements have become Ziyou Zizai’s unique signature.

As our car rolled into the courtyard, the container-style main building caught our eye first, while a steam locomotive-shaped guardhouse instantly transported us through time. Along the way, tire flower beds and auto-part sculptures were everywhere, but the most jaw-dropping was the 6.2-meter giant copper wire tire that holds a Guinness World Record!

Because the property is vast, the homestay is divided into independent courtyards and a hotel-style main building. There are five courtyards, and a three-story main building with an elevator. The third floor boasts a function room that works as a karaoke lounge, a meeting space, or a cozy bar—seamlessly switching from conference to party mode!

Every guest checks in at the first-floor front desk in the main building. A vintage red car front is a real head-turner, with working headlights and a horn—super cool. The corridors evoke flowing highways, and room numbers are designed as license plates—truly distinctive!

For courtyards, we chose the largest five-bedroom one—"Wisdom Home." We’d heard it’s the biggest on site, sprawling across 426 square meters. Its standout feature is an open-air pool, over 3 meters long and wide but less than 1 meter deep, so kids can splash around without any drowning risk.

Beside the pool is a Japanese-style gazebo. Drape some gauze around the top tier, and you’ve got a romantic photo backdrop. With a refreshing mountain breeze, sitting on cushions for two or three, sipping tea or wine, you’ll feel like an immortal.

The courtyard houses four king-bed rooms and one loft tatami room with a loft-style shared lounge. The most unique is a themed round bed room: a 2-meter-diameter circular bed partially screened by plum blossoms, with a large round bathtub beside it. The floor’s embossed lotus-leaf design creates a charming "stepping on lotus" vibe…

The other three king rooms range from flowing drapes to classic elegance, each with a 1.8-meter bed that comfortably fits two adults and one child. The loft tatami room has two beds that can be separated or combined as needed.

Beneath the loft is a spacious shared lounge with a sunken seating area big enough for ten people to sit around and play games. On the opposite side, a long table features a mahjong machine and a tea maker—plenty of ways to relax and unwind.

The remaining four of us took a deluxe suite and a standard room; the property also has king rooms, parent-child suites, and family suites. The only deluxe suite in the main building is styled with a simple British flair: a plush European-style sofa, a Union Jack print leather armchair, tastefully cut rugs, and a leather trunk coffee table blend into a space full of gentlemanly charm.

The twin standard room features an industrial look, with black chandeliers, vintage car photos, and dark gray walls complementing each other—classic yet fashionable. Soft white duck down bedding on 1.3-meter-wide separate beds ensures a comfortable sleep.

Every room type differs not just in bed size and layout but in thoughtful details. Coffee tables shaped like the Guishui River’s flow, tissue boxes modeled as cars, various model car ornaments, European railway decorative lights… each detail whispers the owner’s passion for Yanqing and automotive industrial style.

Bathrooms are designed with wet-dry separation, completely dividing the sink area, shower, and toilet so they never interfere with each other—very convenient.

On the third floor, the function room is bright and spacious. For meetings, it’s a fully equipped conference hall with over a hundred chairs, tables, and a projection screen. In leisure mode, it transforms into a KTV with dazzling lights and excellent sound. There’s even a small bar counter with bar stools, perfect for chatting over a glass of red wine.

Step outside the meeting room, and open-air relaxation zones on both sides welcome you under blue skies and white clouds, shaded by greenery. A gentle breeze lifts your spirits, and you can even glimpse the "Little Lijiang River beyond the Great Wall," Longqing Gorge.

No gathering is complete without food. The homestay’s auto-themed restaurant has a ground-floor communal dining hall that seats over a hundred, plus four private rooms. Upstairs, the even bigger rooftop terrace is the ultimate spot for barbecues and games.

As the saying goes, "Salt is the first among five flavors, and steaming tops the five grains for health." The star of Ziyou Zizai’s cuisine is undoubtedly the "Watt Wellness Steamer Feast"! Two super-sized steamers can prepare a spectacular healthy steamed banquet for a hundred at once. We happened to visit when a corporate team was holding an event, and we witnessed this lavish spread!

We ordered à la carte, savoring fusion dishes that blend local cooking methods. Hand-pressed Longqing Gorge spring water tofu was tender and rich; the wonderful double-steamed dish featuring papaya shreds and potato slivers, drizzled with savory sauce, offered a fragrant, silky mouthfeel. Gear-shaped meat pies left a lingering flavor, and there were also fire pit lamb chunks, first-rate crispy spiced shrimp balls, stewed pheasant with wild mushrooms…

Not only was the food a feast for the senses, but the serving ware was eye-catching too—an exquisite Eight Immortals platter billowing with mist, a cool truck-shaped plate, a delicate long license plate tray… each dish drew exclamations from our group.

The next morning’s buffet breakfast, from whole grains to fresh fruit, milk, rice porridge, steamed buns, and side dishes, was a satisfying start to the day.

There are also four private dining rooms ranging from elegant Western to refined Chinese style. Whether for a quiet vegetarian meal or a feast with family and friends, each room feels cozy and intimate.

On the restaurant’s rooftop terrace, the barbecue party heats up in the afternoon and peaks at sunset. Small grills and large ovens handle all kinds of skewers, lamb chops, and seafood. On a starry summer night, with a drink in one hand and a skewer in the other, under the stars, laughter and chatter wash away all the city’s stress.

The rooftop terrace is huge, equipped with foosball, table tennis, pool tables, and more. Gather a few friends, and you’ll easily while away an afternoon. For larger groups, there are watermelon-eating contests that half-entertain and half-satisfy, cool and splashy water gun fights, speed-charged tire rolling, and iron ring rolling relay races… honestly, whatever you can dream up, this space can handle!

Our two-day, one-night little gathering ended on a perfect note. Even though we couldn’t leave Beijing, the suburban landscapes were just what we needed! The kids, who hadn’t been to school in ages, were thrilled to meet friends their age and reconnect with nature. I’m already planning to bring the whole family back, rent a courtyard, and stay a couple of days—just lovely!