Encountering Ziyou Zizai Amidst the Landscape of Yanqing

📍 Beijing · 👁 1 reads · ❤️ 62 likes

In beautiful July, I encountered the Ziyou Zizai Homestay hidden among the landscapes of Yanqing, Beijing. There, I heard the cicadas sing and felt my own heart beat; now, every sunny day after returning home makes me long for the forest and streams in the mountains.

The scorching midsummer is the perfect time to venture into the Beijing outskirts and get close to nature. Just a one-and-a-half-hour drive away, I checked into the Zaiyou Dieyuan Homestay near Longqing Gorge in Yanqing (smooth check-in is possible with a green Beijing Health Kit code). This place has five independent courtyards spread out in a staggered layout — we stayed in the Zhihui Renjia Courtyard straight ahead.

The super spacious courtyard features several lounge areas, fulfilling all our wishes: letting Bobby run wild and giving the whole family a place to sit together, cool off, and chat.

A mini open-air pool paired with a small pavilion gives the courtyard a full-on resort vibe. Sitting there at night to cool down and gazing up at the starry mountain sky is exceptionally relaxing.

The courtyard offers a five-bedroom standalone layout with different room types. We, as a couple, chose the room with a bubble bathtub and a honeymoon-style large round bed.

The room is thoughtfully arranged with subtle romantic touches — towels folded into a “lovebirds flying side by side” heart shape, making it feel just like a wedding bed.

My parents stayed next door in a new Chinese-style king room, simple and elegant. I really loved the family atmosphere where we could rest undisturbed yet still easily look after each other when we gathered.

Subtle details in the rooms are also perfectly placed.

Bobby’s company during Ama’s reading time was the very picture of peaceful serenity.

Different room layouts in the courtyard cater to different family needs and offer varied views. A sunken lounge bathed in sunlight, a staircase at the corner, a spacious kitchen sitting area — together they form a complete yet cozy temporary home.

Behind the bedroom, there’s another tranquil little courtyard filled with plants, neighboring mountains and streams, with a view of hills draped in green — a truly carefree feeling.

Walking past the next Japanese-style courtyard, the dappled light and shadows were breathtakingly beautiful.

The homestay leans against a large mountain and is car-themed. Once inside, you’ll discover plenty of fun automotive decorative elements. All of this comes from the owner’s 20-year bond with cars, a love for road trips, and a free lifestyle, which inspired this car-filled homestay. These details have become the unique signature of Ziyou Zizai and also make it fantastic for family trips. In the courtyard, the most stunning feature is a 6.2-meter giant copper-wire tire that even set a Guinness record!

Just an 800-meter walk north from the homestay — about 10 minutes — you’ll reach Longqing Gorge, known as the “Nine Bends of the Ancient City” and hailed as “Beijing’s Little Lijiang River,” one of Beijing’s sixteen famous scenic spots.

No matter how scorching Beijing gets, Longqing Gorge remains pleasantly cool. In winter, there’s the famous Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival as well as skiing activities.

Everywhere you go, the scenery is beautiful and the environment serene, with nature’s masterful craftsmanship on full display.

A five-minute walk from the homestay leads to an open forest wetland park.

Some feelings only summer can give you: woods, streams, just-right temperatures, and the cozy tranquility of a countryside retreat. Come to Yanqing’s wetland park and start a dreamy forest journey.

One mountain, one pool of water, one stretch of sky — that’s all it takes to create your own little world in your heart.

Strolling through the green hills and clear waters beside streams and forests brought a breath of cool relief to us escaping the heat.

Rinsing our fruits and veggies in the gurgling stream, the water was icy cold and crystal clear. Whether forest walking, splashing, or picnicking here, every shot easily turns into a forest-style masterpiece.

Soaking our feet in the chilly creek instantly dissolved all our summer restlessness.

I also took some forest-style photos of Ama — the way you embrace life is simply gentle and radiant.

Falling in love with the nearby forest and stream, we decided not to rush to other sights. Instead, we slowed down and spent two days here playing and taking pictures, fully savoring this exclusive tranquility.

The forest and stream are summer’s coolest flow. Here, have a deep encounter with nature — the water runs slow, the green hills stay forever.

Little Bobby has always been my most loyal companion. The warmth and trust between us fill life with vivid energy.

Another way to open up a journey: bring along your beloved Kemi Life designer figurines. This time, we took “Cat General” and “Goodnight Rabbit” from the “White Night Fairy Tale” series. Shooting them in different settings — beside the stream, inside the forest — the dreamy atmosphere already fills the air, gifting the soul a refreshing magic forest and helping retrieve your true inner self.

Whether you’re a fanciful little girl or a mom who never wants to grow up, you’ll fall in love with this original innocence and beauty.

Finally, I snapped a handsome forest-style portrait of my personal photographer, Mr. D. Every trip we take together becomes a precious memory for the two of us. For the rest of our lives, we’ll share many more meals and walk many longer paths together.

Because the forest is naturally dominated by eye-soothing green, clothing choices like a forest-style white dress or a mid-length white skirt work perfectly. A long dress paired with a wide-brimmed French straw hat instantly creates a French country look and also effectively repels mosquitoes. A mid-length linen skirt is very convenient for playing in the water; combined with outdoor beach sandals, it’s safe both in the water and on hikes. Together with a straw hat, the whole vibe feels wonderfully comfortable.

For dinner, we dined at the car-themed restaurant inside the homestay — the “Watt Steamer” restaurant, which specializes in private creative fusion dishes. The second floor has an even larger rooftop terrace, an open space where you can barbecue, gather, play games, and cool off — pure bliss.

The biggest highlight of Ziyou Zizai’s cuisine is this “Watt Health Steam Feast”! Two enormous steamers can prepare a hundred-person health-oriented steamed banquet simultaneously.

The ethereal “Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” dish presents delicate twin-steamed delights mainly made from shredded papaya and potato; the handcrafted Longqing Gorge spring water tofu is fresh, tender, and plump.

The serving ware is also full of novelty: a cool truck holds crispy, fragrant meat pies, while tire-shaped plates cradle eggplant — creative presentations that really whet the appetite.

Every door you push, every corner you turn, every glance you lift — poetry and nature always find you.

At night, sitting by the pool and gazing toward the distant mountains, the warm lights in the courtyard cottages are enough to soothe the soul. This is the quiet, leisurely Ziyou Zizai Car-Themed Homestay, far from the city’s clamor.

Nearby Attractions:

Forest Wetland: a 5-minute walk. An open, wild forest wetland with towering trees and encircling streams — especially perfect for shooting forest-style blockbuster photos.

Longqing Gorge: a 10-minute walk. Boat rides through the mountains, cave hideaways to escape the heat, cable cars, and bungee jumping.

Amusement Park: a 5-minute walk. A double-decker luxury carousel, drop tower, and over 30 other rides (temporarily closed).

Yudu Mountain: 11 km.

Expo Park: 13 km.

Guyaju (Ancient Cliff Dwellings): 21 km.

Yeyahu (Wild Duck Lake): 26 km.

Ziyou Zizai Car-Themed Homestay

Address: South of Longqing Gorge Scenic Area, Gucheng Village, Jiuxian Town, Yanqing District, Beijing

Navigation: Furun Ziyou Zizai Car-Themed Culture Boutique Hotel & Homestay

Travelogue Contents

1. Zaiyou Dieyuan Homestay

2. Longqing Gorge Scenic Area