What It's Like to Ride a 500,000-Yuan Horse in a Town with 8,000 Horses Near Beijing

Draw a circle around Beijing, and a classic grassland turns into a playground.

In August, Beijing is sticky and humid. I wanted to take Xiaoxiao somewhere cooler, so I drew a 300-kilometer radius around the city and zeroed in on the China Horse Town Tourist Resort (China Horse Town for short) in Datan, Chengde, Hebei. With a daughter surnamed Ma and born in the Year of the Horse, bringing little Miss Ma to China Horse Town felt just right. A two-night, three-day weekend getaway – full of anticipation and longing.

3 Days, 2 Nights Itinerary

Day 1: After lunch, we set off from the East Fifth Ring Road. Three hours later, we arrived, enjoying the beauty of Fengning Bashang Grassland along the way. That evening, we checked into the White Horse Hotel and had a dinner of Manchu Eight Bowls. Since we got in late, we went straight to bed after check-in to recharge for the next day’s fun.

Day 2: Breakfast at the White Horse Hotel at 7 a.m., then started exploring at 9:30.

Dancing Horse Paradise World: watched the welcome ceremony with horses, Africa Impression show, and the Zhao Yun Life Zone NPC interaction area...

Lunch: pizza at the Mengma Parent-Child Restaurant.

Petting Zoo: saw the live action show ‘God of War Zhao Zilong’, chased piglets, rode famous horses... and played on the rides in the children’s playground over and over.

Evening: feasted at the ‘Number One Roast Lamb Under Heaven’, watched the electro music party and fireworks show.

Completely drained, we got back to the White Horse Hotel, showered, and fell asleep in seconds.

Day 3: Breakfast at the White Horse Hotel at 8 a.m., departed at 9, home by 1 p.m.

It’s a three-hour drive from the East Fifth Ring Road, about 260 kilometers, with a toll of 55 yuan. Self-driving is recommended. China Horse Town Tourist Resort is at No. 1 Mashen Road, Datan Village, Datan Town, Fengning County, Hebei Province, 89 kilometers from Fengning county seat.

Hotel 1: White Horse Hotel

1. We booked a family room with one big bed and one small bed. As soon as we entered, Xiaoxiao made a beeline for her little bed. The entire room was full of horse-themed details – pony cups, pony children’s toothbrushes, pony moisturizer – each one a kid’s favorite.

2. The big bathroom mirror was a pleasant surprise, with a huge beauty light that made doing makeup a breeze for moms.

3. Looking out the window, you see an endless grassland, and your mood instantly brightens. The hotel’s complimentary drink sachet wasn’t coffee but a local specialty – chicory powder – with a unique taste. You can buy some to take home at the amusement park exit.

4. On the hotel’s ground floor, there’s a children’s playground with a ball pit and slide – a hit for kids under ten.

Hotel 2: Shengshi Grassland Hotel Apartments

This is actually China Horse Town’s wellness resort hotel. Staying here feels like coming home. Many Beijingers have bought property here and drive up for weekend getaways – a true ‘seasonal migrant’ home. It has the quality and service of a hotel, but without the formality; it truly feels like home.

At China Horse Town, you have to temporarily forget about dieting – there are so many delicacies to try.

1. The White Horse Hotel breakfast is rich and nutritious, with Chinese options like local naked oat noodles and lamb offal soup, and Western options like salad, coffee, and pastries.

2. Lunch can be at the Mengma Parent-Child Restaurant, where a 138-yuan family set meal – pizza, burgers, juice, pasta, salad – is plenty to refuel a family of three. The restaurant also has a spacious play area, so the little ones can burn off energy after eating.

3. Don’t miss the Red Maze across from the Mengma Restaurant – it’s perfect for photo ops.

4. For dinner, there are plenty of choices. Walking out the exit, you’ll find Chinese and Western food. We opted for the ‘Number One Roast Lamb Under Heaven’. After a satisfying hot meal, we headed back to the hotel to rest up.

5. You can’t visit the grassland without lamb. Toasting with meat and drink on the grassland is the best way to end a weekend trip. The whole roast lamb here is tender and practically melts in your mouth. Every detail, from the ingredients to the roasting technique, is carefully attended to. If you’re at China Horse Town, don’t miss this feast – I recommend the ‘Number One Roast Lamb Under Heaven’ restaurant on the food street.

1. God of War Zhao Zilong

The most anticipated part of China Horse Town was the two live performances of ‘God of War Zhao Zilong’ at 16:30–17:30 and 18:00–18:30. Each lasts half an hour, so plan your time ahead.

Seating tip: seats further back have a roof to shield you from the sun for the whole half hour, though the view isn’t as close. Seats near the stage let you see clearly, and when water sprays, the mist cools you right down – but there’s no roof, so you’ll be under the blazing sun for 30 minutes.

The show condenses Zhao Zilong’s life highlights into half an hour – rescuing Ah Dou, the battle at Changban Slope, with fire, water, and even flying effects. Xiaoxiao was completely absorbed, though the loud cannon fire scared some younger kids. I saw many families with strollers leave mid-show, but lots of children over three watched without blinking.

The best takeaway for Xiaoxiao was that once home, she kept pestering me to find Romance of the Three Kingdoms picture books for her. She’d seen snippets before, but after watching ‘God of War Zhao Zilong’, she was way more interested in that story. That’s something you’d never get from an ordinary amusement park.

2. Knife-Climbing at Wa State Village

At 4 p.m., the Wa State Village was packed with people watching Wa men climb a ladder of knives. After a fiery hair-swinging dance by long-haired women, the highlight arrived: a half-meter-long, sharpened blade could slice a cloth strip instantly. A Wa young man, using both hands and feet, climbed to the top of the knife ladder, which towered over the roof. He balanced his belly on the blade, raising his whole body into the air, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Every job deserves respect. The young man kept showing his hard-worn soles – admirable, yet a little heartbreaking. Xiaoxiao clapped and said, “Uncle is so amazing!” After the show, he carefully sheathed the knives to prevent any accidental injuries.

3. Close-Up Magic

At 3:20 p.m., in the magic theater opposite the Petting Zoo Restaurant, the close-up magic show began. I expected simple tricks like vanishing bunnies or card tricks, but then came levitation and even a full-body vanishing act. When the half-hour show ended, the kids were still spellbound. It was much cooler here than outside, and half an hour was just enough to recharge before the next exciting show.

4. Other Performances

China Horse Town actually has a ton of shows – from the horse welcome ceremony at the Success Gate to the Africa Impression at the Horse Mansion. Every performer gives their all. If you want more after a show, you can take photos with the cast, transporting yourself either to the African savannah or ancient China.

5. Horse Culture Museum

A must-visit as soon as you enter China Horse Town. It covers horse history, breeds, and equipment. Xiaoxiao, who is surnamed Ma and was born in the Year of the Horse, was completely entranced here.

Across from the Horse Culture Museum is the Horse Science Museum. There aren’t many opportunities to spend extra money here, but the VR horseback monster-fighting experience was something Xiaoxiao actively asked for. She climbed onto the saddle, put on the VR glasses, and after the staff’s patient instructions, was fully absorbed in battling monsters. She loved it and kept begging to go again.

1. A special perk: all the rides inside the park are free! That means kids can loop endlessly on the space roller coaster, carousel, or self-controlled airplanes – absolute heaven for little ones. Some rides require a height of 1.1 meters, others 1.5 meters, so check the rules before queuing.

2. After the rides, catch the ‘Galloping Through the Sky’ parade at 18:45 at Hero Square – don’t miss it.

3. China Horse Town naturally means horses. Did you know there are over 8,000 horses in Datan Town? The most valuable one here is an Akhal-Teke worth seven figures.

At the Royal Stables, we put on professional riding vests and helmets and took a spin on these incredibly expensive horses. The little beauty with natural tassels is a Gypsy Vanner from the UK, 8 years old, female, worth 500,000 yuan. The freshly bathed white pony is a Spanish horse, an Andalusian, 13 years old, a gelded male, worth 300,000 yuan. The chestnut one is a Northeastern draft horse, 25 years old, female, worth 150,000 yuan. Each horse lives about 25–30 years.

Riding them, I found these famous horses gentle and very clean – no smell at all.

If big horses are intimidating, there’s a mini-horse playground next door; those tiny horses are much more approachable.

4. Llamas, camels, piglets, ducks – ordinary animals, but at China Horse Town, they come with novel interactive fun.

5. Piglet racing is a fantastic animal interaction game. It’s harmless to the animals and gets kids fully involved. As children guide piglets back into their pen, they get a taste of competition and engagement. Even if they don’t win, the funny memory of racing piglets will stay with them forever.

A Perfect Night: Electro Music Party

At 20:30, the electro music party kicks off on time. If you want to join, don’t leave for dinner – once you exit, you can’t re-enter. Watch the party, then leave through the exit afterward; plenty of food awaits you. If you’re specifically there for the electro party, you can buy a night ticket. The party runs Tuesday to Sunday, 20:30–21:10. With a night ticket, you can enter at 17:00 and enjoy the rides or exhibits before the party starts.

A friendly tip: the sound system is super powerful – kids are better off just watching.

At China Horse Town, you’ll get plenty of great photos. You can snap beautiful shots at the Red Maze across from the Mengma Restaurant, pose with performers after shows, and, coolest of all, dress up in Hanfu and walk through the streets as if you’ve time-traveled. Your outfit might even attract other tourists’ cameras – they even thought I was a staff member!

For families, I recommend the 2-day, 1-night hotel and ticket package. A family room (with breakfast) plus two adult and one child ticket costs 1,248 yuan on weekends (children under 1.2 meters get in free, and the hotel package allows two-day re-entry).

Sunscreen: The sun is fierce during the day, so apply sunscreen and wear a hat, or you’ll go home a shade darker.

Umbrella: Bring one. Fengning’s weather is unpredictable; if it rains, you won’t panic, and in sunny weather, it’s extra sun protection.

China Horse Town is close to Fengning, and the temperature difference between day and night is huge. Daytime temperatures exceed 30°C, so short sleeves are fine, but as soon as the sun sets, it gets chilly. Always pack a jacket in your bag when heading out in the morning so you can comfortably enjoy the evening electro party.

All good days end, and the drive back to Beijing is long and winding. Driver parents, please stay safe on the road.