Wild Fun Road Trip in Beijing's Suburbs: Catch the Tail End of Summer (With Scenic Spots and Driving Tips Near Beijing)

📍 Beijing · 👁 9 reads · ❤️ 80 likes

2020 is destined to be unforgettable for everyone. From the start of the year, our lives were forced to change, and we were no exception. We had both quit our jobs to see more of the world in our prime, but before we were even halfway through our global travel plans, the world slowed its connections.

But when one door closes, another opens. We are still lucky, because on this vast land of 9.6 million square kilometers, there are countless surprises waiting for us to discover. In spring, we drove 12,000 kilometers over 80 days, looping through a dozen provinces and dozens of cities. The majestic expanses of the north, the rugged boldness of the west, the graceful beauty of the south, the dynamic energy of the east – we fell deeply in love with road tripping in China.

While most people may not have the time or energy for months-long journeys, with a willing heart, there’s infinite fun to be found even on city outskirts. For the past couple of years, in late summer and early autumn, we’ve driven around Beijing’s suburbs, seeking wild pleasures beyond the capital’s skyscrapers.

Encountering romance in the woods

Enjoying the brilliance of the fields

Winding through serpentine mountain roads

Galloping across vast grasslands

Venturing into ancient, mysterious trails

As a Haval Big Dog experience officer, I explore more suburban fun around Beijing with this trendy travel companion.

So many diverse landscapes, all within Beijing – and this is just a fraction of its suburban scenery. Looking at the attraction map below, you can’t help but marvel at the sheer size of the imperial capital!

Beijing’s suburban districts and counties each have their own character. For example, Miyun’s red leaves are stunning in late autumn, but now, in late summer, the mountains are lush green and we want to escape the city heat, so we chose the northwest route.

D1: Beijing city center – Miaofeng Mountain – Cuandixia Village

D2: Cuandixia Village Yixiantian – Hongjing Road – Beijing city center

D3: Beijing city center – Kangxi Grassland – Yanqing urban area

D4: Yanqing urban area – Baili Landscape Gallery (Luanchi Road)

D5: Baili Landscape Gallery – Beijing city center

Nearly 700 kilometers in five days, encountering torrential rain in the first half and rugged terrain later on, but the Haval Big Dog lived up to its name as our trendy new travel buddy, overcoming all kinds of weather and terrain challenges.

1. Suburban attractions around Beijing are scattered and far from the city center. If you have enough time, you can link them into a loop. If time is limited, like using a weekend or a short holiday of two to three days, you can explore by zone. For instance, our trip this time could be split into the western line (Mentougou and Fangshan) and the northern line (Yanqing) for separate excursions.

2. There’s no driving restriction on weekends in Beijing, and many people head to the suburbs, so traffic jams are possible. Try to avoid peak weekend hours.

3. Major roads like highways and national routes are in good condition, but mountainous areas and some attractions have complex terrain. For example, the road at Yixiantian is bumpy and potholed, and Hongjing Road has many sharp bends. Fortunately, the 1.5T engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, along with a new high-strength body structure and well-supported suspension system, made driving the Haval Big Dog on Beijing’s rugged mountain roads relaxed and easy, handling continuous curves with composure.

Address: Northern part of Miaofengshan Town, Mentougou District, Western Beijing

Ticket: 40 yuan/person

Opening hours: 8:30–16:30

Driving tips: Vehicles cannot enter the scenic area; park in the lot at the entrance.

Miaofeng Mountain is in Mentougou District, only about 50–60 kilometers from central Beijing, making it one of the closer suburban attractions. It belongs to the Taihang Mountains, and its main highlights are rime ice and ancient temples. In winter, the mountains are wrapped in silver, a spectacular sight; now, without the rime spectacle, the temple complex dating back to the Liao and Jin dynasties still draws many worshippers.

To be honest, the temples aren’t that attractive to us; the scenery along the way is much more worth pausing for. The main peak of Miaofeng Mountain is 1,291 meters above sea level, so the road spirals upward with the terrain. Driving the Haval Big Dog, we sped along highways at times and passed through tree-shaded paths at others, the views shifting constantly.

Along the way, there are many hidden "attractions" – sometimes just an inconspicuous small dirt road, but once you go deeper, it opens up into secluded forests and streams, cut off from the outside world. Whether strolling along the water or having an outdoor picnic, it’s wonderfully atmospheric.

When we came down from the summit, it suddenly poured rain halfway. But with the Haval Big Dog sheltering us, though large raindrops pelted its body, we felt safe inside. At that moment, I reconsidered the naming of this Haval. Through a global vote by netizens, the down-to-earth and well-liked name "Haval Big Dog" was chosen – truly as loyal and reliable as man’s best friend.

By the time we reached our night’s stop, the sky was already darkening. Though we’d been driving with growling stomachs, looking up at the starry sky we’d long missed in the city seemed to wipe away all fatigue.

Cuandixia Village is in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, western suburbs, at an altitude of 650 meters. In 2009, it was named "Beijing’s Most Beautiful Village," and a couple of years ago it made the first batch of Beijing’s traditional village lists.

This ancient village was built during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty, with over 500 years of history. It’s the best-preserved cluster of ancient dwellings, with more than 70 Ming and Qing courtyard houses and over 600 rooms. The whole village is built along the mountain, rising and falling with the terrain. Upper and lower sections are separated by a curved wall 200 meters long and up to 20 meters high, while the front is enclosed by a 170-meter-long bow-shaped wall, giving the village a cohesive spirit despite its spread.

Only about a hundred kilometers from Beijing, it draws many weekend vacationers. Locals have turned many ancient courtyards into charming guesthouses – cozy siheyuan, traditional kang beds, and little knick-knacks full of bygone charm… time seems to slow down here.

To enter the village, you need to buy a ticket for the Cuanbai Scenic Area at the entrance, 35 yuan/person, covering Cuandixia, Yixiantian, and Baiyu. You can drive to each spot, and there are free parking lots at each.

Just three kilometers’ drive from the serene Cuandixia Village lies a wild place both strange and familiar – Jingxi Yixiantian. The Huarong Path in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the narrow encounter in "The Warlords" were filmed here.

Originally called Xiaobeigou Valley, locals also call it Chuandi’ankou. It connects with the village like the neck of a treasure gourd, protecting this secluded hamlet.

The Yixiantian stretch is only a few hundred meters long, varying in width, with places to pass oncoming vehicles. You can drive right through or park at the lot at the end and walk back.

During weekend days, traffic is heavy. To avoid the crowds, go early morning or at night. But note there’s no cell signal or lighting in the valley, so be careful.

Hongjing Road, also called Shixia Road, is known as "Beijing’s 99 Bends," a road winding through the towering mountains of Fangshan District. With continuous bends and undulating terrain, it’s become an Instagram-worthy spot for driving and cycling enthusiasts from Beijing and beyond.

The Haval Big Dog’s mature 1.5T + 7-speed dual-clutch powertrain and well-supported suspension made climbing and overtaking effortless, and body roll was barely noticeable on consecutive curves. The whole chassis inspires confidence and security.

Though this is a highway, at the best viewing spots on the top, there are multiple roadside parking spaces, so you can stop for photos, but still be mindful of safety.

On holidays, traffic here is heavy. It’s recommended to come on weekdays or late afternoon, when there are fewer cars and people, and you might even catch a stunning sunset.

Address: Beside County Road 017, west of Kangzhuang Town, Yanqing District

Ticket: Currently not officially open; ask the staff at the entrance for admission.

Driving tips: Vehicles can drive directly into the area, but there are cattle and horses on the grassland, so drive carefully and give them space.

Kangxi Grassland borders Guanting Reservoir to the west and Haituo Mountain to the north, with over 30,000 mu of grassland – the largest in Beijing. It’s usually a popular weekend destination, with horseback riding and sightseeing by day and bonfires at night.

But perhaps due to the pandemic, it’s currently operating unofficially. We went on a whim to try our luck, and fortunately got in. Precisely because of the sparse crowds, we could drive freely on the grass. Though the Haval Big Dog is mainly an urban SUV, with multiple driving modes at the touch of a button and high ground clearance, we had a taste of off-road fun.

Though late summer, the grass wasn’t lush, but that didn’t stop herds of cattle from munching away contentedly. Perhaps used to visitors, they weren’t scared when we got close, maybe treating our "Haval Big Dog" as a friend too.

Besides racing your car across the grassland, horseback riding is the must-not-miss experience here. After all, even the best horse in a riding club can only go round and round in a small enclosure, but here they can truly enjoy the joy of running free.

Horseback riding tips:

There are several ways to get up close with horses here:

Walking ride – riding along designated paths to sightsee, suitable for casual visitors.

Galloping ride, also called fast riding – racing along designated paths, for those with some riding skills.

Ring riding, aka circle riding – riding in a racecourse ring, suitable for beginners, but since you’ve come all the way to the grassland, there’s no need to limit yourself to the ring.

As for prices, generally circle riding is 30 yuan per round, walking rides 100 yuan per hour per person, and galloping rides 200 yuan per hour per person. But since it’s not officially operating, confirm prices directly with the horse owners on site.

Baili Landscape Gallery lies along Luanchi Road, one of the most beautiful driving routes near Beijing. It’s not a single attraction but a landscape belt of one ring, three zones, and twelve nodes. It gets its name because it covers a riverside loop of 112 li (about 56 kilometers). The whole area includes geological sights like a silicified wood forest, Wulong Gorge, Little Kunlun Mountain, Shujian Peak, dinosaur footprint fossils, and marine sedimentary relics; natural sights like Dishuihu, Datan Nature Reserve, thousand-mu sunflower sea, ten-thousand-mu skullcap tea garden, and Yanshan Academy sketching base; and cultural sights like Chaoyang Temple, Xiushui Bay, Changshouling, Gujiayao, the Caimugou Paleolithic site, and Wen Chang Stele.

Driving the Haval Big Dog through mountains and waters, it truly lives up to the name "landscape gallery," and this road is wide and gentle, so even female drivers can handle it easily.

There are too many small attractions along the way to see them all. But many people drive Luanchi Road not for the ticketed sights, but to experience suburban life.

Though it’s already the Start of Autumn by the solar calendar, you can still catch the tail end of summer and immerse yourself in a sea of flowers – a little afternoon happiness.

By a pond, many families had driven out, pitching tents and hanging hammocks. Kids splashed in the water, while adults enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation.

We found a quiet spot to park, and this wild fun road trip through Beijing’s suburbs is coming to an end. After days of chasing beautiful scenery and with the Haval Big Dog as our trendy travel companion, we’ve seized the tail end of summer and savored every moment…

Travelogue Contents

1. Preface

2. Driving Route & Itinerary

3. Miaofeng Mountain

4. Cuandixia Village

5. Yixiantian

6. Hongjing Road

7. Kangxi Grassland

8. Baili Landscape Gallery (Luanchi Road)

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