Grape Picking and Villa Stay: A Perfect Weekend in Beijing's Suburbs

National Day holiday is here! Gather a bunch of friends and take a road trip to Beijing's outskirts~ This time, our destination is the World Grape Expo Park in 延庆 and its surrounding attractions. We found a guesthouse centered around these spots, played cards, chatted—just incredibly satisfying~ You can totally do this kind of trip on regular weekends too! Two-day itinerary: D1: Depart from the city – World Grape Expo Park – Check in at Xiaoyin Qingshe Guesthouse; D2: 野鸭湖 National Wetland Park – 古崖居 – Return to the city

Eat Your Fill in the Vineyard

In the morning, my friends and I dawdled and didn't set off from the city until almost noon, arriving at the World Grape Expo Park in the afternoon. The morning had been overcast, but by the time we reached 八达岭, it miraculously cleared up! Fluffy white clouds drifted over the vineyard. Look at the two giant grape sculptures at the entrance—don’t they look more like eggplants? Haha! There's a huge parking lot right at the park gate, super convenient. Tickets are 20 yuan. You can hop on an electric cart inside, which took us around to pick grapes.

The vineyard area is vast, mostly outdoor plantations but also some indoor greenhouses. We first stopped at a patch of Summer Black grapes. Summer Black is a descendant of the Kyoho grape, with black-purple or black skin, usually seedless. The fruit is nearly round, often called the "Oriental Black Pearl." It's sweeter than Kyoho, so it's really popular. Seeing clusters of Summer Black hanging heavy on the vines, so plump, was a delight.

The grape trellises against the blue sky, white clouds, and distant mountains were incredibly picturesque, like a scene from a French film.

Dandelions beside the trellises had gone to seed—round, fluffy, and adorable. I picked a few and blew them, letting them drift on the breeze.

We also spotted a super large bunch of grapes, enough to snack on all day, haha.

The vineyard is a great photo spot. The rows of trellises with the blue sky and clouds made a beautiful backdrop, and the dress I wore matched perfectly.

We occasionally saw little windmills, giving off a vibe as if we were in 欧洲.

We found some big wooden logs—perfect photo props! Whether standing or sitting, they worked great, and the grapes we'd just picked made handy accessories.

The electric cart took us to the next stop: white-skinned grapes, hanging in crystalline clusters, adorably shiny in the sunlight.

Looking back from the vineyard, you could see 海坨山. In the afternoon, with clouds rising, the gentle autumn sunshine, and a cool breeze, it felt like we'd been whisked away to 瑞士.

Along the way, cute morning glories greeted us~

After touring the outdoor trellises, the staff drove us to the indoor greenhouse on the cart. Thanks to strict temperature control and cultivation, the grapes inside had a longer fruiting period and were staggeringly abundant—dangling densely like jewels.

We ate as we walked, and eventually, we were so stuffed we had to be carted back out. The staff also pointed out a century-old grapevine by the entrance. Its variety is "Longyan" (Dragon Eye), with perfectly round fruit. Over a hundred years old, it still bears lots of fruit each autumn—truly amazing.

Our afternoon at the World Grape Expo Park was a mix of eating, playing, and snapping photos. As a grape lover, I was utterly content. Don't miss it! World Grape Expo Park Address: 800 meters south of Xialufengying Village, Zhangshanying Town.

Stay at a Chic, Simple Guesthouse

With our bellies full of grapes, we headed to tonight's guesthouse. I'm a huge fan of guesthouse stays—they feel so relaxing. We checked into Xiaoyin Qingshe Guesthouse, not far from the vineyard. The moment we entered, there was a big lawn facing the mist-shrouded 海坨山.

We booked Villa No. 1, three floors with five rooms in the main building and a small wooden cabin next door that can also accommodate guests—so fun! Let me show you around~ See, this is our courtyard, complete with a yard and a balcony, plus that little wooden house. Can you spot me waving from the third floor?

The first floor has a super spacious living room where you can play games or watch TV.

The second floor has more rooms, plus two cozy lounges with thoughtful little decorations. Since I stayed on this floor, I felt especially at home.

The rooms are simple yet detailed, with a Nordic Instagram style, very warm. The bedding was soft. I especially loved the fawn antler bedside lamp—so cute!

The third floor is even more interesting—it's basically an attic, perfect for gathering to do crafts or chat. There's also table football and a kids' area, so it's great for families or groups of friends.

The third floor also has a small balcony where you can stargaze and chat in the evening—pure bliss.

A drone shot shows the whole guesthouse: three rows of villas and a large lawn. I even imagined this lawn could host a lawn wedding, followed by a wild party at the guesthouse… haha, as a single person, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself...

Behind the guesthouse is 海坨山. Unfortunately, right when I flew the drone, clouds rolled in and hid 海坨山.

On the lawn, there are swings and a slide for adults and kids, plus you can set up a picnic with props.

We had dinner at the guesthouse’s own Qingshe Bistro. We expected a simple meal, but everything from the ambiance to the food was spot-on—a pleasant surprise.

The restaurant has a clean, minimalist style across three floors. The first floor is the breakfast area and also the front desk; you can play table football while waiting to check in. The second floor has private dining rooms.

Since we were around the Mid-Autumn Festival, you could also buy Xiaoyin Qingshe’s own mooncakes.

Guesthouse address: No. 3, District 7, Xiaohetun Village, Zhangshanying Town, 延庆 District, 北京. Price: Renting an entire villa is around 3,000–6,000 yuan. With six rooms, it’s quite a bargain for a group of friends.

A Feast Not to Be Missed

Let’s check out tonight’s dinner. The menu revealed a style leaning toward Huaiyang cuisine with creative twists. The light flavors really showcased the chef's skill. After tasting, we were blown away—it could easily match a five-star restaurant! Huaiyang-style crabmeat and pork "lion’s head" meatballs. In October, 北京 nights are already chilly, and a bowl of lion’s head soup was the perfect warmer. I kept sipping it down to the last drop, refusing to let the server take it away.

Kung Pao shrimp with youtiao (fried dough stick)—a common dish but incredibly delicious! The shrimp were generous, plump, and tender.

Red wine and bell pepper beef cubes: The thick, juicy bell pepper was my favorite, and the beef cubes were springy and chewy.

Black truffle sauce-baked fresh abalone—why not indulge a little on a getaway!

Tea-leaf frog: The fried tea leaves were amazingly fragrant!

Taibai-style chicken broth with steamed Dongting Lake white fish: No fishy taste at all; this was top-notch Huaiyang cuisine you can find in 北京.

After finishing the main courses, I was too full for dessert… I’m sorry, durian puffs, pan-fried buns, and hedgehog pastries. Of course, we packed the leftovers to snack on during the evening games.

Special mention for the hedgehog pastry—the little hedgehog was just too cute. The chef put a lot of heart into it.

After a blissful night’s sleep at the guesthouse, during breakfast, I noticed the restaurant also had this Instagram-style corner with "Happy Birthday" pennants. Xiaoyin Qingshe truly offers a mix of styles—perfect for gatherings, birthdays, or team building!

Breakfast was abundant, too. After eating, let’s continue today’s trip!

The Romantic Reed Marshes of 野鸭湖

Our first stop today was 野鸭湖. We were originally drawn by the internet-famous 望湖楼, hoping to shoot the reed marshes from above. But at the entrance, we were told 望湖楼 has been closed since the pandemic began—no going up… Disappointing, but since we were already there, we decided to make the best of it and explore~ The full name is 野鸭湖 National Wetland Park, famous for its vast reed beds. Only then did we realize how huge it is, with reeds stretching beneath layers of mountains—a wetland park with a truly poetic atmosphere.

野鸭湖 National Wetland Park is 北京‘s only wetland bird nature reserve. Over the years, it has developed into a wetland ecosystem rich in flora and fauna with high biodiversity and stability, becoming an important bird habitat in 北京 and even North China. There are 264 bird species, including 6 under national first-class protection. Various aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial plants also thrive here. If you enjoy animals and wetland scenery, this place comes highly recommended.

The park is enormous. Currently, there are no electric carts available, so besides walking, you can rent two- or four-seat bicycles. Four-seaters are 100 yuan/hour, two-seaters are 60 yuan/hour—perfect for leisurely cycling while enjoying the scenery.

By the way, the bike rental system is smart: self-service scan-to-unlock and lock, just like bike-sharing. Pricing is per half-hour. We returned ours in the last minutes of a 1.5-hour slot, otherwise it would have cost 50 yuan more!

October is the best season to visit 野鸭湖. As autumn sets in, the reeds turn golden and sway in the wind; distant mountains are reflected in the marsh. Soon, the reeds will bloom, and in backlight they’ll look even more beautiful.

Every so often there’s a viewing platform where the marsh mirrors the distant mountains and clouds, all so tranquil and lovely.

We cycled all the way to a spot where we could see 望湖楼 (yes, we were still hopeful)—that building in the distance. Climbing it would have given a drone-like perspective, but sadly the path leading to it is now barred.

But it’s not just the iconic spots that are photogenic; you can capture vast reed beds anywhere, and in backlight they look stunning no matter what~

Mysterious 古崖居

Leaving 野鸭湖, we drove to 古崖居. I’d never heard of it before. My friend, with a mysterious look, said there would be surprises. Looking it up, 延庆 古崖居 is the largest cliff dwelling site discovered in China. The ancient people who carved these dwellings were forgotten by history, but their unique and ingenious architectural forms have sparked endless speculation—it’s been called "China’s Number One Great Labyrinth."

Upon entering the site, for some reason the bright sunshine turned gloomy, and the entire path was squeezed between mountain crevices, creating a truly mysterious feel. We followed the signs upward. Steep cliffs and dense vegetation lined both sides. Could people really have lived in such sheer rock faces?

Along the way, signs occasionally pointed out strange rock formations that looked a bit eerie.

After about 20 minutes, we looked up, and 古崖居 was right before us! In a bare section of the mountain ahead were numerous mysterious caves. We climbed further for a closer look. The trail here was especially steep, with a stream trickling down. I felt a bit like an archaeologist—quite thrilling.

At the foot of 古崖居, we could clearly see that this entire rock face was dotted with stone chambers—the actual dwellings of the ancients. Most were rectangular and quite spacious inside, but it was so dark we hesitated to venture in. These were homes hewn into the steep granite cliffs by ancient people. From below, the view wasn’t very clear, but a path led to a viewing platform where you could see a much clearer panorama.

According to statistics, 古崖居 has 174 preserved stone chambers, divided into three zones. The rear hill area has 7 levels with 26 chambers. The lower levels were stables, the upper ones living quarters. Many chambers were interconnected, some even divided into three rooms and two halls—it seems the ancients cared about layout. At the base, outside the platform, there’s a stone roller, said to be the only relatively complete artifact at 古崖居, but heavy weathering has blurred its original features. Many mysteries surround 古崖居: when did they arrive, what ethnic group did they belong to, how did they carve these miraculous chambers? There are no definitive answers, shrouding the entire site in deeper enigma.

Besides this classic cliff dwelling, the next mountain also has many stone rooms, though they are sadly under renovation.

The viewing platform sits right in the middle of several mountains, offering a view of both cliff dwellings, distant peaks, the city, and a lake beyond—like standing high and gazing far, a unique landscape.

With a telephoto lens, you can clearly see details of the chambers, layer upon layer, deeply mysterious.

Standing on the platform, surrounded by mountains, it’s awe-inspiring how our ancestors used their wisdom to carve homes into these steep cliffs. From a drone, 古崖居 looks even more magical—only this one area of the entire mountain was carved out.

As we left 古崖居, the overcast sky suddenly brightened, and on the way back we even caught a glimpse of a small sunset. This two-day, one-night getaway was truly rewarding: we ate loads of grapes, stayed in a lovely guesthouse, enjoyed the beauty of 野鸭湖, and experienced the mystery of 古崖居. I recommend it to friends around 北京—you can do a trip like this any weekend! Hurry while the grapes are still in season~