The countdown to the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays has begun! Not in the mood for a long-distance travel? Here's a list of cool options for you and your friends! Whether you are seeking mountain cafés or camping under the stars, longing for refreshing hikes or foodie feasts, each route is full of surprises, and will live up to your wishes for refresh and recharge.
1. Shuiyuzui Village, Mentougou District
Route: Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area – Former Residence of Ma Zhiyuan – HiCafe – Boutique Homestay – Shenquan Gorge Scenic Area
Spots
Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area: A 2.1-kilometer trail that takes you about 1.5 to 2 hours to hike.
Opening hours: 7:30–18:00
Ticket: 27 yuan
Former Residence of Ma Zhiyuan: A traditional courtyard home with primitive simplicity.
Ticket: 20 yuan (includes a bowl of noodles or milk tea)
Opening hours: 9:00–17:00.
HiCafe: Located inside Dongma Shanjia Boutique Homestay, but open to non-homestay guests as well.
Shenquan Gorge Scenic Area: Three hiking routes of 20 kilometers, 10 kilometers and 5 kilometers, and a super-short trail are available.
Ticket: 36 yuan, with free parking
Transportation Guide:
By car: Navigate to "Shuiyuzui Village, Mentougou District" (门头沟区水峪嘴村). Parking is available at the entrance of Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area.
By public transportation: Take Subway Line S1 to Shichang Station, then transfer to Bus M22 to Shuiyuzuicun Stop (水峪嘴村站).
2. Xiayuan Village, Changping District
Route: Cycling Base – Cultural Square – Xinzhuang Markets – Specialty Lodging
Spots
Cycling Base: Bike rentals start at about 300 yuan per bike, including full gear. Three route maps are provided for free for cyclists of different levels, with the "Happy Cycling Base – Qintun Village (秦屯村) / Baoyuquan Village (暴峪泉村)" route recommended for beginners.
Cultural Square: Three themed graffiti walls — "Pastoral Scenery", "Intangible Cultural Heritage" and "Artists' Daily Life" are available for visitors. Nearby art studios and bookstores make it a hotspot for young art lovers.
Xinzhuang Markets: Get ready for a mix of handicrafts, cultural products, coffee, pastries, and local farm products. Tianyedong Market there caters to younger people. During the upcoming holidays, the markets will open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, with live concerts from 16:00 to 18:30.
Transportation Guide:
By car: Navigate to "Xiayuan Village Committee, Changping District" (昌平区下苑村村委会). Three public parking lots are available at the village's entrance.
By public transportation: Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantongyuan Bei (N) Station (Exit A), transfer to Bus Chang 28 (which departs every 40 minutes), get off at Xiayuancun Stop (下苑村站), and walk 5 minutes to the village's center.
3. Banbidian Village, Daxing District
Route: Tuanhe Imperial Palace – Hongwen Boya Art Museum – Boutique Homestay – Yalugu Tropical Botanical Garden – Beijing Wildlife Park
Spots
Tuanhe Imperial Palace: From October 1 to 6, it will host an intangible cultural heritage fair (“苑启新章·兴承万象”国庆中秋非遗雅集).
Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 every day during the holidays
Hongwen Boya Art Museum: Try hands-on fragrance-making and snap some artsy photos. Reservations can be made via the museum's official WeChat account (泓文博雅艺术馆).
Yalugu Tropical Botanical Garden: Home to over 3,000 tropical plant species, as well as cute animals, installations of giant dinosaurs, and buildings unique to the Dai ethnic group. During the National Day holiday, the 4th Tropical Fruit Festival (第四届热带水果节) will kick off, where visitors can claim "silver tickets" through an interactive campaign.
Ticket: 99 yuan
Opening hours: 8:30–17:30
Beijing Wildlife Park: The park will launch an interactive adventure themed "Ordinary Workers" (默默无闻的打工者), where visitors can collect stamps for different animals and redeem special souvenirs.
Transportation Guide:
By car: Navigate to "Tuanhe Imperial Palace Relics Park" (团河行宫遗址公园).
By public transportation: Take Subway Line 4 to Tiangongyuan Station (Exit C), transfer to Bus Xing 28 (which departs every 20 minutes) to Banbidiancun Stop (半壁店村站).
4. Beigou Village, Huairou District
Route: Mutianyu Great Wall – Beigala Shuanrou – Boutique Lodging – Beigou Village's Hiking Trail
Spots
Mutianyu Great Wall: Currently, watchtowers No. 1 to 20 are open. This section of the Great Wall is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts with good physical strength and the courage to challenge themselves.
Beigala Shuanrou: Just 30 meters south of Beigou Village Committee, this restaurant offers traditional copper-pot hotpot with mountain views.
Beigou Village's Hiking Trail: With free entry, low difficulty, and great views, this trail is about 2 kilometers, taking one hour to go to the top.
Transportation Guide:
By car: Navigate to "Beigou Village Committee, Huairou District" (怀柔北沟村村委会). Free parking is available at the village's entrance.
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
