The autumn wind is blowing, gradually unveiling a sea of autumn colors in Yanqing. Enjoy a two-day, one-night micro-vacation in this suburban district of Beijing at a leisurely pace.
DAY 1: Beijing Yeya Lake National Wetland Park → Yaya Private Kitchen / Chuandong Shuaixiang Restaurant → Beijing Shi Yuan International Tourism Resort
Beijing Yeya Lake National Wetland Park
Start the first day with a visit to the Beijing Yeya Lake National Wetland Park, where the Golden Autumn Reed Season (金秋芦苇季) will run until November 30. Migratory birds, including common cranes, mallards, and little egrets, stop here on their southward journeys, making this 3,939-hectare wetland a perfect place for birdwatching and photographing the reeds.
Opening hours: 9:00–17:00
Location: Beijing Yeya Lake National Wetland Park
Dining Recommendations
Yaya Private Kitchen (鸭丫私厨): The restaurant specializes in dishes inspired by the natural flavors of the wetlands, with signature dishes catering to a wide range of tastes from across China.
Chuandong Shuaixiang Restaurant (川东帅乡酒家): The restaurant mainly serves traditional Chinese cuisine, offering flavors from Sichuan, Beijing, northeastern China, Hunan, and more.
Beijing Shi Yuan International Tourism Resort
The resort is currently offering free admission. From Yongning Pavilion, you can watch the autumn colors of the entire resort slowly unfold before your eyes like a giant painted scroll.
Recommended Routes
Route 1: Gate 2 → Turn left towards the International Pavilion → Guangdong Garden → Henan Garden → Red-leaf wood along the road through the China Gardens
Route 2: Gate 1 → Wanhua Terrace (万花台) → Ginkgo Avenue by the China Pavilion → Danfeng Terrace (丹枫台) at Yongning Pavilion (永宁阁) → Kochia in the Vegetable Garden → Longqing Street
Entry hours: 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30
Location: Beijing Shi Yuan International Tourism Resort
Admission: Free admission to the resort (Scan a QR code at the gate to make a reservation)
DAY 2: Longqing Gorge Scenic Area → Ziyou Zizai Taihou Meat Pie / A-Hui Italian Wood-Fired Handmade Pizza / Zantun Farmhouse Stove Fish → Baili Landscape Gallery
Longqing Gorge Scenic Area
Here, lush summer greenery is now giving way to autumn colors. Take a boat through the gorge, and you will find clear green water flanked by layered woods. On both banks, the trees are gradually changing color, while the steep cliffs reflected in the water create a scene straight out of a painting.
Opening hours: 8:30–16:30
Location: Longqing Gorge Scenic Area
Dining Recommendations
Ziyou Zizai Taihou Meat Pie (自游自在·太后肉饼): Taihou Meat Pie — a dish said to have won praise from Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Dynasty — has a golden-brown, crispy exterior and a savory, juicy meat filling.
A-Hui Wood-Fired Pizza Restaurant (阿辉柴窑披萨餐厅): The dough is kneaded and fermented fresh every day, and carefully selected Italian ingredients are used to ensure an authentic pizza flavor.
Zantun Farmhouse Stove Fish (咱屯农家院灶台鱼): Fresh fish are prepared to order and slow-cooked over a wood fire for 15 minutes in a secret household sauce, creating a delicious aroma that lingers.
Baili Landscape Gallery
As the autumn breeze blows through the valleys, layer upon layer of trees slowly turn golden. Drive into Baili Landscape Gallery scenic area to see clear waters reflecting the autumn hills. Here, you can immerse yourself in the relaxed autumn atmosphere unique to Beijing's suburban countryside.
Step into the Petrified Wood Park (硅化木公园) to see geological wonders dating back hundreds of millions of years — the dinosaur footprints and petrified-wood fossils here are especially distinctive. Wulong Gorge (乌龙峡谷) lies within a Mesozoic volcanic lava area dating back 140 million years, with dark, hard rock cliffs and jumbled boulders. In the eastern section of the scenic area, the Dishuihu (滴水壶) area sits amid colorful autumn foliage, with trees around the lake ablaze with color — even a casual snapshot looks like a photogenic masterpiece.
Stock photo
Opening hours: Open all day (individual attractions have their own opening schedules)
Location: Baili Landscape Gallery Scenic Area
Admission: Individual attractions inside the scenic area charge separate admission fees.
Come to Yanqing this weekend and embrace the gentle yet vibrant beauty of autumn in Beijing.
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
