If you are in Beijing as a tourist during the week-long May Day holiday: congratulations!
You are about to see, not only Beijing and China's great historical relics, but also the biggest flow of its domestic travelers!
Those keen to avoid the crowds may have decided the holiday from May 1-7 is not the best time to take in the major spots on the tourist map.
A smart option is to do as the Beijingers do: head to the capital's outskirts to appreciate some wonderful scenes without the crush inside the city.
BJW brings you an insider's guide with our pick of the 10 most beautiful and unexpected travel destinations.
These attractions are popular with locals, but largely unknown by visitors. Enjoy!
Huanghuacheng Great Wall
In summer, yellow flowers (huanghua) bloom everywhere at this part of the countryside, hence the village's name. The Great Wall here is the only part known to be submerged under water of the Xishuiyu reservoir. People can row boats, fish and cable slide over the lake, or hike on the old Wall.
This part of the Wall is under renovation, with work expected to be completed later this year, and will become the 5th restored part of the Great Wall open to tourists. Until then, people can go and see wall in its pre-restored state.
Location: Northwest of Huairou District, 70 kilometers from city, an hour and a half car ride.
To get there: Madianqiao on 3rd Ring Road Badaling Express Way, get off at Changping's Xiguan traffic isle Ming tombs direction Changling Tomb Jiuduhe Huanghuazhen Township, Sihai Direction. Or take bus No 916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou Guoji Huiyi Zhongxin (International Convention Center), take deep blue bus opposite street with the signs of Xishuiyu, and get off at the terminal.
Qinglong Gorge
The so-called "black dragon" valley is home to a reservoir measuring 55.6 square kilometers, part of which is open to tourists for boating and yachting. Besides that there is the wild section of the Great Wall on the mountain that has not been renovated. It is best to take a cable car up the mountains, explore by foot, and then walk down. There is bungee, sliding and air gliding.
Location: 20 kilometers northwest of Huairou. 75 kilometers from Sanyuanqiao on North 3rd Ring Road.
To get there: Jingchen Express Way North 6th Ring Road JingmiLu turn right at Huairou Kaifang Traffic Isle head north on Huaifeng Road
Simatai Great Wall
This is local foreign expat's favorite part of the Great Wall, one of the few parts of the Wall that attains its original Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) looks. Mountain views here are more varied, meaning drastic rises and falls of the Wall. It is also a favorite of hikers, who usually walk from the nearby Jinshanling section, taking 4 hours. Many parts are quite steep, although you can take a cable car up the mountains.
Location: Gubeikou Township, Miyun County. 120 kilometers from the city, 2 hours to the Wall.
To get there: take bus No 980 or 970 at Dongzhimen, get off at Miyun Bus Station, and change to mini vans. A return minivan ticket costs 30-100 yuan, depending on how many people in your group, and how well you negotiate. Or drive via Jingcheng Expressway, get off at North Miyun exit, and change to 101 State Highway, before arriving at Gubeikou, Miyun County. 6903-1051.
Shidu
The place gets its name because it is said to be the 10th water crossing (shidu). There are plenty of shallow rivers flowing between peaks, with pebble beaches. The 10th crossing is the most developed, with restaurants, boating, punting, a cable route up onto a mountain, and sight-seeing inside the mountains. But if you go further, where there would be less people, you'll discover there are more than 20 similar crossings, with similar features such as a suspension bridge leading onto stairs winding inside the mountains. Great place to enjoy water and mountain sights.
Location: Shidu and Zhangfang in Fangshan District, 96 kilometers from city.
To get there: take bus 917's Shidu route at Tianqiao to arrive directly. Or take tour bus No 10 at Qianmen, Fuchengmen, or Xuanwumen during weekend and holidays. Or take Suburbs No 7 train at Beijing South Railway Station to arrive at Shidu. Drive on Jingshi Expressway to get off at Liulihe exit Liulihe Yueli Lu Yuegezhuang Yunjusi Lu Zhouzhang Lu Zhangbao Lu Shidu .
Jiankou Great Wall
This part of the Wall is famous because of the steep-turning mountains shaped like a W. It is also photographers' favorite. Shanzi Village at the bottom of the mountain is a regular residence for many tourists. There is a trout-raising base at the bottom of the Wall, where the fish can be tailor-made according to tourist's requirement.
Location: Badaohe, northwest of Huairou, less than 100 kilometers from Beijing.
To get there: Take bus 916 at Dongzhimen, change to bus heading Mutianyu, to arrive at Xinying , then change to mini-bus to go to Zhenzhuquan . Or take bus 916 to get to Huairou, take minivan to get to Xizhazi Village . Drive on Jingcheng Expressway, get off at 6th Ring Road to head east. Get out at Liuyuan Qiao to drive on Jingshun Lu Huairou Kaifang traffic isle Fule traffic isle Yanqi traffic isle Badaohe bridge Xizhazi Village.
Xiangshui Lake
Plenty of water flows at this serene resort, the "ringing water" lake. Besides the lake a stream basically follows the path into the mountains. There is also a section of un-renovated Great Wall.
Location: to the west of Mutianyu Great Wall in Huairou District. 78 kilometers from Beijing.
To get there: Take suburb train No 1 at 8:32am at Beijing Railway Station, or take suburb train No 3 at 7:13am at Xizhimen Railway Station, get off at Beizhaiya , there is a bus waiting to send you to Xiangshuihu. If you buy entry ticket at the railway station, train ticket is free single-way. Or take bus 916, 936 at Dongzhimen and get off at Huairou International Convention Center, and change to another bus. Drive on Airport Expressway Jingmi Lu Huairou Mutianyu traffic isle go west for 8 kilometers to arrive.
Longqing Gorge
The valley is dubbed "small Lijiang river", or "small three gorges" in North China. Boats take tourists to go deep into mountains on a big river between valleys, till you need to walk up a hill, with a temple at mid-way. The trail continues much further into the mountains, for the more adventurous. This place is much colder than inside the city, and has ice lamps and sculptures to see in winter.
Location: 15 kilometers northeast of Yanqing County, and 80 kilometers from Beijing city center.
How to get there: Take bus 919 at Deshengmen to get to Yanqing County, change to bus to arrive, or take tour bus No 8 at Qianmen, or Andingmen to arrive. Drive on Badaling Expressway to get to Yanqing, go further on Jingzhang (Beijing-Zhangjiakou) Highway to arrive.
Baiwang Mountain
Located just three kilometers to the north of Summer Palace, Baiwangshan is the closest forest park to Beijing. With vegetation coverage of more than 95 percent, this park is known as Beijing's oxygen source. Now is the perfect time to go climb the mountain, and appreciate green trees and spring flowers.
Location: three kilometers northwest of Summer Palace
To get there: take buses No 330, 716, 718, 722, 752, 903, 933, or Yuntong 112 to get to Baiwangshan, or Heishanhu Beikou . Drive to get to Xiaoying traffic isle , or Shangdi traffic isle , head west to arrive.
Miaofeng Mountain
This mountain range is known for ancient temples, specially shaped pine trees and rocks, as well as a great variety of plants and flowers. There are more than 600 different kinds of trees, and plenty of peach trees, cloves and mountain lilies. It is especially known for large patches of roses.
Location: Mentougou, 55 kilometers west of Beijing
To get there: take bus 326, or 336 at Pingguoyuan Station of subway Line 1, get off at Hetan and change to long-distance bus to arrive. There is also mini-bus at Pingguoyuan which can get to the mountain directly. Drive on Fushi Lu Longquan Hotel Danli Village Miaofengshan.
Kangxi Grassland
This is the nearest grassland to Beijing. You can stay in Mongolian style yurts, barbeque, fish, and attend a bonfire party. The place is one of the 1st to set up a professional horse-riding field measuring more than 100,000 square meters. It is also near Guanting reservoir.
Location: 15 kilometers west of Badaling Great Wall, 80 kilometers from Beijing.
To get there: take bus 919 at Deshengmen from 7-9am to arrive directly. Bus comes back from 2-5pm. Or take trains No 575, 577, 581 to get to Kangzhuang Station . Drive on Badaling Expressway Kangzhuang exit turn left at three-way crossroad to head for Kangxi Grassland and Wild Duck Lake turn right to arrive.
(China Daily 04/25/2007 page4)
