A 5 – day Self – driving Adventure in the Suburbs of Beijing
Introduction
The year 2020 was unforgettable for everyone. From the beginning of that year, our lives were forced to change. My spouse and I quit our jobs to explore the world, but the global travel plan was interrupted. However, China, with its vast territory of 9.6 million square kilometers, offered us countless surprises. In spring, we drove across ten provinces and dozens of cities, covering a distance of 12,000 kilometers. We were deeply in love with the feeling of self – driving in China.
In the late summer and early autumn of the past two years, we would drive to the suburbs of Beijing to discover the wild fun beyond the skyscrapers. As an experience officer of Haval Dargo, we embarked on a journey to find more wild fun around Beijing with this trendy travel companion.
Self – driving Route and Itinerary
There are so many different kinds of beautiful scenery in the suburbs of Beijing. Since it was late summer and we wanted to escape the heat, we chose the northwest route.
– Day 1: Beijing urban area – Miaofeng Mountain – Cuandixia Village
– Day 2: Cuandixia Village – Yixiantian – Hongjing Road – Beijing urban area
– Day 3: Beijing urban area – Kangxi Grassland – Yanqing urban area
– Day 4: Yanqing urban area – Hundred – mile Landscape Gallery (Luanchi Road)
– Day 5: Hundred – mile Landscape Gallery – Beijing urban area
We drove nearly 700 kilometers in five days. We encountered heavy rain in the first half and rough roads later. But Haval Dargo, our trendy travel companion, overcame all the challenges of weather and terrain.
Tips
- The scenic spots in the suburbs of Beijing are scattered and far from the urban area. If you have enough time, you can connect them in a loop. If you only have a weekend or a short holiday, you can divide the journey into different areas. For example, our itinerary can be split into the western line in Mentougou and Fangshan and the northern line in Yanqing.
- There is no traffic restriction on weekends in Beijing, and there are many people going to the suburbs, so traffic jams may occur. Try to avoid the weekend peak hours.
- The roads on highways and national roads are in good condition, but there are complex road conditions in mountainous areas and some scenic spots. For example, the Yixiantian Road is potholed and the Hongjing Road has many curves. Fortunately, Haval Dargo’s 1.5T engine paired with a 7 – speed dual – clutch transmission, along with its high – strength body and well – supported suspension system, allows it to drive smoothly on the rough mountain roads in the suburbs of Beijing.
Miaofeng Mountain
- Address: North of Miaofengshan Town, Mentougou District, west of Beijing
- Ticket price: 40 yuan per person
- Opening hours: 8:30 – 16:30
- Self – driving tip: Vehicles cannot enter the scenic area. You can park at the entrance parking lot.
Miaofeng Mountain is only 50 – 60 kilometers away from Beijing urban area. It belongs to the Taihang Mountains. The biggest features of the scenic area are rime and ancient temples. In winter, the whole mountain is covered in silver, which is very spectacular. Although there is no rime in late summer, the temple complex built in the Liao and Jin Dynasties still attracts many pilgrims.
The journey to the top of the mountain is also very charming. The road winds up along the mountain. Driving the Haval Dargo, you can speed on the road and pass through the shady woods. Along the way, there are many hidden “scenic spots”. Sometimes, a small dirt road may lead you to a place with dense forests and clear streams, far away from the noise of the outside world. It’s perfect for a walk along the water or a picnic.
On the way down the mountain, it started to rain heavily. Thanks to Haval Dargo, we felt safe inside the car while the big raindrops hit the car body.
Cuandixia Village
When we arrived at Cuandixia Village in the evening, it was getting dark. Although we were hungry and tired after the long drive, the star – filled sky, which we rarely saw in the city, made all our fatigue disappear.
Cuandixia Village is located in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, with an altitude of 650 meters. It was rated as “the most beautiful village in Beijing” in 2009 and was included in the first batch of traditional village lists at the municipal level in Beijing in the past two years.
The ancient village was built in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, more than 500 years ago. It is the most well – preserved ancient residential complex, with more than 70 Ming and Qing dynasties courtyards and more than 600 houses. The village is built along the mountain, with a 200 – meter – long and 20 – meter – high arc – shaped wall separating the upper and lower parts of the village, and a 170 – meter – long bow – shaped wall surrounding the front of the village, making the village look more cohesive.
Since it is only more than 100 kilometers away from Beijing, many tourists come here on weekends. The locals have transformed many ancient courtyards into characteristic homestays. You can experience the warm quadrangles, traditional heated kang beds, and all kinds of vintage items, which make time seem to slow down.
- Self – driving tip: You need to buy tickets for the Cuanbai Scenic Area at the entrance of the village, 35 yuan per person. It includes several scenic spots such as Cuandixia, Yixiantian, and Baiyu. You can drive to each scenic spot, and there is a free parking lot at each one.
Yixiantian
Only a three – kilometer drive from the peaceful Cuandixia Village, there is a wild and mysterious place called Yixiantian in the west of Beijing. It was the filming location for the Huarong Road in “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and the narrow path in “The Warlords”.
Actually, it was originally called Xiaobeigou Valley, and the locals also call it Chuandiankou. It is connected to the village, like the neck of a gourd, protecting this secluded village.
- Self – driving tip: The Yixiantian Road is only a few hundred meters long, with varying widths and some places where you can pass other cars. You can drive through it directly or park your car at the end parking lot and walk back. The traffic flow is large on weekends. If you want to avoid the peak, you can go in the early morning or at night. But there is no mobile signal or light in the valley, so be careful.
Hongjing Road
Also known as Shixia Road, Hongjing Road is known as the “99 – bend road in Beijing”. It winds through the mountains in Fangshan District. The continuous curves and undulating terrain make it a popular check – in place for self – driving and cycling enthusiasts in Beijing and its surrounding areas.
Haval Dargo’s mature 1.5T + 7 – speed dual – clutch power combination and well – supported suspension system allow it to accelerate easily when climbing the mountain or overtaking. The body roll is not obvious when taking continuous curves, giving you full confidence and a sense of security.
- Self – driving tip: Although it is a road, there are several parking spaces at the best viewing position on the top. You can park your car and take pictures, but still pay attention to safety. The traffic flow is large on holidays. It is recommended to come on weekdays or in the evening. You may even encounter a stunning sunset.
Kangxi Grassland
- Address: Next to County Road 017, west of Kangzhuang Town, Yanqing District
- Ticket situation: Currently, it is not officially open. You can ask the staff at the entrance.
- Self – driving tip: You can drive directly into the scenic area, but there are cattle and horses on the grassland, so be careful to avoid them.
Kangxi Grassland is adjacent to Guanting Reservoir in the west and Haotuo Mountain in the north, with more than 30,000 mu of grassland. It is the first large – scale grassland in Beijing and used to be a popular weekend destination. You can ride horses during the day and have a bonfire party at night.
Although it was late summer and the grass was not as lush, the cattle were still grazing happily. They were not afraid when we got close, perhaps regarding our “Haval Dargo” as a friend.
In addition to driving on the grassland, horse – riding is an unmissable experience here. Unlike in the city’s horse – riding arenas where horses can only run in a small space, here they can truly enjoy the freedom of running.
Horse – riding tips:
– Walking horse: Riding along the planned horse – riding path on the grassland for sightseeing, suitable for ordinary tourists.
– Running horse: Galloping along the planned horse – riding path, suitable for tourists with certain riding skills.
– Riding in the arena: Riding on the racetrack, suitable for beginners. But since you are in the grassland, it’s better not to limit yourself to the arena.
Generally, the price is 30 yuan per lap for arena riding, 100 yuan per person per hour for walking horse, and 200 yuan per person per hour for running horse. However, since it is not officially open, the price should be negotiated with the horse owner on – site.
Hundred – mile Landscape Gallery (Luanchi Road)
The Hundred – mile Landscape Gallery is located on the Luanchi Road, one of the most beautiful self – driving roads in the suburbs of Beijing. It is not a single scenic spot but a landscape belt composed of one ring, three areas, and twelve nodes. It gets its name because it involves a 112 – li riverside loop.
The whole area includes geological landscapes such as petrified wood groups, Wulong Gorge, Xiaokunlun Mountain, Shujian Peak, dinosaur footprint fossil remains, and marine sedimentary remains; natural landscapes such as Dishuihu, Datan Nature Reserve, a thousand – mu sunflower sea, a ten – thousand – mu Scutellaria baicalensis tea garden, and the Yanshan Academy sketching base; and cultural landscapes such as Chaoyang Temple, Xiushuiwan, Changshouling, Gujiayao, the Caimugou Paleolithic site, and the Wenchang Stele.
Driving the Haval Dargo along this road, you can really feel why it is called the “Landscape Gallery”. The road is wide and flat, so even female drivers can handle it easily.
There are too many small scenic spots along the way. It’s not easy to visit them all. In fact, many people come here for the suburban life experience rather than just the ticketed scenic spots. Although it’s already the Beginning of Autumn, you can still catch the tail of summer and enjoy the wildflowers.
When you drive to a pond, you can see many families coming by car, setting up tents and hammocks. Children are playing in the water, and adults are enjoying the rare relaxation.
This self – driving adventure in the suburbs of Beijing came to an end. With Haval Dargo as our trendy travel companion, we chased the beautiful scenery and made the most of the late – summer time.
