Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mulberry Tree Temple) is not only one of Beijing's biggest Buddhist temples but is also one
of the oldest, having been built during the Jin Dynasty (256-316). Alternatively, climb to
the top of Miaofeng Shan, which stands at 1,291 meters (4,236 feet). From here you can see
more temples, the Yongding River, and the city, and, if timing or luck is with you, you can
enjoy the cultural festivities that are often held here as well as the rose fields at the moun-
tain's base. Miaofeng Shan can be reached on the 929 or the M18 bus from Pingguoyuan
subway station.
Yanqing county is located in Beijing's northwest corner and takes up 1,994 square kilomet-
ers (770 square miles). More than 317,000 people live among its mountains. Though few
from the city come here to work, many come for recreation. The highways and transport
up to Yanqing are good, so journeys up here can take anything from an hour to two hours,
depending on where you're headed. One of the most well-known locations of the area is
the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Although this is perhaps the least recommendable
section of the Wall—thanks to the immense throngs of tourists, the nearby McDonald's,
the complete restoration of the Wall and everything else that strips it of any original herit-
age—it is perhaps the quickest and easiest section of the Great Wall to get to. In addition
to countless buses and tours that haul the people here, you can also simply jump on one
of the S2 trains from Beijing West Railway Station (beside Xizhimen subway station) with
usually no need to book the ticket in advance.
Yanqing isn't all about Badaling, however, and there are numerous other places to in-
vestigate. Longqing Gorge, which is farther north in the county, is a beautiful blend of cliffs
and waterways. Admittedly, this is also a destination for local tourists seeking summer boat-
ing activities, horse riding, and even go-karting. So, if you can, avoid the weekend crush.
To get here, take the 919 from Deshengmen bus station and, at the final stop, get a taxi for
the remaining 15 minutes to the gate.
Out west in the Kangxi grasslands there's more horse riding to be done, in addition to
barbecuing and free-spirited camping. This is not quite Inner Mongolia, but it's a good al-
ternative if you need to stay near Beijing. The best time of year to come here is definitely
between May and September before it becomes a barren wasteland over winter.
