Beijing’s Most Classic Winter Outdoor Routes

    Route: Yangtai Mountain – Miaofeng Mountain

     Difficulty Level: Beginner

     Review:

     Can be completed in one day, with moderate to low difficulty and intensity, suitable for beginners. The scenery, however, is quite remarkable.

     Route Features:

    This hiking route originates from an ancient incense trail.The Goddess Temple on Miaofeng Mountain was once a bustling site of worship, where pilgrims trod out a path of incense-seeking all the way through the Yangtai Mountain Scenic Area. One section of the trail, paved with stone at great expense during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, became known as the “Golden Stairs” — a stone costing one tael of silver. Many historical relics can still be traced along this path.

     Route Description:

    The starting point is Beianhe in Haidian District. Pass through Beianhe Village, walk west for 15 minutes to reach the railway near the entrance of Jiufeng Park, then follow a small path to the entrance of Yangtai MountainPark. Ascend to Jinxian’an, a renowned temple in the Western Hills, at an altitude of about 380 meters. Beside the temple is the Jinshan Spring. Turn right to enter the ancient incense trail, which remains very clearly marked throughout. The path gradually ascends with the mountain terrain, reaching a mountain ridge at around 1,100 meters above sea level, which marks the border between Haidian and Mentougou Districts, before beginning its descent. The entire ancient incense trail spans 16 kilometers, with tea shed ruins approximately every 4 kilometers. About a quarter of the hike consists of gentle ascents, and the unrestored ancient path leads you to Jian’gou Village at the foot of Miaofeng Mountain, which is about 1 kilometer away from Miaofeng Mountain’s Golden Summit. The full hike takes roughly 5 hours and takes you through the first natural barrier of Beijing’s Western Hills, where undulating peaks stretch as far as the eye can see. Occasionally, you’ll catch glimpses of Beijing’s grid-like layout and orderly streets.     Transportation:

Take bus 346 from the Summer Palace and get off at the North Exit of Beianhe; or, on weekends, take the tourist train from Pingguoyuan directly to the scenic area entrance. To return to the city or reach Hetan Station from Jian’gou Village, you’ll need to hire a car. During holidays, tour buses run from Pingguoyuan to Miaofeng Mountain. The trip can generally be completed in one day. For those who wish to stay overnight, Jian’gou Village is a good option, followed by ascending Miaofeng Mountain the next day.

    Many people think that during the cold winter months, it’s best to stay cozy at home and not engage in outdoor activities. But that’s somewhat of a misconception. If you ask outdoor enthusiasts, you’ll find that winter is also a great season for outdoor pursuits. Compared to the bustling summer outdoor scene, winter adventures offer their own unique pleasures.

NO.2 Creek-Tracing Trek

Route: Shangbanyan – Dahaizi – Songshan

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Review:

A two-day trek with medium to high difficulty and intensity. Starting from Xiabanyan in Yanqing, the route twists and turns before finally opening up to breathtaking panoramic views.

Route Features:

Starting from Yanqing along National Highway 110 heading north, then turning southwest, the continuous mountain range to your right is part of the Songshan range. The second highest peak in Beijing, Dahaizi Peak, is its main summit. Though it’s slightly lower in absolute height than Lingshan, the relative elevation gain along the trekking route reaches 1,700 meters.

Route Description:

The trek begins at Shangbanyan beside the highway. Walk five li north, then follow the creek upstream into a valley with an open area that is sheltered from wind, faces the sun, and has abundant water sources. Continuing northward from the campsite, you begin to ascend. In winter, lucky hikers might spot wildcats or lynxes. You’ll need to carry ample drinking water for both days. On clear days, looking south you can take in views of the Guishui River, Guanting Reservoir, as well as the Eastern and Western Lingshan Mountains, and even the Xiao Wutai Range. Near Songshan, with Dahaizi Peak at the center, there are multiple trekking routes available, such as the Yudushan – Dahaizi Peak route.

Transportation:

Take air-conditioned bus 919 from Deshengmen to Yanqing, then transfer to bus 920 and get off at Shangbanyan. Walk through the village and enter the mountain pass behind it. Alternatively, hire a car in Yanqing and arrange to be dropped off at the entrance to the Songshan Scenic Area.

NO.3 High-Altitude Camping

NO.3 Hiking & Camping at High Altitude

Route: Baiyu – Huangcaoliang – Seven Towers – Lingshan

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Reviews:

Completable in two days, of medium level and intensity, ending at Lingshan. Multiple route options are available, with the Baiyu to Lingshan section offering the most diverse scenery.

Route Features:

Starting from a famous ancient folk village on the Old Beijing-West Road, passing through Huangcaoliang, one of Beijing’s largest alpine meadows, then traversing the Seven Towers section of the Great Wall, and finally arriving at Donglingshan, Beijing’s highest peak.

Route Introduction:

Before the railway reached Beijing, transportation to northwestern areas such as Zhangjiakou primarily relied on the Old Beijing-West Road and Guan’gou. Though the ancient road has declined, the military passes and Ming–Qing dynasty villages along the way still tell captivating stories. One of the most important routes of the Old Beijing-West Road begins in Baiyu, a pearl of the ancient road. Starting from this historic spot, hikers pass through stone dam plains, with well-defined paths between canyon walls. After ascending from a pile of white rocks, they reach a landmark resembling an elephant’s trunk. The mountain-hugging path then navigates the perilous Lazikou Pass. The cool valley often remains snow-covered in winter, autumn, and spring. The trail opens up to the hundred-acre Huangcaoliang meadow. After winding through the meadow, hikers arrive at a solid watchtower, which marks a very flat and spacious campsite. The nearby small village is called Sishang, where sweet spring water can be found.

Transportation:

Arrange a chartered vehicle from Apple Park Subway Station, take National Highway 109 past Miaofeng Mountain and Zhaitang, or take bus 929 to Zhaitang and then hire a car from there. The route involves an elevation gain and loss of over 1,000 meters, with significant snow accumulation in winter and relatively low temperatures.

NO.4 Challenge Your Limits with a Tough Hike

Route: Five Peaks Traverse of Xiao Wutai

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Reviews:

Completable in three days, of high level and intensity. Tests one's wilderness adaptability, physical stamina, condition, and strong willpower. When encountering harsh weather conditions or other emergencies, it also challenges teamwork and individual character.

Route Features:

Xiao Wutai Mountain Nature Reserve is located southeast of Zhangjiakou, spanning Yu County and Zhuolu County. It is named Xiao Wutai (Little Five Terraces) due to its five prominent peaks: East, West, South, North, and Central. Among them, the East Peak stands at 2,882 meters, making it the highest peak in Hebei Province. The Five Peaks Traverse is a well-established hiking route and enjoys the highest reputation among hiking trails in the Beijing suburbs.

Route Introduction:

There are two major entry points to Xiao Wutai: Xijinhekou in the west and Chiyabao Village in the north. From these two villages, there are multiple routes to ascend and descend the five peaks, but the following is the most feasible for completing the traverse over a weekend: Start from Xijinhekou, travel south for over 20 kilometers, pass through a tunnel to reach Datong’an at the base of the South Peak, and then climb up to the South Peak. Xiao Wutai features typical northern vertical vegetation distribution: broadleaf – conifer – shrub – meadow, with endless gentle slopes atop the meadow. The five peaks are connected by ridges, and traversing between them mostly involves ridge walking and cross-cutting. The path frequently features severely weathered scree slopes and steep inclines. The next target is the West Peak. From here, you can descend back to Xijinhekou to complete the first half of the traverse, or continue cutting across to the East Peak — the highest point in Hebei.

Transportation:

Long-distance buses from Xizhimen and Qijiakuozuo Bus Stations to Yu County stop at Taohua Town, from where you can rent a car to Chiyabao or Xijinghekou Management Station. Alternatively, take a train heading toward Zhangjiakou, get off at Xiahua Garden, then hire a local car or take a minibus to Taohua. To start the Five Peaks Traverse from the South Peak, transfer at Xijinhekou Management Station to the tunnel entrance at the foot of the South Peak. Be sure to confirm your familiarity with the terrain — descending is actually more likely to lead to getting lost than ascending, and getting lost in Xiao Wutai poses real dangers.