Rediscovery of ancient commercial roads in western Beijing

Located in western Beijing, the West Mountains have long been known to provide stunning sights for visitors. But what’s less well known isthat these mountains used to contain coal, and because of that were once part of an ancient trade route.

Up to Bashang for a northern-frontier excursion

Only 200-some kilometers from Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province is an accessible city and the nearest urban center to the Bashang Plateau, a natural grassland where one can camp, view sunrises and sunsets and go horseback riding.

Blossoming to the sun – A guide to Beijing’s suburban sunflower fields

Beijing has many suburban sunflower fields, such as Qianjiadian Town of Yanqing County and Changgou in Fangshan District. Beijing Today spoke with local travelers about their favorite spots and got tips on how to make the most of a sunflower-viewing expedition.

Feel the past in Liancheng

Liancheng, a small western county in Fujian Province dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), has many preserved ancient and historical gems, including a picturesque village called Peitian – where everyone has the family name Wu – that might be China’s Xanadu.

Trekking through hills and water in Shuiquan Canyon

Beijing isn’t situated next to the coast or any big rivers or lakes, but Shuiquan Canyon is a rare place here where one finds water coursing in harmony with the surrounding hills and valleys.

Cooling down high up in Baihua Mountain

Beaches are crowded nowadays with people who want to escape the tortuous heat, but mountains remain a good choice for those seeking a bit of cool. Baihua Mountain, where the temperature dips to 10 C at night, is worth a visit.

Last glimpse of a vanishing Beijing – A walk through soon-to-be-demolished hutong

Modern man’s voracious appetite for high-rise offices, residential buildings and avenues are devouring the alleys and courtyard homes of ancient times.

The landscape of China Danxia

Red is the favored color of traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing riches and honor. It is unsurprising, then, that China’s Danxia landforms attract special attention: in addition to their natural beauty, they are the national color.

Garden of dreams – A visit to Dream of the Red Chamber’s filming locations

A tale of ill-fated love and the decline of a powerful family during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the story has been adapted into theater, film and television, with the 1987 TV series regarded as “a classic” and “the best” adaptation.

Laoniuwan, where the Great Wall meets the Yellow River

Laoniuwan Valley is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the country because it is where China’s two greatest symbols – the Great Wall and the Yellow River – converge. At certain vantage points, people can see the Wall reflected on the river’s surface.