Beijing Weekend Trips: Beaches, Deserts & Mountain Lakes

Beijing Weekend Tour Guide, covering Beidaihe Seaside, Ulan Butong Grassland, Kubuqi Desert, and the picturesque scenery of Shidu Lake. Self driving trips allow you to experience diverse natural scenery and deeply appreciate the unique culture and charm of Beijing and its surrounding areas.

There are countless desirable natural and cultural landscapes hidden around the bustling city of Beijing. On weekends, why not temporarily put aside your busy work and drive to these beautiful scenic spots to experience the charm of nature and the unique culture of Beijing. Here are several scenic spots around Beijing worth visiting, each with its own unique features of sea, grassland, desert, and lake and mountain scenery. If you're interested in these places please feel free to contact us.

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1. The Charm of the Sea: The Seaside Scenery of Beidaihe

Beidaihe, located in Qinhuangdao City, is a famous seaside tourist destination around Beijing. Here, there are golden beaches stretching for dozens of kilometers, with clear seawater and delicate and soft sand. Strolling by the seaside, enjoying the sea breeze and listening to the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, it feels like being in a beautiful painting. In addition, Beidaihe also has rich marine culture and historical relics, such as Laohushi Sea Park, Lianfengshan Park, etc., which are not to be missed attractions.

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Travel suggestions

It is recommended to depart from Beijing and drive to Beidaihe by car, which takes about 3 hours. After arriving, you can take a walk by the seaside and feel the sea breeze blowing. Afterwards, you can visit Laohushi Sea Park or Lianfengshan Park to appreciate the beautiful natural scenery. In the evening, why not taste a seafood feast at a seaside restaurant and enjoy a leisurely weekend.


2. Grassland Scenery: Ulan Butong Grassland Scenery

The Ulan Butong Grassland, located in Keshiketeng Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is one of the most beautiful grasslands around Beijing. The grassland here is vast, with lush green grass, herds of cattle and sheep, and Mongolian yurts dotted among them, forming a beautiful picture of the grassland. On the grassland, you can ride horses, shoot arrows, taste Mongolian cuisine, and experience the unique charm of grassland culture.


Travel suggestions

Departing from Beijing, driving to Ulan Butong Grassland takes about 6 hours. After arrival, you can choose to camp on the grassland or stay in a yurt to experience grassland life. During the day, you can ride horses and enjoy the grassland scenery; In the evening, you can participate in a Bonfire Party, taste Mongolian cuisine, and experience the enthusiasm and vitality of the grassland.


3. Desert Soul: Kubuqi Desert Exploration

The Kubuqi Desert, located in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is the seventh largest desert in China. The desert landscape here is magnificent, with rolling sand dunes and delicate and soft sand. In the desert, you can ride camels, slide on sand, watch the sunrise and sunset of the desert, and feel the mystery and vastness of the desert.


Travel suggestions

Starting from Beijing, driving to the Kubuqi Desert takes about 8 hours. After arrival, you can choose to camp in the desert or stay at a desert hotel to experience desert life. During the day, you can ride a camel across the desert and enjoy its scenery; At night, you can enjoy the desert starry sky and feel the tranquility and mystery of nature.


4. Lake and Mountain Scenery: Shidu Scenic Area

Shidu Scenic Area, located in Fangshan District, Beijing, is a famous scenic spot surrounded by mountains and waters. Here, mountains and rivers are interdependent, and the scenery is beautiful, earning it the nickname of 'Little Guilin of the North'. At Shidu, you can take a boat tour of the Juma River and enjoy the green mountains and waters on both sides; You can hike through the canyon and experience the amazing craftsmanship of nature; You can also experience extreme sports such as bungee jumping and rock climbing to challenge yourself.


Travel suggestions

Departing from Beijing, driving to Shidu Scenic Area takes about 2 hours. After arrival, you can first take a boat tour of the Juma River and enjoy the scenery on both sides. Subsequently, one can hike through canyons or experience extreme sports. At night, you can taste local cuisine in the restaurants within the scenic area and enjoy a leisurely weekend.


5. The perfect integration of Beijing tourism and surrounding attractions

Beijing is surrounded by rich natural and cultural landscapes, whether it's the picturesque Beidaihe, the grassland like Ulan Batong, the desert like Kubuqi, or the picturesque Shidu, all of which are worth visiting. On weekends, why not drive to these scenic spots, feel the charm of nature, and experience the unique culture of Beijing. I believe this trip will definitely make your weekend more colorful.

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Canada
Reviewed on April 29,2025
Shopping on Nanjing Road in Shanghai was just amazing! It's truly the "First Commercial Street of China", where tradition and modernity blend perfectly. You can find awesome souvenirs and experience the trendy vibes in cool stores. The neon lights at night are just spectacular, shining bright like Times Square in New York. The food here is incredible too. I had a feast for my taste buds. Shanghai, I'll definitely be back!
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Canada
Reviewed on June 20,2025
As a solo traveler from Canada, I was nervous about navigating China alone—but this 11-day tour was PERFECT! From hiking the Great Wall at sunrise (Day 3) to gasping at the Terracotta Army (Day 5), every day delivered ‘pinch-me’ moments. The real showstopper? Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains (Day 7)! Our guide made the stone pillars come alive with stories. Massive thanks for handling all logistics—bullet train tickets, entry passes, car! And the 4-star hotels surprised me.
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Simon
America
Reviewed on May 29,2025
Our 2-day Zhangjiajie tour was beyond spectacular! As someone who’s visited Beijing and Shanghai for work, this trip revealed China’s wild, magical heart. Day 1 in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park felt like stepping onto Pandora—I’m a huge Avatar fan, and Yuanjiajie’s floating peaks left me breathless. The misty pillars and lush valleys like pure movie magic! Then came Fenghuang Ancient Town, we eat dinner beside the thundering waterfall. It seems Unreal! The night views of stilt houses glowing over the river were straight from a fairy tale. For fellow Avatar lovers and adventure seekers: Don’t miss this bucket-list experience! 10/10 would return. A Well-Traveled Film Buff, May 2025
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