Best Winter Destinations Around Beijing

Winter is here, and I believe everyone is eager to know what good places or tourist spots are around Beijing. On top of that, Beijing now has a different flavor due to the snow. Here are some of the best winter destinations around Beijing recommended by our editor!

Heilungtan

In winter, the Heilungtan Valley is adorned with snow and ice, transforming into a pure white wonderland. The Heilungtan’s ice waterfall spectacle is a major feature of the scenic area. At Heilungtan, you can see ice in the three waterfalls and eighteen ponds, crystal clear, carving this gorge into a scene with wonder, wonder with scene, all kinds of ice waterfalls, ice pendants, ice pillars and other scenery. In addition to viewing the ice waterfall spectacle, the scenic area also has an 8,000-square-meter ice entertainment area where you can experience multiple ice entertainment activities, such as ice skating, ice sledding, ice slides, etc., allowing you to enjoy yourself with your family while experiencing the thrill of ice.

Address: Daguanqiao, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing

Bus route: Take 980 from Dongzhimen to Miyun Drum Tower Station, transfer to Miyun 60, 63, 66, 67, 68, get off at Heilungtan.

Self-driving route: Jingcheng Expressway – Miyun City – Reservoir Scenic Area – Heilungtan.

Longqing Gorge

Two cliffs stand on either side of the Longqing Gorge Reservoir dam, blocking out the sun, and the area is bathed in shadow throughout the year. The ice-covered period lasts for 4 months. Taking advantage of this unique natural condition, the Longqing Gorge has been holding the Ice Lantern Art Festival since 1987. The Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Art Exhibition has become a traditional project for winter tourism in the capital.

The ice lantern exhibition area is located under the giant dam of the ancient city reservoir, between the two mountain valleys, where giant ice pillars formed by the natural seepage of water from the two mountains constitute a rare spectacle of ice waterfalls, which become the best natural background for the ice lantern exhibition area. The valley is ablaze with lights, ice sculptures and snow sculptures are dazzling; lanterns and colorful lanterns complement each other; in the icy world, Longqing Gorge has become a dream world, an ocean of joy.

Address: North of Gucheng Village, Yanqing District, Beijing

Bus route: Take bus 919 from Deshengmen to Yanqing District, transfer to bus 875 to Longqing Gorge. Take the S2 line from Beijing North Station to Yanqing South Station and transfer to bus 875 to Longqing Gorge.

Self-driving route: Drive 61.8 kilometers on the Jingzang Expressway, turn onto X009 and drive 110 meters to reach your destination.

Kyoto No. 1 Waterfall

Three kilometers north of Heilungtan is Kyoto No. 1 Waterfall, the largest waterfall in the suburbs of Beijing, with a drop of 62.5 meters. In winter, as the temperature gradually drops, the water freezes and layers upon layers, spreading to the surrounding stone walls, forming the Kyoto No. 1 Ice Waterfall. From a distance, it looks like a huge jade dragon hanging from the cliff wall to draw water from the ice pool below; up close, it looks like the Milky Way falling on the stone wall, moving hearts.

Kyoto No. 1 Waterfall is not only famous for its flying waterfall and flowing spring, but also for its six connected ponds. The six ponds are linked to each other, of different sizes and depths, as if created by nature, extremely beautiful. In winter, the water freezes into ice, ice waterfalls and ice ponds, adding a special charm.

Address: Liukouyu Village, Zhangjiafen Village, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing

Bus route: Take Metro Line 2 to Dongzhimen Station, get off and take the 980 express, get off at Nanshi Cheng Station.

Self-driving route: Drive 8.7 kilometers along S205, turn left and drive 10 meters, drive straight into S205; drive 10.0 kilometers along S205, turn left and back; drive 250 meters, and you will reach your destination (on the right side of the road).

Shuanglong Gorge

In the summer, Shuanglong Gorge is home to ten miles of streams, hundreds of waterfalls, thousands of acres of red apricots, ten thousand acres of forests, green mountains and valleys, a paradise on earth, mountains as vast as the sea, towering peaks, with the reputation of “Little Jiuzhaigou”, “Hundred Waterfalls”. In winter, Shuanglong Gorge becomes a ten-mile glacier, with hundreds of hanging ice waterfalls, a magnificent sight.

The unique giant natural ice waterfall in the scenic area is over 30 meters high and 12 meters wide, which is rare in North China. Along the way, small ice cones, ice icicles, ice flowers, ice waterfalls, and ice caves are scattered, in various shapes and forms, and the quiet ice river winds its way through the entire scenic area.

Address: South of Huacun Village, Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing

Bus route: Take the 929 branch line from Apple Garden Subway Station 200 meters west, get off at Huacunkou, walk 3.5 kilometers (or take the Shuanglong Gorge shuttle bus) from the stop to enter the Shuanglong Gorge Natural Scenic Area.

Self-driving route: Take Fushi Road from Mentougou or Shijingshan to Sanjiadian (along the reservoir), take National Highway 109 via Junzhuang, Xiaoweidian, Wangpingcun, Qinyukou, Zhenzhuhu, Junxiang, Xi Hulin to Huacun Shuanglong Gorge Scenic Area. It is 80 kilometers from Beijing to the scenic area.

Taoyuan Xiangu

In spring and summer, Taoyuan Xiangu is a place of dense forests, many ponds and waterfalls, and majestic peaks. In particular, one lake, six waterfalls and thirteen ponds are like fairyland embedded in the landscape, creating a natural gallery.

Entering Taoyuan Xiangu in winter is like entering a world of ice and snow, where you can see the beautiful scenery of ice icicles, ice waterfalls, ice flowers, ice pendants, and ice caves everywhere. Among them, the ice waterfall wall of Taoyuan Xiangu is quite popular with everyone. One is suitable for professional ice climbing: 50 meters high and about 100 meters wide; the other is a gentler slope, suitable for beginners to climb.

Address: Nanshi Cheng Village, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing

Ticket: Bus route: Take the train from Beijing North Station to Shitang Road to Taoyuan Xiangu; Take the 980 or 987 from Dongzhimen to Taoyuan Xiangu; Drive from Sanyuanqiao down Jingmi Road to Miyun, follow the west line to Shicheng Town and you will arrive.

Self-driving route: Jingshun Road → Jingmi Road → Mixi Road → Liuxin Road → Taoyuan Xiangu. Jingcheng Expressway – Miyun Toll Station Exit – Miyun Reservoir – Taoyuan Xiangu.