Off-Road Self-Driving Tour Routes Around Beijing

For those who live in the city for a long time, going to places with beautiful natural scenery is a good choice to relax, to experience the refreshing feeling of finally conquering. So, are there any off-road routes around Beijing? See below for details.

I. Lao Zhanggou

Lao Zhanggou is located in Guyuan County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, 200 kilometers southeast of Beijing. It is well-known in the off-road circle. Lao Zhanggou has many challenging small roads that can be used for practicing. Here, mountains are stacked, valleys are crisscrossed, there is a small stream in the center, and there are many springs beside the stream. The river here is not very deep, just right for your car to engage four-wheel drive for a “rapid crossing”. Go up along the river and experience the joy of sailing against the current! The valley is filled with gravel and quicksand. Driving through it is like a yellow dragon passing through the sand.

Lao Zhanggou is also a good place for self-driving camping. Experience speed and passion in the valley during the day, and camp and picnic at night to experience the vastness of the sky!!!

Self-driving route from Beijing to Lao Zhanggou:
Plan 1: Departing from Beijing urban area, take G6 (Jingzang Expressway) and continue westward (about 80km) to Shachengkou to exit the highway. After exiting from the Shacheng exit, take Provincial Highway 241, take Provincial Highway 241 through Chicheng to Xiaochang (about 150km). Then drive south from Xiaochang to X404 leading to Fengyuandian, 25 kilometers to Lao Zhanggou.

Plan 2: From Changping, take S212 through Shisanling Town, Yanshou Town, Dazhuangke Township, Yongning Town, Xiangying Township to the north end of Baihebao Reservoir, turn north onto S309 to Qianjiadian Town, take X002 across Qianjiadian Bridge to Huapenchun, take X404 through Dongmao Town, DongwanKou Township, Baicao Township (the section from Batuying Bridge to Baicao Town overlaps with X404 and G112), and Sandaochuan Township to Lao Zhanggou. (Recommended for off-road vehicles, other vehicles should drive cautiously and slowly). Route characteristics: After reaching Lao Zhanggou, you can drive, practice driving, barbecue, and camp. This is a classic self-driving off-road route that focuses on both driving pleasure and outdoor activities.

Driving level: Off-road entry level, after reaching Lao Zhanggou, you can participate in off-road competitions. This is a natural training ground.

Off-road conditions: About 180 kilometers of asphalt road, is the original forest farm. Mainly barrier stone road, cobblestone road.

Friendly reminder: Some of the water surfaces and ditches here may look shallow, but there are many sand and stones in the water. You should still be very careful when crossing water.

II. Prairie Sky Road

The Sky Road is located at the junction of Zhangbei County and Chongli District in Zhangjiakou City. It starts from Yefu Ridge, south of Zhangbei County City in the west, and ends at Huapiling in Chongli County in the east. It is 132.7 kilometers long, like a dragon, perched on the top of the mountains, winding and undulating, stretching for hundreds of kilometers. The blue sky connects with it, the white clouds echo with it, walking on the Sky Road is like walking on clouds, hence the name “Sky Road”, and it is also one of the ten most beautiful highways in mainland China. This is the edge of the Xilin Gol Prairie, with an average altitude of 1400 meters. The average annual temperature is only 4 degrees Celsius, and it is known as “the thirteen provinces of the world, not as cold as Huapiling”. This is also a popular destination for self-driving campers. The endless prairie, the vast sky, drinking and singing, life is short!

Prairie Sky Road self-driving route:
Plan 1: Exit Zhangbei South toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → go straight and turn right at the south interchange into National Highway 207 → turn into Zhangxia Line after reaching Zhangbei Town and Jingbuzicun → reach the end of Zhangxia Line → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 2: Exit Zhangbei South (or Zhangbei North, Haojiaying) toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn into Houshi Line → reach Xiao’ertai Town (can visit Sennadu Manor, Lido Resort) and turn into → Xiao’ertai Town to Bailibatou Road. (Drive along the road in Xiao’ertai Town for 10 kilometers to reach Xihaochian (can visit the 2.5 kilometers poplar forest and natural prairie scenery) → continue along the road for 5.3 kilometers to reach Sannaobao (can go fishing at Sannaobao Reservoir) → continue along the road for 5.7 kilometers to reach “Prairie Sky Road”. (Go east along Prairie Sky Road for 5.9 kilometers to reach the destination (Liangnaijian Mountain and Dongsheng Sky Road Mountain Villa). This route is a compromise route for the east line of Prairie Sky Road, convenient for accommodation and replenishing food and oil.

Plan 3: Exit Zhangbei South (or Zhangbei North, Haojiaying) toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn into Houshi Line → reach Baimiaotan Township and turn into Baimiaotan to Bailibatou Road → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 4: Exit Zhangbei South or Zhangbei North toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn west onto Houshi Line → reach Liujiabang Village, Tailugou Township → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 5: Exit Zhangbei South toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn left onto National Highway 207 → reach Yefu Ridge → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 6: Exit Zhangbei South (or Zhangbei North, Haojiaying) toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn into Dachao Line → reach Dahuluntun Town → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 7: Exit Zhangbei South toll station of Zhangshi Expressway → turn into Zhanggu Line → reach Shuiquanzhacun, Zhanhai Township → enter Prairie Sky Road;

Plan 8: Exit Chongli North or Chongli South toll station of Zhangcheng Expressway → turn into Zhanggu Line → reach Shuiquanzhacun, Zhanhai Township → enter Prairie Sky Road.

Route characteristics: The Sky Road is a classic self-driving off-road route that combines beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Driving level: Off-road entry level, suitable for camping and barbecues.

Off-road conditions: Mainly asphalt road.

Friendly reminders:

1. There are mileage markers on the side of the “Prairie Sky Road”, so you can plan your travel time according to your own time.

2. There is a China Highway 66 sign with the “Meet Travel” logo on the road. Wherever there are signposts, they are good places to take pictures. There are open parking spaces nearby. Please park your car before taking pictures to prevent rear-end collisions or accidents.

3. Be sure to drive along the yellow line in the middle of the road and do not turn into unknown paths in the middle.

4. When camping near the Sky Road, be sure to bring tents and overnight thermal gear, sleeping bags, windbreakers, etc. are essential.

Hunshandake

Hunshandake Sandy Land is one of the ten major deserts in China. It is a famous water desert in China. It is located in the southern part of the Xilin Gol Prairie in central Inner Mongolia, 180 kilometers away from Beijing in a straight line, and is the closest sand source to Beijing.

Hunshandake is not only known as a “garden desert” because of its rich water and grass, unique scenery, and beautiful scenery, but it is also a paradise for off-road and camping enthusiasts. Those with some off-road experience can show off their skills here, and of course, the masters are even better. However, safety should still be noted, and you should not take risks easily. Although there is no risk of a car crash, if you don’t handle it well, the car will overturn.

Camping enthusiasts should also come here to experience the bleak and majestic beauty in the desert.

Hunshandake self-driving route: Jingzang Expressway – Danla Expressway – Zhangshi Expressway – Zhangjiakou – Zhangbei – Baochang – Taipu Temple Banner – Zhenglan Banner – Exit the road to start crossing – Dalai Lake – Keshiketeng Banner – Hot Spring Town – Keshiketeng Banner – Ulan Butong Prairie – Hongshan Army Horse Farm – Fengning – Labagoumen – Huairou – Jingcheng Expressway

Route characteristics: This route allows you to experience the thrill of extreme off-roading, crossing mountains, gravel roads, prairie hills and deserts. Driving level: Off-road enthusiast level, crossing the Hunshandake Desert is enough for off-roading.

Off-road conditions: Hills, sand, swamps, mountains, hilly depressions, some grassland ruts, and there will be cases of self-developed roads.

Friendly reminder: This route is long and requires multiple vehicles to travel together. In addition, it requires four-wheel drive off-road vehicles with tow hooks in the front and rear. It is necessary to carry strong tow ropes, shovels, sand boards, and emergency repair tools.

III. Youzhou Canyon

Youzhou Canyon, also known as Guanting Mountain Gorge, Yongding River Canyon, and Yongding River upstream valley, from the Guanting Reservoir dam to Yanhecheng, is the essence of the Yongding River Canyon. The Yongding River rushes into the mountains like a dragon. Here is the real canyon of the Great River. The cliffs on both sides of the valley stand upright. The mountains are composed of limestone and are deeply weathered. The only difference from the famous Three Rivers Secret Realm in Yunnan is that the mountains on both sides of the Yongding River are dry and sparsely vegetated, but the scenery is equally magnificent.

There is a small road along the river that is not marked on the map along the Yongding River line. This is also a route often traversed by off-road enthusiasts. It is a gravel road only one car wide. Only local farm tricycles come and go. The road surface is uneven. There are many bushes on both sides of the road, which can easily scratch the paint. Driving on this section requires certain off-road skills. It is best to drive an off-road vehicle. If it is a sedan, you should be more careful and drive carefully to avoid dragging the bottom. It is best to organize a team to act together.

For camping enthusiasts, the Guanting Reservoir upstream of the Yongding River often opens the gate to release water at regular intervals. Do not camp on the river beach. When resting on the river beach, pay attention to the flow rate and water level changes of the river to prevent accidents.

Youzhou Canyon self-driving route: Beijing – Youzhou Canyon route overview From the Kangzhuang exit of Jingchang Expressway, drive off the expressway. Pass Xiaonanxinbao, Tianmo to Guanting Reservoir dam. After crossing the dam, turn left onto a narrow dirt road, pass a small checkpoint, and enter the Yongding River Canyon. Along the way, pass Jiuzhuangwo, Youzhou to Yanhecheng, return to the asphalt road. Return to Beijing via National Highway 109 in the direction of Zhaitang along the main road.

Route characteristics: The Yongding River Canyon line to Yanhecheng is narrow, with uneven road surface, and thorns grow on both sides of the road.

Driving level: Off-road entry level, all the way to Zhaitang Village in Mentougou District.

Off-road conditions: Gravel road surface, uneven road. Friendly reminder: Do not camp on the river beach.

IV. Kubuqi Desert

Kubuqi Desert is the seventh largest desert in China. “Kubuqi” is Mongolian, meaning the string of a bow. Because it is located below the Yellow River like a string hung on the Yellow River, it is named after it. Kubuqi Desert is the closest desert to Beijing. It covers an area of about 1.45 million hectares, with moving sand dunes accounting for about 61%. It is 400 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide. The sand dunes are 10-60 meters high, like a yellow dragon lying across the northern part of the Ordos Plateau, spanning three banners in Inner Mongolia. The shape is mainly composed of sand dune chains and grid sand dunes.

The most representative section is between Yeming Sha and Qixing Lake, so most people choose this section as the route for crossing, and choose a suitable camping site on this route.

Kubuqi Desert self-driving route: Plan 1: Shenguang Xiangsha Tourist Area via Chagan Ao Bao, Xingnager Temple, Bodhi Jidu Temple, Tiegailiang, Haoqingzhao to Xindeng Highway, a total length of 225 kilometers, with a 103-kilometer desert section, suitable for self-driving camping, desert off-road competitions.

Plan 2: Shenguang Xiangsha Tourist Area to Yeming Sha Tourist Area to Bodhi Jidu Temple, a total length of 39 kilometers, with an estimated time of one to three days. This section has a 5-kilometer long sand section, and the route passes through the edge of the Kubuqi Desert. The terrain is relatively flat. There are some local herders living along the way. During the crossing, you can visit herder homes and experience local customs, taste local folk-style food, and pay your respects to the Bodhi Jidu Temple. You can find suitable places to camp along the way.

Plan 3: Shenguang Xiangsha Tourist Area to Sufang Jun Ancient City Ruins, a total length of 50 kilometers, with an estimated time of two to three days. This section has an 8-kilometer long sand section, the rest of the section is flat sand, and there are a small number of desert plants along the way. This route is suitable for off-road crossing and self-driving camping.

Plan 4: Shenguang Xiangsha Tourist Area to Shila Zhao Temple, a total length of 8 kilometers, with an estimated time of one day. This section is short, but you can fully enjoy the excitement of the large sand section and the large sand section in the desert, and there are many desert plants surrounding it, as well as the Xiangsha Belt, Zahan Daotu, Dong Daotu, and Daotu.

Route characteristics: Desert area and flat terrain with vegetation in the ordinary section. Driving level: Both off-road entry level and enthusiast level routes, suitable for both desert crossing and self-driving camping and sightseeing.

Off-road conditions: Long stretches of sand, requires high off-road skills. Friendly reminder: Pay attention to keeping warm and sun protection, the temperature difference between day and night is very large.

From: Xunye on the Road