Pinggu District

A dramatic 6-km canyon carved through granite mountains, featuring sheer cliffs, waterfalls, natural pools, and suspension bridges. The canyon offers five scenic areas connected by wooden boardwalks and stone paths clinging to cliff faces. Highlights include the 30-meter-high First Waterfall, crystal-clear natural pools for wading (summer only), and a terrifying glass observation deck extending over the gorge. A 1,000-meter-long cable car provides breathtaking canyon views. The hike through the entire canyon takes about 3 hours one-way; many visitors take the cable car back. Spring brings wildflowers; summer offers waterfall swimming; autumn colors are stunning.

Hours: 7:30–17:30 (Apr–Oct) / 8:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar)
Admission: ¥78 (Apr–Oct) / ¥50 (Nov–Mar). Cable car ¥80.

Beijing's largest lake and water recreation area, covering 6.5 square kilometers surrounded by forested hills. The lake offers swimming beaches, boating, kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, and even parasailing. A large scenic park surrounds the lake with walking paths, pagodas, and viewing platforms. It's one of the few places near Beijing suitable for summer swimming with acceptable water quality. The 20-meter-high observation deck on the lakeside hill provides panoramic views. Weekend family picnics and team-building events are popular. Water sports season runs from May to October; the park remains scenic year-round.

Hours: 8:00–17:30 (Apr–Oct) / 8:30–17:00 (Nov–Mar)
Admission: ¥36. Water activities ¥30–150 depending on activity.

A scenic canyon featuring unusual rock formations and Beijing's most thrilling glass observation platform. The UFO-shaped titanium alloy glass viewing platform (钛合金飞碟玻璃观景台) extends 32.8 meters from a cliff edge at 800m elevation on Longwangding Peak — that's 11.4 meters longer than the Grand Canyon Skywalk in the USA, and at the time of completion in 2016 it was the world's largest cantilevered glass platform. The platform is made from aviation-grade titanium alloy (TC4) and features a near-transparent floor. Mid-mountain, the Seven Color Pools (七彩池) are a series of calcium-deposit pools that glow in gradient shades of Tiffany blue, emerald green, and amber — naturally colored by mineral-rich mountain spring water. For the adventurous, the 298-step "suspended ladder" (悬空天梯) iron-chain bridge sways gently over the canyon. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking; summer offers waterfall viewing. Cable car (100 yuan R/T) available for those who prefer not to hike the 1.5-hour steep trail.

Hours: 7:30–18:00 (Apr–Oct) / 8:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar)
Admission: ¥68 (Apr–Oct) / ¥50 (Nov–Mar). Glass platform ¥40 additional. Cable car ¥100 round-trip.

Every April, Pinggu transforms into a sea of pink as 100,000 mu (6,600 hectares) of peach trees burst into bloom. It's one of northern China's largest and most famous flower festivals, attracting photographers and nature lovers from across the country. The best viewing areas include Xiaoyu'ertun Village and the roads around Dahuashan Town. Many orchards open to visitors for blossom viewing and local produce tasting. Pinggu peaches are famous nationwide — the district produces 15% of China's peaches. Visit mid-April for peak blooms. Local farmers sell peach-related products, from peach blossom tea to peach jam.

Best Time: Early–mid April (varies yearly with weather)
Admission: Free blossom viewing. Some orchards charge ¥10–20 entry.

Home to Beijing's most thrilling glass observation platform — a UFO-shaped glass deck that extends 32 meters over a cliff edge at 400 meters elevation. The platform's transparent floor offers a heart-stopping view straight down the canyon. The scenic area also features dramatic rock formations (石林, "stone forest"), waterfalls, and forested hiking trails winding through granite cliffs. The hike to the glass platform takes about 1.5 hours one-way (moderate difficulty); electric carts are available for ¥30. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking; summer offers waterfall views. The glass platform is not for the faint of heart but delivers unmatched mountain views. Cable car (¥100 round-trip) saves a steep climb.

Hours: 7:30–18:00 (Apr–Oct) / 8:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar)
Admission: ¥68 (Apr–Oct) / ¥50 (Nov–Mar). Glass platform ¥40 additional. Cable car ¥100 R/T.

A unique mountain area named after a massive granite rock formation that resembles a giant elephant ("Lao Xiangfeng" means "Old Elephant Peak"). The 8-km hiking trail passes through pine forests, stone steps carved into cliff faces, natural caves, and the famous elephant-shaped rock at the summit (1,200m elevation). The trail is moderately challenging — allow 3-4 hours round-trip. Spring wildflowers and autumn foliage make the hike especially beautiful. The site is less crowded than Jingdong Canyon, offering a more peaceful hiking experience. At the summit, the view encompasses Pinggu's entire mountain range. A hidden gem for hiking enthusiasts who want to avoid tour groups.

Hours: 8:00–17:00 (daily)
Admission: ¥45.

One of northern China's largest karst cave systems, discovered in 1989 and open to the public since 1991. The cave stretches over 6,000 meters with more than 100 chambers featuring spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers, and stone pillars illuminated by colorful LED lighting. The cave maintains a constant 15°C year-round — a natural air-conditioned escape in summer and a warm refuge in winter. Highlights include the "Dragon King's Palace" chamber, the crystal-clear underground lake, and the 30-meter-high "Sky Pillar" stalagmite. A 1.5-hour guided tour covers the main chambers. Combine with nearby Jingdong Canyon for a full day (they're 15 min apart by car).

Hours: 8:00–17:00 (daily)
Admission: ¥82. Guided tour included.

A sacred mountain with over 1,300 years of religious history, named for its two peaked summits that resemble a young girl's hair buns (丫髻). The mountain is home to a Taoist temple complex dating back to the Tang Dynasty, with the most important temples rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The annual Yaji Mountain Temple Fair (April–May) is one of Beijing's oldest and largest, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims. The hike to the twin summits (both ~360m) takes about 1.5 hours round-trip on stone steps through pine forests. The view from the top encompasses the entire Pinggu Basin. The temple fair period is the most atmospheric time to visit — but expect crowds. Off-season visits offer peaceful forest walks and Taoist temple exploration.

Hours: 8:00–17:00 (daily)
Admission: ¥50. Temple fair period ¥60.

A dramatic mountain scenic area featuring sheer cliffs, natural stone bridges, and a glass skywalk along vertical cliff faces. The highlight is the "Sky Bridge" (天桥) — a natural stone arch spanning 30 meters across a 300-meter-deep gorge, formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. The hiking trail (moderate difficulty, 2-3 hours round-trip, 4.8 km loop) passes through pine forests, along cliff-edge pathways with iron chain handrails, and directly across the natural stone bridge — standing on it offers 360-degree views of the ravine. The glass skywalk section (30 yuan additional) clings to the vertical cliff face 200 meters above the canyon floor. The mountain is especially beautiful in autumn when the surrounding forest turns crimson and gold. Less commercialized than Shilinxia, making it a favorite among serious hikers. Bring proper hiking boots — the cliff-edge sections require sure footing and the trail has steep unprotected sections.

Hours: 7:30–17:30 (Apr–Oct) / 8:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar)
Admission: ¥60. Glass skywalk ¥30 additional.

A spectacular mountain road featuring nine major curves and eighteen bends (九曲十八弯) winding through Pinggu's eastern highlands near the Hebei border. The road itself is the attraction — each hairpin curve offers a new panoramic vista of terraced valleys, chestnut orchards, and distant mountain peaks. The route is especially popular with road-trippers and motorcyclists for its engineering marvel — the road climbs 600 meters in elevation over just 12 km with gradients exceeding 8%. Along the route, small dirt pull-offs at each major curve offer photo stops, and local farmers sell chestnuts, peaches, and wild mountain herbs from roadside stands. The road connects to the "Tianyun Mountain" and "Glass Terrace" viewing platform area. Best visited in autumn (October-early November) when the mountain trees turn brilliant red, gold, and orange — the ribbon of asphalt winding through colorful hills is a photographer's dream. The drive from Pinggu District center takes about 40 minutes each way. Self-driving is essential.

Hours: Accessible 24/7 (scenic road)
Admission: Free to drive. Small parking fees (¥5-10) at viewpoints.