Weekend planner: The best lakes around Beijing for day trips

Natural life abounds just a tadpole's jump from Beijing

Beijing is an odd city in that it doesn't have a historic river running through it. We may have a water-ringed Forbidden City, but natural tides of aqua are sorely lacking. So if you're chasing a day trip that will bring you a bit closer to Mother Nature's life source, or if you just fancy upping the humidity a bit, these lakes around Beijing will have you sorted – most don't even require a life jacket.

Shidu

Image: Peretz Partensky via Wikimedia Commons

An enclave of extreme water sports

Shidu is a small town etched around the tenth crossing of the Juma river where Beijing borders Hebei. Deep in the western Fangshan district (yet still within striking distance of the capital) and hemmed in by a spectacular mountainscape, it was only a matter of time before the carnies made their move on Shidu, repurposing a good section of the river into something of an extreme sports aqua-rave.

Shidu features bungee jumping (260RMB), zip lining, cable cars (150RMB) and much more. River activities are aplenty and an hour on a six-person, gondoliered bamboo raft (120RMB per hour), complete with bench chairs, dining table and plastic-leaf awning is a good place to start. Dodgem boats (30RMB for ten minutes), speedboats (30RMB per person) and pedal boats (from 50RMB per 30 minutes) are all also available. For the thrill-seeker, the zip lining looks terrifying and the bungee jumping – corroborated by much screaming – more so.

The mountain section is more inspiring. Head towards the military museum (free and definitely worth it) and turn left till you reach the Tall Mountain Glass Walkway. Entry is 50RMB and includes a knee-buckling 200m stroll over glass on the side of the eponymous pinnacle. The 270-degree view is worth the sweat. Hikers may then descend in a conventional manner, or, as is custom at elevated Chinese attractions, take the creative option (see Great Wall toboggan): a giant glass slide (20RMB).

Getting there Take the 917 bus from Tianqiao Bus Terminal. Important: there are two signs for the 917, and indeed two types of 917 bus. You want the bus stop west of the Beiwei Lu and Dongjing Lu intersection. Buses leave Shidu across the road from the dodgems hourly, the last bus leaving at 4.30pm.

Travel time Three hours.

Cost 21RMB each way.

Qinglonghu

Image: Courtesy Qinglonghu website

Beijing’s biggest freshwater lake

Qinglonghu may not be as famous as the Summer Palace’s Kunming Lake or central Beijing’s Houhai, Beihai and Zhongnanhai, but it contains more water than all of the above combined. With all that water-based fun to be had, it’s no surprise that the shores are lined with campsites, dense forests, meadows and places to rent your own speedboats or pedalos.

For some peace and quiet, head to the park’s edges where you can admire the mountains reflected in the lake’s clear water, or have a secluded barbecue on the sandy beaches. If all this lakeside tranquillity is too idyllic to tear yourself away from, you can camp on the shore or stay in a room at one of the on-site villas in the park (from 300RMB).

Getting there Take Line 6 to Liuliqiao, and then the 983, 339 or 458 bus to Nangong. From there, take the 978 bus to Qinglonghu.

Travel time Two hours.

Cost 20RMB entrance fee.

Baiyangdian

Image: Kaurjmeb via Wikimedia Commons

A sprawling wetland home to diverse natural life

Baiyangdian, China's largest freshwater lake, is comprised of 143 smaller lakes connected by a network of over 3,700 waterways, as well as being the source for nine different rivers. Evidently, aqua is the main event here, but its rich plant and wildlife create sights unlike any within our city limits.

In spring, its wiry brown reeds burst out into greens, while lotus flowers and pads bloom upon the surface of the water, turning the reserve into a pleasantly colourful affair that’s perfect for a peaceful scenic cruise. Peaceful until your speedboat starts a-roarin’, that is.

Eight different paid attractions (40-50RMB each) – gardens, culture parks and even a water park – are found around its shores and are only reachable by boat, with motorised, sailing and rowing options available.

As for food, the staple scoff seems to be duck eggs squeezed out by the lake’s thriving waterfowl population, and there’s plenty to go around; vendors are everywhere, and a bag of six ready-to-eat blue eggs will set you back a mere 10RMB.

Getting there Hop on the high-speed train from Beijing West Station to Baoding East Station (64RMB; around three trains every hour from 6.30am-9.30pm; last train back to Beijing just after 10pm). From there, take a driver to Baiyangdian’s front gate (45km; aim for no more than 150RMB each way).

Travel time Three hours each way (with a private car); five-plus hours (public transport).

Cost 190-360RMB transport; 40RMB entry fee (not including other paid attractions); 100-980RMB boat fee.

Longqing Gorge

Image: jiang-wen-jie via Wikimedia Commons

Jaw-dropping natural rock formations

With such stunning scenery, it’s difficult to believe Longqing Gorge is just an hour-and-a-half drive from central Beijing. Its narrow peaks and dramatic rock faces look like a South East Asian tropical paradise or the incredible limestone peaks along the Li River in China’s own Guilin (as depicted on the back of the 20 yuan note). In fact, the resemblance is so uncanny locals have dubbed Longqing the ‘mini Li River’.

Enter the park and walk through Culture Square. It’s here that the Longqing Ice and Snow Festival is held every winter – a kind of scaled-down version of the famous Harbin fest.

Things you can do at Longqing Gorge include the Flying Dragon Escalator – a bizarre 258-metre-long yellow dragon with six escalators in its fibreglass belly – and an open-top boat cruise along the river (100RMB for 15 minutes). Go in the morning if you can, when the sun’s rays cut through the lingering mist and experience the ancient, ethereal feel of the area. 

The boat drops its passengers at an attraction area downstream. From here, thrill-seekers can bungee (200RMB) or zip line (50RMB) the gorge, while those looking for something a little more serene can check out the charming Diamond Temple, built in 1065. 

You can also rent a small rowing boat (50RMB; maximum three people per boat) and row down a secluded, shady gorge – a particularly beautiful and romantic spot. To head home, board the boat again and you will be ferried back to the start point. Lay back, feel the breeze in your hair, the mist on your face and lap it all up before you have to head back to the city. Because, short of putting on an Avatar DVD or heading south for a vacation, you won’t see the likes of this landscape anywhere else around here.

Getting there Take express bus 919 (5.45am-7pm) from Deshengmen Bus Station (德胜门). Disembark at Yanqing Dongguan (延庆东关) after nine stops. Then take a cab to Longqingxia. 

Travel time One hour and 40 minutes.

Cost 40RMB to enter the park.

Jinhai Lake

Image: Gissing Liu

A sporty lake for those seeking thrills

As one of the city’s three reservoirs, the water in Jinhai Lake is guaranteed to be clean. (Well, as clean as Beijing water gets). Surrounded by beautiful mountains, this spot offers tranquility as well as an adrenaline rush.

The main tourist hub is the reservoir’s massive dam. Those that like to keep their feet firmly on the ground can stroll along the 500-metre path on top of the dam and take in the views. To forge your own path, and get away from the crowds, rent a pedalo (80RMB an hour) or a two-person kayak (100RMB an hour) and head out to a deserted shore.

But for the more adventurous, do not miss the jet skis. Sure, it’s 25RMB a minute, but that smile on your face will stay there for hours after. Technically, you’re not allowed to swim in the lake, but if you get a boat to one of the secluded shores, no one will see you.

Once you’ve squandered all your money on jet skis and speedboats (pricey at 20RMB a minute although you can get a few people on board to split the cost), you might want a cheaper way to enjoy the lake. Jump on one of the tour boats (30RMB) for a 30-minute saunter on the water. Don’t bother with the small temple – it’s a pay-to-pray and isn’t worth it.

Getting there Take the 852 bus from Dongzhimen to Pinggu bus station (17 stops). Then take the 45 bus to Jinhai Lake station (12 stops). 

Travel time Two hours and 30 minutes.

Cost Depends on how much fun you have with the water sports.

For other great places to see around Beijing this spring, hit 'Read more' below. 

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