Best Day Trips from Beijing: Escape the City in 2026
Introduction
Beijing is endlessly fascinating, but after three days of Forbidden City crowds and hutong walking, you may crave a change of scenery. The good news: Beijing’s high-speed rail network and modern highway system put some of northern China’s most spectacular sights within easy day-trip range.
This guide covers the best day trips from Beijing — from the raw, unrestored Great Wall at Jiankou to the imperial summer retreat at Chengde, from the Ming Tombs to the remarkably preserved ancient city of Pingyao. Each trip includes transport options, costs, timing, and sample itineraries.
1. The Great Wall at Jiankou (Wild Wall) ★★★★
Distance from Beijing: 90 km northwest (2.5-hour drive)
Why go: Jiankou is the Great Wall in its raw, unreconstructed state. Unlike the restored sections at Badaling or Mutianyu, Jiankou is wild — crumbling watchtowers, steep ridges, and zero crowds. It’s also the most photogenic section: the Wall snakes over jagged peaks with no modern buildings in sight.
The hike: Jiankou is not for casual walkers. The hike from the Jiankou village to the highest watchtower (Eagle Flies Facing Upward, 鹰飞倒仰) takes 3–4 hours round-trip and involves steep, uneven terrain. Proper hiking boots are essential; sneakers may not suffice.
How to get there:
- Private car: ¥600–¥800 round-trip from Beijing (driver waits). Most convenient.
- Organized tour: ¥400–¥600 per person. Includes transport, guide, and lunch. Search on [GetYourGuide affiliate link].
- Public transport (not recommended): Involves multiple buses and a long walk from the drop-off point.
Tips:
- Go with a guide if it’s your first time. The Wall at Jiankou is unrestored — loose stones, steep drop-offs, and navigation challenges are real.
- Start early (7:00 AM departure from Beijing) to maximize daylight.
- Bring 2L of water per person, sunscreen, and a hat.
Combine with: Mutianyu. Many hikers do a one-way Jiankou → Mutianyu trek (4–5 hours), then take the cable car/toboggan down at Mutianyu. Requires a car shuffle or a guide who arranges transport.
2. Chengde Mountain Resort (承德避暑山庄) ★★★★
Distance from Beijing: 250 km northeast (3-hour high-speed train)
Why go: Chengde was the Qing emperors’ summer retreat — a massive imperial garden complex (twice the size of the Summer Palace) set against a backdrop of rolling hills. The surrounding “Eight Outer Temples” (外八庙) blend Han Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian architectural styles and are spectacular.
The Mountain Resort: A UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s part imperial palace, part natural landscape garden. Unlike the geometric precision of Beijing’s imperial gardens, Chengde’s gardens mimic natural landscapes — miniature mountains, lakes, and forests.
The Eight Outer Temples: The most famous is Putuo Zongcheng (the “Little Potala Palace”), a replica of Tibet’s Potala Palace. It’s stunning — massive, white-walled, gold-topped, and set against a pine-covered hill.
How to get there:
- High-speed train: Beijing Chaoyang Station → Chengde South Station. 1 hour. ¥85–¥130. Then a 20-minute taxi to the Mountain Resort.
- Private car: 3.5 hours. ¥800–¥1,200 round-trip.
- Organized tour: ¥500–¥800 per person.
Tickets:
- Mountain Resort: ¥90 (peak), ¥60 (off-peak).
- Putuo Zongcheng Temple: ¥40.
Sample itinerary (day trip):
- 7:00 AM: High-speed train from Beijing Chaoyang Station.
- 10:00 AM: Arrive at Mountain Resort. Explore the palace and gardens (3 hours).
- 1:00 PM: Lunch in Chengde city (try the local specialty: game meat dishes).
- 2:30 PM: Visit Putuo Zongcheng Temple (2 hours).
- 5:00 PM: High-speed train back to Beijing.
- 8:00 PM: Arrive Beijing.
Where to stay (if overnight): Chengde has several comfortable hotels. The Chengde Mountain Resort Hotel is inside the scenic area (¥800+/night). For a splurge, the Aman Chengde (opening soon as of 2026) will be extraordinary.
3. Pingyao Ancient City (平遥古城) ★★★★
Distance from Beijing: 600 km southwest (4-hour high-speed train)
Why go: Pingyao is a stunningly preserved Ming-era walled city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike Beijing’s hutongs (which have been partially demolished and redeveloped), Pingyao’s entire old city is intact — 6 km of Ming dynasty city walls, 400+ Ming/Qing courtyard buildings, and cobblestone streets that have changed little in 400 years.
The experience: Pingyao is best experienced as an overnight trip, but a very long day trip is possible with an early start. The city is car-free (electric carts only inside the walls), and the atmosphere after dark — lantern-lit streets, traditional courtyard hotels, and the sound of guzheng music — is magical.
How to get there:
- High-speed train: Beijing West Station → Pingyao Ancient City Station. 4 hours. ¥180–¥280. Then a 15-minute taxi/bus to the ancient city.
- Overnight recommended: Take the train in the afternoon, spend the night in a courtyard hotel, explore the next day, and return the following evening.
Tickets: ¥125 (combined ticket, valid for 3 days). Includes entry to the city walls, Rishengchang (the first draft bank in China), the County Government Office, and 15+ other sights.
Must-see:
- City Walls: Walk the full 6 km circuit (2 hours). The sunset view from the walls is spectacular.
- Rishengchang Draft Bank: The first bank in Chinese history. Fascinating glimpse into Qing-era finance.
- County Government Office: A beautifully preserved Ming-era yamen (government office), complete with courtrooms and prison cells.
- Shuanglin Temple: 6 km outside the city. Houses 2,000+ stunning clay sculptures from the Ming dynasty. Often called the “oriental art gallery.”
Where to eat: Pingyao’s specialty is Pingyao beef (平遥牛肉) — dried, spiced beef that’s sliced thin and eaten as a snack. Also try Kao Laoren (烤姥姥) — a local noodle dish.
Where to stay: Pingyao Yide Hotel (courtyard hotel inside the city, ¥400–¥800/night). [Booking.com affiliate link]
4. The Ming Tombs (明十三陵) ★★★
Distance from Beijing: 50 km northwest (1-hour drive)
Why go: The final resting place of 13 Ming emperors, set in a tranquil valley. Two tombs are open to visitors: Changling (Emperor Yongle’s tomb — the largest and most impressive) and Dingling (the only tomb that’s been excavated; you can descend into the underground palace).
Changling: The most impressive above-ground structure. The Hall of Eminent Favor (Ling’en Dian) is built entirely of nanmu wood (rare, fragrant timber) and is the largest such hall in China after the Forbidden City’s Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Dingling: The underground palace is the main draw — you descend 27 meters below ground into a series of marble chambers where the emperor’s sarcophagus once sat. It’s slightly claustrophobic but fascinating.
How to get there:
- Combine with Great Wall: Most [Klook affiliate link] day tours combine Badaling Great Wall + Ming Tombs. Convenient if you’re doing Badaling anyway.
- Public transport: Subway Line 2 to Jishuitan, then Bus 872 to the Ming Tombs. 2 hours total.
- Didi: ¥120–¥180 round-trip (driver may not wait; arrange pickup time).
Tickets: ¥45 (Changling), ¥60 (Dingling). Combined: ¥80.
Time needed: 2–3 hours for both tombs.
5. Tianjin (天津) ★★★
Distance from Beijing: 120 km southeast (30-minute high-speed train — the shortest intercity high-speed link in China)
Why go: Tianjin is Beijing’s coastal cousin — a port city with a completely different vibe. It’s famous for its European-style architecture (a legacy of being a treaty port), its food street (delicious local snacks), and the Tianjin Eye (a Ferris wheel on a bridge).
Highlights:
- Italian Style Street (意式风情区): A district of Italian Renaissance buildings, built when Tianjin was a concessions city. Great for photos and coffee.
- Tianjin Eye: A 120-meter Ferris wheel built on the Yongle Bridge over the Haihe River. ¥70; 30-minute ride.
- Ancient Culture Street (古文化街): Traditional shops selling Yangliuqing New Year prints, clay figurines, and local snacks.
- Food: Tianjin is famous for jianbing (which originated here and is slightly different from Beijing’s version), erguotou (strong liquor), and mahua (fried dough twist, a local snack).
How to get there:
- High-speed train: Beijing South Station → Tianjin Station. 30 minutes. ¥54.5. Trains run every 10–15 minutes from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
- Return: Trains run just as frequently. Tianjin is easily a half-day or full-day trip.
Sample itinerary:
- 8:00 AM: High-speed train from Beijing South.
- 9:00 AM: Arrive Tianjin. Walk the Italian Style Street.
- 11:00 AM: Visit the Tianjin Eye.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at Ancient Culture Street (try the local jianbing and mahua).
- 3:00 PM: Walk along the Haihe River promenade.
- 5:00 PM: High-speed train back to Beijing.
- 6:00 PM: Arrive Beijing.
6. Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall (古北水镇 + 司马台长城) ★★★★
Distance from Beijing: 120 km northeast (2-hour drive)
Why go: Gubei Water Town is a newly built (but beautifully designed) water town at the base of the Simatai Great Wall. It’s a bit theme-park-ish, but the setting is spectacular — a mountain-backed water town with stone bridges, canals, and traditional architecture. And Simatai is the only section of the Great Wall open for night tours — an unforgettable experience.
Simatai Great Wall: Wilder than Mutianyu, more accessible than Jiankou. The night tour (available on select days) lets you walk a lit section of the Wall under the stars.
Gubei Water Town: Think Venice meets a Chinese mountain town. There are hot springs, boutique hotels, and excellent restaurants. It’s touristy but undeniably beautiful.
How to get there:
- Direct bus: Depart fromBeijing East Railway Station (Beijing Dong Zhan). 2 hours. ¥48. Runs 4 times/day.
- Didi: ¥250–¥350 round-trip.
- Organized tour: ¥400–¥600 per person.
Tickets:
- Gubei Water Town: ¥140.
- Simatai Great Wall: ¥40.
- Combined: ¥170.
- Night tour (Simatai): ¥180 (must book ahead; limited slots).
Overnight recommended: Gubei has beautiful boutique hotels inside the water town. Waking up there, with the Wall visible from your balcony, is special. Hotels: ¥800–¥2,500/night. [Booking.com affiliate link]
7. Hohhot and Inner Mongolia Grasslands ★★★
Distance from Beijing: 500 km northwest (2-hour high-speed train)
Why go: For a completely different landscape — the Mongolian grasslands. Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia, and from there you can take a 1.5-hour drive to the grasslands, stay in a yurt, ride horses, and eat lamb roasted in a Mongolian-style earthen oven.
Note: This is best as an overnight trip (2 days, 1 night). The grasslands deserve more than a rushed day trip.
How to get there:
- High-speed train: Beijing North Station → Hohhot East Station. 2 hours. ¥215–¥320.
- From Hohhot to grasslands: Hire a car/guide (¥400–¥600 for the day).
What to do:
- Horseback riding: ¥100–¥200/hour.
- Yurt stay: ¥200–¥500/night. Basic but memorable.
- Mongolian hot pot: The lamb in Inner Mongolia is exceptional.
8. Shijiazhuang and Zhaozhou Bridge (石家庄 + 赵州桥) ★★
Distance from Beijing: 280 km south (1-hour high-speed train)
Why go: Zhaozhou Bridge (also called Anji Bridge) is the oldest standing stone arch bridge in the world, built in 605 AD during the Sui dynasty. It’s a remarkable piece of ancient engineering and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bridge: A single-arch stone bridge that has survived 1,400+ years of floods, earthquakes, and wars. It’s beautiful and historically significant — but small. You’ll spend 30–45 minutes here.
How to get there:
- High-speed train: Beijing West → Shijiazhuang. 1 hour. ¥125–¥190.
- From Shijiazhuang to Zhaozhou Bridge: Bus or taxi (1 hour, ¥80–¥120).
Combine with: Shijiazhuang has a decent museum (Hebei Museum) and some pleasant parks, but it’s not a major tourist destination. This day trip is for history/engineering buffs rather than general tourists.
Day Trip Summary Table
| Destination | Travel Time (one-way) | Best Transport | Cost (round-trip, per person) | Worth Overnighting? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiankou Great Wall | 2.5 hours | Private car | ¥300–¥400 | No (long day is fine) |
| Chengde | 3 hours (train) | High-speed train | ¥170–¥260 | Yes (2 days ideal) |
| Pingyao | 4 hours (train) | High-speed train | ¥360–¥560 | Yes (must overnight) |
| Ming Tombs | 1 hour | Combine with Great Wall tour | ¥50–¥100 | No |
| Tianjin | 30 minutes (train) | High-speed train | ¥110 | No (day trip fine) |
| Gubei Water Town | 2 hours | Direct bus or Didi | ¥100–¥350 | Yes (magical at night) |
| Inner Mongolia | 2 hours (train) | High-speed train | ¥430–¥640 | Yes (2–3 days ideal) |
| Zhaozhou Bridge | 1 hour (train) | High-speed train | ¥250–¥380 | No |
Booking Day Tours: Our Affiliate Recommendations
If you prefer the convenience of an organized day tour (transport, guide, lunch, and entry tickets all arranged), we recommend booking through these platforms:
- [GetYourGuide affiliate link] — Excellent selection of Beijing day tours, English-speaking guides, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
- [Klook affiliate link] — Strong in Asia, good prices, easy mobile booking.
- Trip.com — The best platform for booking Chinese day tours specifically. English interface, accepts foreign cards.
What’s typically included: Round-trip transport (air-conditioned bus or private car), English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, and lunch (usually at a local restaurant).
What’s not included: Tips for the guide (¥50–¥100 per person, optional but appreciated), personal expenses, and drinks.
Final Tips for Day Trips from Beijing
- Start early. Chinese tourist groups typically depart Beijing at 7:00–7:30 AM. If you’re independent, leaving at 6:30 AM lets you beat the crowds at popular sites.
- Bring your passport. You’ll need it for train tickets, attraction tickets, and hotel check-in (if overnighting).
- Download offline maps. Google Maps doesn’t work reliably in China. Download the offline Beijing map in Apple Maps before you travel, or use Baidu Maps (Chinese only).
- Carry cash. ¥200–¥300 in small bills. Rural areas and small restaurants may not accept Alipay or foreign cards.
- Check the AQI. On high-pollution days, outdoor day trips (especially Great Wall hikes) are less enjoyable. Consider rescheduling or choosing an indoor destination (museum, temple).
Last updated: July 2026