The best summer escape – the coolest Tianlu in northern Beijing

Number of days: 2 days
Time: July
Average cost: 500 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: Self-driving, free travel
The author went to these places: Beijing

Driving thousands of miles, I headed for the grasslands... Escaping the city, I sought coolness... The prairie, here I come!
Watching the sunrise at Qiansongba
They say that if you keep thinking about something, it will surely come true. It was early winter two years ago, watching the sunrise on Beijing's First Road in the north, and deep in my heart, I said to the lonely and gorgeous winter sun before me: I want to see a grassland filled with flowers... And so, in July, when flowers were everywhere, I arrived at Beijing's First Road in the north. Yes, this was a chance encounter. Hidden green mountains and vast expanses of water, the winding, undulating road unfurls the summer beauty of Beijing's first highway. To watch the sunrise on the grasslands, you must choose the eastern peak of Qiansongba Primeval Forest. Even as dawn seems to have barely broken, our car has already reached the summit, just for the morning sun to bloom, just for the crimson fireball leaping from the mountains. Just for the flowers, the greenery, the lushness, the coolness and beauty that blanket the mountains.

This season, the mountain flowers are charming, the mountains are romantic, and there are also children laughing and playing here and there, and the laughter and flowing dresses of innocent and beautiful girls. Yes, this season, the pine trees in Qiansongba are lush and green. Qiansongba in summer is a tender blend of nature. Distant mountains, shrouded in mist, seem to hesitate to speak. A rich morning glow scatters across the horizon, like a veil covering the rising sun. Indeed, this veil paints countless longings. The morning glow, each stroke thick and thin, is perfectly balanced, creating a vibrant scene everywhere, a painting.

Of course, amidst the lush greenery of summer, the blue sky and white clouds are the most brilliant embellishment. Most beautiful are the wildflowers and the vibrant colors of the various vegetation. Every tree, every leaf, every blooming flower, even every blade of grass, strives to open its arms, releasing its own interpretation and commentary of this refreshing summer.

This stunning Sky Road, comprised of roads, lakes, and pristine forests, forms the "Three Rings, Two Lakes, and Twelve Scenic Spots." The seasons are distinct, and time revolves around them. The rolling mountains, rolling grasslands, and the windmills perched atop the mountaintops are all nature's most beautiful gifts.

The outline of time lingers in summer, a trace of light filtered through the early morning sunrise. The windmills spin, their speed a fate, a repetition of the wheel of time. Countless languages speak, perhaps all the same words: amidst these mountains, who can see the world, all living things, themselves?

From the observation deck here, you can see three towns from one mountain: Sichakou Township in the east, Datan Town in the west, and Yuershan Town in the north. This place is now called the Tiandi T-stage. This T-stage is a display of the stunning beauty of the Tianlu. At an altitude of 1,876 meters above sea level, it is the highest point of the Tianlu in northern Beijing.
Mountains are mountains, water is water. Right now, I cannot comprehend the richness of summer. The sun has already jumped out from the mountains, reflecting the clear water and blue sky. This beauty will surely be imprinted in my heart, a memory that will never be dispelled as time passes.

After watching the sunrise, we drove down the mountain. Not far down the rolling mountain road, we saw Princess Lake. The reflection of the water was crystal clear. It was early morning, and a group of cows walked forward by the lake. The pastoral scene before our eyes was breathtakingly beautiful.

Continue along the undulating Sky Road to Prince Lake, where the beautiful love legend of the Spruce Prince and the Birch Princess is told. The lake reflects the lush green pine forest, separated by the spruce forest. This year, there has been more rain, perhaps reflecting the endless longing between Princess Lake and Prince Lake.

The spruce forests here, with their diverse shapes and canopies resembling umbrellas, are the largest preserved virgin spruce forests in North China, truly the crown of its forests. Horses occasionally roam the woods and grasslands, adding an unparalleled touch to this stunning landscape.

Following the direction of the light, the sun has already sent down its rays. In this season of blooming flowers and flowing clouds, I walked through the Qiansongba primeval forest, the first road in northern Beijing, China's most beautiful forest. Entering the cool, beautiful, and unrestrained Sky Road, the coolness of this mountainous area and the rolling grasslands brought coolness to me. While the summer heat is unbearable, I gave myself a generous gift and walked into the first road in northern Beijing, seeking the beautiful coolness in my heart.

There’s a lot of fun in the Birch Forest Happy Valley

On the first day of your trip to northern Beijing, do you think it’s just about seeing the beautiful scenery and enjoying the cool air? You're wrong! There's also Baihualin Happy Valley, where you can't stop enjoying the excitement.

The Shenzhou UFO's movements were a bit gentle, but they looked majestic in the camera.
Of course, the pendulum also showed no signs of weakness, hovering high in the sky. While there's no sense of weightlessness, gazing at the grassland from a height is still breathtaking.
There's a lot of fun to be had in Birch Forest Happy Valley. The moon-gazing tour lets you experience the rhythm of landing in space, and the feeling of weightlessness will make you scream. It's said to be the most stress-relieving and exciting activity. There's also a children's development area with various challenging projects that will help children develop their physical coordination, courage, and energy. Here, children will also enjoy the romantic carousel, fruit tornado, and the lucky cat roller coaster. Come and have fun on the prairie.
Tips: Qiansongba National Forest Park is located in Datan Town, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City. It lies at the intersection of the Bashang Plateau and the mountains of northern Hebei. It is a key component of the "First Grassland North of Beijing" and is named for the tens of thousands of pristine spruce trees growing in its valleys and gullies. The scenic area, covering a total area of 100 square kilometers, is a natural ecotourism destination integrating mountains, forests, grasslands, and wetlands. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, with an average summer temperature of 17.4°C. The altitude ranges from 1,550 to 1,892 meters. The scenic area is 70 kilometers from Fengning County, 213 kilometers from Chengde City, 240 kilometers from downtown Beijing, and 230 kilometers from downtown Zhangjiakou. It's ideal for self-driving trips.