Can't resist the summer heat? Take a trendy summer trip to the Beijing suburbs

  • Number of days:4 days
  • Time: August
  • Average cost: 5,000 yuan
  • With whom:a person
  • Tour kinds: Food, Photography, Self-driving, Independent Travel, Small Business, Saving Money, Weekend Tour
  • The author went to these places: Beijing Yanqi Lake Yunfeng Mountain Fairytale Tree House Black Dragon Pool Scenic Area Happy Squirrel Valley Miyun Reservoir Temple of Heaven Kempinski
  • Updated: 2022.06.30

Foreword


The summer of 2021 in Beijing was the hottest and humidest year I've ever been in Beijing.
The dense and abundant rain seemed to want to swallow up the entire city's heat.
However, whether in the city or in the suburbs, the endless water storage in various districts added a bit of anxiety to the heat.
After being squeezed by city life for a long time, a "trendy" summer trip exclusively to the suburbs of Beijing is the best way to relieve stress.
This time, I @小块头UP independently drove the fifth-generation Tucson L to find the most fashionable way to check in this summer.
You can watch the most stunning sunset at the Bulaotun Observatory together;
stay in a B&B with its own starry sky canopy for stargazing;
experience the latest trendy luxury camping trips;
you might even stumble upon the Miyun Reservoir Dam, a setting for Hayao Miyazaki's comics;
stumble upon the hidden urban paradise of Huatian Mountain Residence;
follow a fugitive princess on her journey back to a European castle-style winery;
enjoy a socialite afternoon tea at the trendiest hotel in Yanqi Lake;
and of course, don't forget to try some authentic iron pot braised fish.
Think those are the coolest ways to do it?
No, no, no!
The most delightful part of my 4-day, 3-night road trip with the fifth-generation Tucson L was the "little unexpected incident."
For more hidden gems and tips, follow me closely!
Without further ado, here are some beautiful pictures

Most visitors are stargazers yearning for the starry sky. Forgive my poor photography skills for not being able to capture the moment for you.
Along the wild roads of Bulaotun Village stands the Synaptic Aperture Radio Telescope Array, comprised of 28 parabolic antennas with a diameter of 9 meters. The station's crown jewel is the 50-meter radio telescope. In addition, a 30-meter FAST experimental model has been built. Looking at the large and small "pot lids" along the road, you can instantly step into a sci-fi blockbuster. Best of all, there's no entrance fee; as long as you park in an orderly manner, you can pose for as many poses as you want. If you want to be a sweet European and American hottie, the "monster" here as a backdrop is simply too good to be true.
Of course, the premise is to arrive early enough. The later it gets in the evening, the more stargazers will come here to wait.

If, like me, you're not particularly interested in the stars, then waiting for the most beautiful sunset here is also a very good choice. While waiting for the sunset, I couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. These magnificent objects are exploring the mysteries of the universe, and I felt the insignificance of human beings. The little sorrows of being trapped in steel and concrete for a long time are really insignificant in the universe. We should always maintain the best attitude and record every inch of beauty.

The sunset is fleeting, so if you're traveling independently like me, find a good camera position and secure your equipment for easy filming. Of course, there will be other passersby here, so you can ask them for help.

The fifth-generation Tucson L really blends in perfectly with this sci-fi scene. Illuminated by the setting sun, the eagle-wing LED daytime running lights, the three-dimensional, gleaming front grille, and the sleek, muscular body exude a sense of both technology and artistry, making it impossible not to capture its most beautiful profile. My favorite thing about this car's appearance is its distinctive muscular lines. Even without a boyfriend, I feel the boyfriend power at its peak. It could definitely be my most handsome rider, protecting me on the road.
While capturing the fifth-generation Tucson L's most beautiful looks, I won't give up on capturing my own. Styling my car from multiple angles is a must-have skill for any woman. Believe in yourself, you're definitely the most beautiful kid in this Bulao Village. If you don’t want to be so close to the “universe”, I also saw the “Big Pot Cover” from a distance while accidentally driving to the Yunfeng Mountain Fairy Tale Tree House. This is also the joy of exploration that the fifth-generation Tucson L brings me. Don't be afraid to travel just because you're alone. As long as you have a heart for a "trendy" summer trip, follow @小块头UP's guide and you're guaranteed to be right.

[Treasure Hunt Tips Summary]
?No entrance fee?, the water level in Miyun has risen recently, and some small sections of the road are closed and not fully accessible.
?Whether you are stargazing or watching the sunset, sunscreen and mosquito repellent are essential items.
?The technological and magical scenes are very suitable for taking your car out for photos.
?There are many popular B&Bs, which need to be booked in advance, 3-4 days in advance on weekdays and 1-2 weeks in advance on weekends.
Surrounding short trips: Miyun Reservoir, Baihe Bridge, Heilongtan Scenic Area, etc., all of which are natural and cultural. You used to be able to camp along the way, but camping is not recommended due to the recent water level rise.

Bulao Mountain Residence - Stargazing at the Starry Sky B&B

It was already evening when I checked in. Everyone was free to sing in the B&B's self-service KTV. Don't be shy. If you're traveling alone and don't want to be lonely, I'm best at fitting in when I can hang out with other people. I can sing freely and happily.

The B&B also has a well-behaved, internet-famous dog named "Naonao" who loves to eat Gong pears. He's very friendly and well-behaved. If you're staying here, he'll definitely follow you around. Although it was just a short trip, but as a kid with camping plans, I still prepared a lot of props for myself. The fifth-generation Tucson L I drove this time has a generous 583L trunk. If needed, the rear seats fold flat, transforming it into a spacious 1904L. I feel like I could even fit an air mattress on a sleepover trip. I packed a minimalist camping kit, including a tent, a canopy, outdoor tables and chairs, a picnic mat, and some beautiful props for taking beautiful photos. For overnight stays, you'll also need to bring a moisture-proof mat, sleeping bag, pillow, and lantern. Bring a barbecue or outdoor gas stove, as well as snacks and food. Most importantly, mosquito repellent and coils are essential; the mosquitoes are truly infested. Even though it's packed with gear, the spacious trunk is still plenty room for those quick roadside stops. I can sit comfortably in the trunk and capture the moments I want to capture. After a delightful day at Bulao Mountain Residence and a simple farmhouse meal prepared by the owner, I was ready to head to my next stop, camping. Although I'm a woman, owning a fifth-generation Tucson L means I can easily enjoy my own road trip, safely and comfortably. The dirt road to Bulao Mountain Residence was also bumpy and muddy. Due to the rising water level of Miyun Reservoir in recent days, there are small gates opened to release water on the road section here. Equipped with Hyundai SmartStream's new generation powertrain, my car can achieve both fuel efficiency and power, and can handle various road conditions easily and naturally. The driving experience is superb.

[Treasure Guide TIPS Summary]
??Address: Bulao·Shanju - north side of the intersection of Liuxin Road and Huangtukan Road, Huangtukan Village, Bulaotun Town, Miyun District, Beijing
??Navigation: Just search "Bulao·Shanju" on the map
??Parking: Free parking available
?Meals: Home-cooked meals can be ordered, and accommodation includes breakfast?Room types: Stargazing tents, lake viewing, moon viewing, mountain viewing, pond viewing cabins, as well as small courtyards for multi-person gatherings, with varying prices
?Suitable for: family gatherings, couples traveling, and girlfriends traveling
?Surrounding attractions: Miyun Observatory, Yunfeng Mountain, Happy Squirrel Valley, Black Dragon Pond, Taoyuan Fairy Valley, and Human Flower Sea

Camping Trip——The most "trendy" INS light luxury camping

I own a fifth-generation Tucson L, and as much as I love the outdoors, I also love challenges and change. I also found this campground perfect for self-driving adventures, with ample parking, perfect for novice drivers. The fifth-generation Tucson L I was traveling with boasted a 10.4-inch central control screen and the Hyundai SmartSense safety system, equipped with ultrasonic radar, millimeter-wave radar, and a high-definition camera. Finally, there's a solution for those struggling with reverse parking.

[Treasure Hunt Tips Summary]
? Sunlight Valley
- Located in Miyun, this is a luxury natural resort camping paradise perfect for families.
- It offers complete camping equipment, RV sites, and an all-inclusive package for dining, accommodation, and entertainment.
- The park also offers a wide range of recreational activities, including a sports park, ATV and go-kart tracks.
- It's quite popular and crowded, making ticket and tent reservations difficult.

? Hot Wilderness
- Currently the most Instagram-famous campsite in Beijing, with very mature campsites in Beijing, its surrounding areas and even across the country
- Suitable for experiencing the joy of manual camping. The coach will teach you how to set up camping equipment, avoiding moving-style camping and being fully equipped
- Suitable for young people

Miyun Reservoir Tour - Accidentally Entering a Scene from Hayao Miyazaki's Cartoons

Leaving the most "trendy" Instagram-famous camping base, I planned to play around the Miyun Reservoir Dam. My fifth-generation Tucson L, with its incredibly comprehensive intelligent voice control system, let me open QQ Music and play the familiar song "All the Way North" with my voice. The six speakers throughout the car were incredibly loud. The seamless ability to switch between smart devices and even connect to other devices with Bluetooth made it a breeze for me, a solo trip. I could enjoy a relaxing, trendy summer trip just the way I wanted. Miyun Reservoir is enormous—truly enormous! It's Beijing's largest source of drinking water. This year is likely the year the Miyun Reservoir overflowed. Because it encompasses the entire reservoir, the dam is divided into a main dam and a secondary dam. Vehicles are prohibited on the dam itself, so those who wish to take photos must park at either end. The scene from Hayao Miyazaki's comics that all girls love is right here. On one side is a village, and on the other side is a reservoir, giving it a full Japanese atmosphere. I just need to use the intelligent voice function on the fifth-generation Tucson L to search for Miyun S313, park the car at a certain section and walk to the small house. Of course, if you don’t have to take a picture of the small house, you can take pictures of the beautiful sunset at both the main dam and the auxiliary dam. My car stopped briefly when traffic wasn't very dense, and I snapped a photo. This is probably the only highway photo I took during the entire trip. Hahaha, I was pretty quick when I think about it. If you want to take more secure photos, you can wait until sunrise when traffic is less dense.

Huatian Shanju – A Utopia Hidden in the City

After driving here, I didn't want to leave. I just wanted to stay quietly and enjoy my own pastoral time.
The courtyard's housekeeper also suggested that in addition to enjoying a leisurely time in this pristine courtyard, you can also go fishing, boating, and hiking nearby.
If the whole family is traveling by car or for company team building, the courtyard can not only provide normal meals but also prepare barbecue ingredients. The barbecue in the courtyard is really beautiful for those who don't have any equipment.

【Treasure Guide Tips Summary】
??Address: Huatian Mountain Residence Boutique B&B - Zhujiawan Village, Beizhuang Town, Miyun District, Beijing
??Navigation: Just search "Huatian Mountain Residence Boutique B&B" on the map
??Parking: Free parking available
?Meals: Authentic home-cooked meals can be ordered, breakfast is included in the stay, and barbecues can also be prepared
?Entertainment: Fishing, boating, hiking, playing the zither

Yishi Winery - The fugitive princess returns to the European-style castle

The entire manor is not big. There are scenic spots such as the Lake Viewing Terrace, Pinghu Pavilion, Yishi Castle, Yishi Square, and Grape Corridor. But what I like most is that the large lawn at the entrance of the castle is really easy to take pictures.

The basement level of the winery is where red wine is processed and stored. It looks very mysterious. The first floor is the sales area, ranging from 1100 to 100 per box, and they are all brewed by the winery themselves.

There is a fee for admission here. With the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Travel Card, you can enter for free and parking is free. The ticket I purchased is 98 yuan, which includes a glass of red wine tasting and a free bottle of red wine. In fact, it is equivalent to buying a bottle of red wine. Of course, since I was driving, I just smelled it and took the red wine that was included in the package home to drink slowly.

As a layman of red wine, the castle that made me stay the longest in the entire winery was the castle belonging to today’s fugitive princess. Today, the princess went back to the gate of her castle to take photos all at once!

Sitting in the car, you can really feel my Cavalier fifth-generation Tucson L. The waterfall layout can make the field of vision wider.

Advanced fabric design, with a waterfall surrounding the cockpit, the entire sensual shape and rich three-dimensional sense, it is also super considerate and comfortable.

D-shaped multi-function steering wheel, the overall details are well done and comfortable.

The 10.25-inch open technology instrument, 7-inch LCD + digital instrument and 10.4-inch large central control screen are the largest in its class and are full of technology.

The panoramic sunroof with light transmission area: 0.77m² and opening area: 0.35m² is high-end and atmospheric.

The "L" leapfrog body size and unrestricted free sitting position give both the driver and passengers a super spacious leapfrogging experience.

If you ask me which ones I am most satisfied with, I would like to say that I actually like them all. They show the temperament of luxury cars everywhere. As a "refined" pragmatist, The fifth-generation Tucson L and the owner of the Fugitive Princess fit perfectly with the entire European-style castle atmosphere.

Yanqi Lake - Afternoon tea with celebrities in the coolest hotel

When the fugitive princess leaves her castle, the last place she wants to check in is Yanqi Lake. It is said that the most iconic building in Yanqi Lake is this vermilion building. The top is designed as a disk that gradually enlarges upward, like the reflection of the Temple of Heaven. This is the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center.

When I drove there, I felt very relaxed, because in the past few days of self-driving, I was very satisfied with the handling performance of the fifth-generation Tucson L, even though I had traveled different roads.

After a few days of familiarity, I also discovered that the fifth-generation Tucson L has a more "human touch" intelligent space. It can realize functions such as BLE mobile phone Bluetooth key and vehicle remote management. A girl who goes out alone will occasionally be careless and misplace things. With these thoughtful details, I feel that technology makes life more convenient.

To take the perfect picture, you must finally have afternoon tea at Sunrise Oriental, the hotel that hosted the APEC leaders’ informal meeting. This hotel was also built close to the dam, and it is said that a lot of effort was put into its construction. The final product is like a rising sun, symbolizing harmony and unity; viewed from the side, it looks like a scallop, which represents wealth in Chinese culture. Such a wealthy place will definitely not miss my check-in.

Having an afternoon tea in this comfortable and quiet place, as long as you spend over 100 yuan, you can waive the 50 yuan parking fee. For a money-saving expert like me, it is comfortable and cost-effective, and it also brings a successful end to my trip.

A must-eat delicacy in the suburbs of Beijing - Authentic Miyun Iron Pot Fish Stew

As a senior food travel expert, @小竹头UP will not give out any food recommendations.
When you come to Miyun, a suburb of Beijing, you must have a meal of authentic fish stew in an iron pot, preferably sturgeon.

Other signature dishes must be the dried beans, tofu, sauerkraut, fish tofu and Arctic Ocean.

The sauce is rich in flavor. Freshly killed live fish are stewed in a large firewood pot. This delicacy is unique to Miyun.

If you have never been to Beijing, then this old Beijing wild vegetable dumpling is also a must-try staple food. Grains taste better

You don’t have to choose any one. There is a main street in Miyun that is full of iron pot stew, and no one will be wrong.
What should I do if I travel alone? My answer is to share the table shamelessly.
I just make the stew in the iron pot with the residents who live in [Bu Lao·Shanju] with me.

In the remaining time alone, I ate whatever I wanted along the way, such as buckwheat noodles unique to the north + Hongbaolai old soda.
The Hui people are good at making mutton soup and mutton pancakes, both of which are very suitable for people traveling alone.

One-click collection of summary guides

I don’t know if everyone is satisfied with my itinerary. I can say that I had a very enjoyable time.
The whole self-driving trip has high flexibility and good comfort. The fifth-generation Tucson L is also very energy-saving and fuel-saving. The intelligent voice function and other functions serve me very well and are super considerate. In order to make it easier for everyone to copy my route, this summary list can be collected with one click!

Must-see routes: Buraotun Observatory, Miyun Reservoir Dam, Yishi Winery, Sunrise Oriental Kempinski Hotel Beijing at Yanqi Lake
Camping base recommendations: Super Music Farm, Sunshine Valley, Hot Wilderness
Moving camping equipment list: tent, canopy, outdoor tables and chairs, moisture-proof mats, sleeping bags, pillows, lamps, barbecue or outdoor cassette stove, various snacks, ingredients, picnic mats, Some good-looking props (convenient for posing), mosquito repellent, etc.
Food: Fish stew in iron pot, braised noodles, mutton soup, halal meat pie, tribute pear
Accommodation: Heshe B&B, Bulao Mountain Residence, Hua Tian Shan Residence
Travel: The fifth-generation Tucson L

I hope you can have your own "trendy" summer trip like me, and don't let down Beijing, the most suitable season for self-driving camping!


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