Bashang Light and Shadow Tour: A Photography Journey from Jinshanling to Ulan Butong

Number of days：7 days
Time: September
Average cost: 4100 yuan
With whom：a person
Tour kinds: Photography, Tour Group, Train
Updated: 2025.05.05

"Life is a journey, and we are all travelers." I have always cherished a longing for distant places, a desire to capture the world's beauty with my camera. In September 2024, I finally embarked on this long-awaited photography trip to Beijing and Bashang. This journey was like a wonderful movie, and every frame is deeply engraved in my mind.

At 9:38 PM on September 19th, I stood on the platform of Nanjing Railway Station, my heart filled with anticipation for the unknown journey. As the train slowly began to move, my thoughts drifted far away. Outside the window, the city lights twinkled like stars, gradually being swallowed by darkness. To the rhythmic clang of the train, I fell asleep. In my dreams, I saw Beijing, the majestic Great Wall, and the vast Bashang grasslands.

The next morning, at 7:09 AM, the train arrived at Beijing Railway Station on time. I couldn't wait to get out of the train, take a deep breath of Beijing air, and soak up the unique atmosphere of this ancient city. After a brief rest, I took the subway to Beijing West Railway Station. The subway was bustling with people, everyone rushing by. I was also drawn into the bustling atmosphere and quickened my pace. At Jiahe Yipin Congee Shop, near the parking lot of the Huaxia Pearl Hotel in the north square of the train station, I enjoyed a 26-yuan quick meal. This simple meal filled me with energy and prepared me for the journey ahead. The Youxiake Photography Group's bus departed on time at 11:30 a.m. Our group leader, Xinxin, introduced ourselves to everyone, and our group leader, Coke, handed out bottles of mineral water. On the bus, I met Wu La, a man from Guangdong. Coincidentally, we would be sharing a standard room for the next few days. Outside the window, the poplar trees along the Beijing-Chengde Expressway were beginning to turn yellow, a sign of autumn in the north. After several hours' drive, we finally arrived at the Jinshanling Luanping Naval Farmhouse in the evening. After dropping off our luggage, I didn't have time to rest before joining the rest of the group at 4:30 PM to take the cable car up the Great Wall. As the cable car ascended, my view widened. In the distance, the Jinshanling Great Wall coiled like a giant dragon amidst the mountains, exuding a mysterious and captivating atmosphere in the afterglow of the setting sun. The cable car fare was 32 yuan, not cheap, but the magnificent view before me made it all worth it. Upon reaching the summit, I was speechless with the breathtaking beauty. The sunset painted the sky a vibrant crimson, its vibrant hue seemingly a work of nature's richest pigments. The city walls, illuminated by the twilight, cast long shadows, adding a sense of historical depth. Turning back, I spotted the breathtaking spectacle of the Great Wall, ablaze with sunlight. The golden sunlight bathed the beacon towers, seemingly gilded with a gilded edge. Their outlines, shimmering in the sunset glow like paper cutouts, shimmered with a shimmer. At that moment, I felt as if I had traveled back in time, back to ancient times, to witness the soldiers guarding the border from their towers. I quickly grabbed my camera and clicked the shutter, eager to capture this beautiful moment forever. That evening, we enjoyed a welcome dinner on the second floor of Zhou Haijun's farmhouse. While not sumptuous, the meal featured local specialties and was incredibly delicious. At the table, the group shared photos they had taken on the Great Wall, and laughter filled the room. We all come from different places and backgrounds, but we are united by our love for photography. This tacit understanding and friendship born from our shared passion has made me feel another kind of charm of travel.

Afterwards, around 7:15 PM, we returned to the farmhouse. After a quick breakfast, at 8:30 AM, we set out again for Bashang. Along the way, the scenery outside the window gradually changed from rolling mountains to vast grasslands. At noon, we stopped in a small town along the way for lunch. The 8 yuan apples and 10 yuan flat noodles reminded me of the prices in Jiangnan. After a simple lunch, we continued our journey at 12:50 PM.

In the afternoon, we finally arrived at the Guoerzi Ethnic Resort in Keshiketeng Banner, Bashang, and checked into a standard room. After a short rest, at 4:00 PM, we gathered and set off to the hills behind Princess Lake to photograph the sunset. However, the weather wasn't kind. It was overcast that day, with thick clouds completely blocking out the sun. While I didn't get to capture the sunset I'd hoped for, the scenery of the mountains behind Princess Lake still captivated me. The lake on the grasslands was like a mirror, reflecting the sky and the surrounding mountains. The trees by the lake had begun to turn yellow, swaying gently in the breeze, as if telling the story of autumn. Standing on the mountaintop, I felt the tranquility and beauty of nature. Even though I didn't get a great photo, I felt refreshed. That evening, we enjoyed dinner at the Narimanda Hotel, hosted by Youxiake. After dinner, I felt a bit chilly and realized I didn't bring enough warm clothing. So, I went to the supermarket across from the hotel to buy some warm pants and some local specialty heart-shaped fruit for 14.7 yuan. The heart-shaped fruit is small and delicate, with a sweet and sour taste, adding a touch of sweetness to our journey. At 3:30 a.m. on September 22nd, we woke up early again and headed to Beigou to capture the sunrise. When we arrived, the sky was already tinged with red. As time passed, the sun slowly rose, casting streaks of golden light across the grassland. The film and television studio in the distance, illuminated by the sunlight, cast a stunning golden glow. I quickly grabbed my camera to capture this beautiful moment.

After returning to the resort that evening, we enjoyed a 61.65 yuan dinner with several of our group members. At the table, everyone shared their experiences and reflections from the past few days of filming, and laughter filled the air. This dinner not only allowed us to enjoy delicious food but also strengthened the bonds among our group members.

At noon, we returned to the hotel to rest. At the hotel, Ulla and I shared a meal, which cost 70 yuan. We ordered tripe pork belly, vegetable and tofu soup, fried mushroom noodles and other delicacies, and ate them with gusto.

At 14:30 pm, we set off to Ganden Camel City to shoot the sunset silhouette. After arriving at the destination, due to the overcast sky and occasional showers, the team leader finally decided to enter the park for shooting after struggling for a long time. Many scenes of herdsmen’s life are arranged here for tourists to take pictures.

Before sunset, the highlight of the trip was the camel sand wash. However, because it had just rained and the ground was slippery, the scene of the camels rushing into the sand did not capture the feeling of endless yellow sand, which made people a little disappointed.

The regret left by the camel washing in the sand was made up for when shooting the camel silhouette at sunset. As the sun sets in the west, the sun shines through the clouds on the camel team, as if people have been transported into the desert in an instant.

In the evening, we had the farewell dinner of the Rangers. At the dinner, there were sumptuous delicacies such as grilled lamb chops. While everyone was tasting the delicacies, they recalled every detail of the past few days. At this moment, my heart was full of reluctance. During these few days of travel, I not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery, but also made a group of like-minded friends. We ran together on the grassland, watched on the Great Wall together, and took photos under the stars. These beautiful memories will remain in my heart forever.

On the morning of September 25, we set off from Bashang back to Beijing. After arriving in Beijing at noon, I spent 30 yuan to store my luggage, and then entered the Temple of Heaven Park from the east gate at 14:10 pm to visit the Temple of Heaven Park. The ticket to the Temple of Heaven Park is 34 yuan. Although the price is not cheap, the moment I walked into the park, I felt that everything was worth it.

The Temple of Heaven Park was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped heaven and earth, prayed for grain, and prayed for rain. The architecture here is magnificent, solemn, and full of historical charm. I wandered among the ancient cypresses in the Temple of Heaven Park, admiring the gilded roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests shining golden light in the sun, and feeling the accumulation of history. I was amazed by buildings such as the Circular Mound and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. They are not only treasures of ancient Chinese architecture, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation. The setting sun is stretching the shadow of the Circular Mound Altar. This is the unique rhythm of time at the root of the imperial city.

At 17:30 in the evening, I reluctantly left the Temple of Heaven Park and headed to Beijing Railway Station. At 20:03 in the evening, I took the train back to Nanjing. On the train, I looked at the fleeting scenery outside the window and was filled with emotions. This magical land on Bashang is a place where God loves to eat, and it is also the paradise in the hearts of countless photographers. We are just passing by in this land.

At 7:43 am on the 26th, the train arrived in Nanjing on time. The moment I walked out of the train station, my heart was filled with longing for home.