As capital city of China for centuries and most popular international gateway to China today, Beijing is the premier China destination for most tourists and expats.
Here we have listed the top 12 perfect weekend getaways or short trips from Beijing for you to escape the hustle and bustle of this metropolitan city and find contrasting experiences. 1–3-day (weekend) trips from Beijing offer a wide range of possibilities!
Weekend Trips from Beijing 1. Ice Camping and Ice Climbing in Jinshuihu Scenic Area
Ice Camping Near BeijingHighlights: ice camping, canyon hiking, sports on ice
Getting there: 2 hours' driving from Beijing
Recommended visit: 1-2 days
Transfer service from Beijing: from CN¥800 (US$130) for a 5-seat vehicle
Top things to do:
- Experience ice climbing and the speedy drop from falling off the ice with rope protection.
- Ice sledging, a tug of war on ice, skating, ice fishing, ice football...
- Hike in a deep canyon
- Cook your food on the ice or just relax while someone else does and enjoy the scenes.
Suitable for families with kids, Jinshuihu Scenic Area is a good weekend trip for a Beijing getaway. You can visit for a day or consider a night's camping on the ice there.
The staff there can speak some basic English. You can just rent a vehicle by submitting a quick inquiry or you can take a trip with our private English-speaking guide and driver for hassle-free travel and communication.
2. Beijing to the Great Wall and Gubei Water Town
Simatai Great Wall evening tour Highlights: Great Wall and natural views
Getting there: 1½–2½ hours by private car — contact us for a private transfer
Recommended visit: 1–2 days
Tour price: from CN¥900 (US$139) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Hiking on the Wall Camping on the Wall
- "Toboggan" experience on the Mutianyu section
- Great Wall night visit at the Simatai section
- Relax in Gubei Water Town
Recommended Great Wall sections:
- Mutianyu: the longest fully-restored and most children-friendly section
- Simatai: the only section of the Great Wall fully equipped for evening tours, with a water town resort (Gubei Water Town) and tasteful lighting
- Jinshanling: half-restored, with the best-preserved selection of photogenic watchtowers
- Jiankou: the wildest Great Wall with awesome views of ruins on rugged ridges; the best section for hiking
- Learn more on The Best 10 Sections/Parts of the Great Wall to Visit.
3. Beijing to Chuandixia Village: Return to Nature
Chuandixia Village Highlights: traditional Chinese village, ancient courtyards
Getting there: about 3 hours' driving from Beijing city — contact us for a private transfer
Recommended visit: 1 day
Tour price: from CN¥900 (US$139) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Visit courtyards built in the Ming and Qing eras (1644–1912).
- Experience Chinese rural life.
- Walk in the naturally stunning Yixiantian Canyon.
"Cuandixia ancient mountain village is a pearl of Chinese classical architecture," said famous Chinese architect, Luo Zhewen. Chuandixia (previously Cuandixia) contains profound cultural tenets of northern architecture with important historical, cultural, and artistic value as well as a history of more than 400 years.
Let us tailor a one-day Chuandixia Village trip for you from Beijing.
4. Beijing to Hohhot: Explore the Nomadic Life
Huitengxile GrasslandHighlights: vast grasslands, yurts, desert experiences
Getting there: 2½-hour bullet train from Beijing
Recommended visit: 2–5 days
Tour price for a 5-day trip: from CN¥7,543 (US$1,185) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Horsing riding on the grassland
- Stay a night in a traditional yurt.
- Visit a local nomadic family.
- Have fun in Xiangshawan Desert
- Camp in the wild desert
- 5-Day Xilamuren Grassland and Kubuqi Desert Tour with Nomadic Life Experience
- 6-Day Huitengxile Grassland and Kubuqi Desert Tour with Hiking and Camping
- 8-Day Hohhot–Ordos Tour with Hiking, Camping, and Culture
- 4-Day Xilingol Inner Mongolia Grassland Life Tour
5. Beijing to Zhangjiakou: the Oriental Davos
Zhangbei GrasslandHighlights: ski resorts, grasslands, Great Wall sections
Getting there: 1-hour bullet train travel from Beijing
Recommended visit: 1–3 days
Tour price: from CN¥1,700 (US$269) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Ski at resorts set to host the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Taiwoo Ski Resort, Walong Ski Resort, and Chongli Ski Resort are good options.
- Horse riding on Zhangbei Grassland
- Visit Nuanquan Ancient town.
- See the sunrise or sunset on Shadian Lake.
A host area (cluster) of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Zhangjiakou has the largest natural ski resort in North China, and it is known as "the Oriental Davos".
In addition, Zhangjiakou is the area with the most sections of Great Wall, spanning the ages from the Warring States Period (476–221 BC) to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). It covers a total of 1,476 km (917 miles), so Zhangjiakou is known as the "Great Wall Museum".
Contact us for a Zhangjiakou tour from Beijing
6. Beijing to Tianjin: Discover the History of the Huge Port City
Tianjin City Highlights: huge international port, Culture Street, colonial buildings, Great Wall
Getting there: 25 minutes by high-speed train from Beijing
Recommended visit: 1–2 days
Tour price: from CN¥2,300 (US$358) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Stroll and shop in Tianjin Ancient Culture Street.
- Enjoy a Hai River cruise to see the traditional Chinese architecture and colonial buildings standing on both banks.
- Climb the Huangyaguan Great Wall section.
- Visit the China House (Porcelain House).
Tianjin is the largest port in northern China and Xingang Cruise Terminal is one of the hubs for international travelers entering China via cruises. Contact us for a Tianjin tour (when pandemic measures ease).
7. Beijing to Datong: Admire 1,500-Year-Old Buddhist Art
Yungang GrottoesHighlights: grottoes, temples, mountain views
Getting there: about a 3-hour high-speed train travel from Beijing
Recommended visit: 2 days
Tour price: from CN¥2,600 (US$409) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Explore the 1,500-year-old Yungang Grottoes.
- Visit the magical Hanging Temple.
- Climb the famous Heng Mountain.
8. Beijing to Pingyao: Visit a Stylish UNESCO Ancient City
Pingyao City Wall Highlights: ancient city, photographable architecture, dynastic cityscapes
Getting there: 4 hours by high-speed train from Beijing
Recommended visit: 2 days
Tour price: from CN¥1,700 (US$269) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Walk on the Pingyao Ancient City Wall.
- Visit the China's first bank: Rishengchang Bank.
- Stroll on Mingqing Street.
- Explore Shuanglin Temple.
- Discover Wang's Courtyard.
- Pingyao Highlights — a 2-day ancient town tour
- Essence of Datong and Pingyao Tour (4 days)
- China Culture Relics Classic Tour — a 9-Day Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, and Xi'an tour
- Beyond the Golden Triangle — a 9-Day Beijing – Pingyao Ancient Town – Xi'an – Shanghai private tour
9. Beijing to Luoyang: a Trip to the Hometown of Kungfu
Longmen GrottoesHighlights: splendid grottoes, ancient temples
Getting there: 4 hours by high-speed train
Recommended visit: 2 days
Tour price: from CN¥2800 (US$439) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
Luoyang has been a center of China's politics, economy, and culture for around 2,000 years. 105 emperors of 13 dynasties had their capital in Luoyang from 770 BC to 1234 AD. Luoyang is often called the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Contact us for a Beijing to Luoyang tour.
10. Beijing to Chengde: a "Potala Palace" near Beijing
Putuo Zongcheng TempleHighlights: the little Potala Place, classical imperial gardens, Great Wall
Getting there: about 1 hour by high-speed train or about 3 hours' driving
Recommended visit: 1–2 days
Tour price: from CN¥1,400 (US$219) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Hike on the most beautiful Great Wall section (on the way): Jinshanling.
- Admire the 'little Potala Palace': Putuo Zongcheng Temple.
- Visit the largest royal garden in China: Chengde Summer Palace.
- Climb Club Peak.
- Horsing riding on the Fengning Grassland
Chengde is a mountain city outside the Great Wall, rising from a garden and a group of temples. You can appreciate the prosperity and decline of China's last feudal dynasty when visit the gardens and temples.
Let us tailor a Chengde trip for you from Beijing.
11. Beijing to Xi'an: a Trip to the Birthplace of Imperial China
Xian Terracotta WarriorsHighlights: Chinese history, Terracotta Army
Getting there: 5 hours by high-speed train or 2 hours by flight
Recommended visit: 3 days
Tour price for a 3-day trip: from CN¥2,900 (US$459) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Discover the mysterious Terracotta Army.
- Walk on the Ancient City Wall.
- Hunt food in Muslim Street.
- Climb the famous Mount Hua.
See How to Plan a Beijing and Xi'an Trip (Itinerary, Cost, Transportation)
- Xi'an Discovery by High-Speed Train from Beijing — a 3-Day Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Great Mosque tour
- Daily VIP Xi'an Terracotta Warriors and City Discovery Tour — a 1-Day Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, and local food tour
- Great Mountain and Xian Highlights — 4-Day Mt. Hua, Terracotta Warriors, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Tour
12. Beijing to Shanghai: a Trip to See China's Recent Rise... and Future
Shanghai Yuyuan Garden Highlights: high buildings, modern China
Getting there: 5 hours by high-speed train or 2 hours by flight
Recommended visit: 2 days
Tour price for a 2-day trip: from CN¥2,569 (US$399) per person based on 2 travelers
Top things to do:
- Roam among the Pudong skyscraper skyline.
- Take a nighttime Huangpu River Cruise to see the Bund.
- Walk in the French Concession to see the old Shanghai.
- Visit the classical Yuyuan garden.
- Food hunt on popular Yunnan Road or Huanghe Road.
- 2-Day Charming Shanghai and Water Town Trip
- The Golden Triangle — an 8-day Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai tour
Travel beyond Beijing with Us
We have a dozen or so popular China itineraries starting from Beijing and all of them can be customized based on your interests and requirements.
Our private tours give you the flexibility to maximize your experience with VIP entry to a number of famous sites and landmarks, escorted by a local expert.
Most of all, our service can save you spending your precious time in finding bits of information and arrangements here and there to plan a trip on your own. Contact us to tell us your travel ideas and preferences and we will deal with the rest. Or you can check out our Beijing tours and China tours for inspiration.