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As summer arrives, with its sweltering heat and throngs of people, where can we find the space for quiet conversation? North of Beijing lies the closest natural grassland: the "First Grassland North of Beijing" in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Hebei Province.
The first grassland in northern Beijing is located at the junction of the Inner Mongolia Plateau and the southern foot of the Greater Khingan Range. The steeply rising altitude makes the summer here cool and pleasant.
The Colorful Forest Scenic Area in Shenxian Valley is a emerald jade belt on the dam, dotted with forests, grasslands, streams, lakes, springs and wetlands. It is elegant and graceful, and charming.
The colorful forest in Shenxian Valley has picturesque scenery and a cool summer temperature of 16℃. It is Beijing's back garden and a good place to escape the summer heat in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Horseback riding, self-driving, climbing the Cloud Pavilion, taking “treetop footsteps”, taking photos with the Bird’s Nest, taking photos by the Tianjing Lake, and watching the sunset on the Cloud Road – this is how you should have fun in the Colorful Forest!
Bashang Grasslandcheck the details
The Bashang Grassland, located in northern Hebei Province and southern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is the closest natural grassland to Beijing. Also known as the First Grassland North of Beijing, it served as the imperial hunting grounds of successive Chinese dynasties. "Bashang" is a geographical term referring to a region of steeply elevated grassland. The best-preserved area is the Wulan Butong Bashang Grassland, and the term "Bashang Grassland" currently refers specifically to Wulan Butong. As a flagship itinerary of China-TravelNote, the Bashang Grassland has been meticulously crafted over the past decade. Private ranches, pastoral camps, and holiday buffets offer a unique experience for grassland tourism. The Bashang Grassland is a meadow-like grassland, unlike the typical grasslands of windblown grass with shimmering cattle and sheep. Summer, autumn, and winter offer a relaxing and summer escape, and it's also a photography paradise. The classic Windows XP desktop was filmed on the Bashang Grassland. "My Fair Princess," "The Legend of Miyue," and "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" were also filmed here.
Recommended months: May-October
4838 recommendations, 2511 visits
1. Colorful Forest International Resort Hotel
The Colorful Forest Resort Hotel at Shenxian Valley boasts three distinctly different resorts. Every detail exudes elegance and comfort. Featuring American red oak furniture, international five-star linens, and elegant, spacious rooms, guests can fully enjoy the splendor of nature.
2. Squirrel Boutique Inn
The harmonious coexistence of man and nature is reflected in every detail. The rooms are also thoughtfully furnished with child-friendly items such as tents, hanging chairs, and a children's playground. This is a great choice for both family outings and staycations.
3. 16 Degrees Hotel
Simple and comfortable, with cool air, you can enjoy a good sleep living here.
Stay in the hotel and spend a special afternoon tea time on the prairie. The premium Mengshi beef hot pot tea exudes a rich milk tea aroma, which warms your heart.
There are two ways to visit the Colorful Forest. One is to hike up the mountain along the wooden plank road from the entrance of the scenic area and take the train down the mountain, and the other is the other way around.
At the entrance to the scenic area, take a small train up the mountain. The roar of the train is accompanied by joyful laughter, the lingering fragrance of flowers, and the chirping of birds. Passing before our eyes is the wind, the blue sky and white clouds, the green waters and green mountains. In the distance, the wind turbines on the ridge turn in circles, spinning out a summer ballad and the beautiful summer life.
The Colorful Forest of Shenxian Valley boasts numerous attractions, and we recommend taking the scenic train for a leisurely tour. Stop at each stop to explore, whether it's the Listening to the Rain Pavilion, the Path Stream, or the Flowing Water Reflections. Each attraction is worth a stop.
I love strolling by the colorful pond, its winding paths crisscrossing and secluded, picking a bunch of wildflowers and expressing my leisurely feelings. Watching the sky clear and the clouds lighten, the wine flowing through the winding stream, I wish time would stop here, leaving a lingering fragrance in my hands.
The train's final destination is next to the jungle tribe, where there are three roads to choose from. Going left is the Cloud Pavilion, going right is the "Footsteps on the Treetops" aerial glass corridor and the up-and-down wooden plank roads. Going directly forward allows you to experience horseback riding, cross the uninhabited area, and take photos with the internet-famous Bird's Nest.
The Squirrel Tribe, set against a backdrop of pine trees, offers a delightful haven. Squirrel sculptures, pine nuts, pine cones, and squirrel nests adorn the landscape. Here, visitors feel like happy little squirrels, wandering through the pine cone-shaped houses and experiencing the joy of harmony between man and nature.
Mogujie
A Mushroom Street is built with the mushrooms that are abundant in the forest as the theme. The Mushroom Street is mainly composed of sculptures and mushroom-shaped entertainment projects. The moment visitors enter here, they feel as if they are traveling to the microscopic world, looking up at the growth of mushrooms, and having fun here.
Yunting
This observation platform, perched high above the white clouds, reaches a peak elevation of 1,800 meters. It features 516 steps connected by a wooden plank path. At the entrance stands a yellow yurt, where ethnic clothing is available for rent. For those who enjoy ethnic clothing, choose your favorite piece and embark on a journey of love that transcends time and space.
Ascending the steps, a gentle mountain breeze rustles the hair, ruffles the heart, and blows away the inner restlessness, where the soul and body find unity. At Dengyun Pavilion, you can slow down your pace, even slower, so that you can slowly take in the most beautiful scenery and let this beautiful scene linger in your heart.
Glass Corridor
Step onto the internet-famous "Treetop Footsteps" skywalk, where the treetops are right beside you, offering breathtaking views on both sides. Enjoy a gentle breeze as you step onto the transparent glass walkway, a low-rise option even for those afraid of heights.
Horseback riding experience
"Let us live a carefree life with the world as our companion, and share the prosperity of the world by galloping on horseback." Galloping on horseback across the beautiful prairie has always been one of my dreams. And how could I miss the horseback riding experience when I visited the Colorful Forest of Bashang Grassland?
Choose a favorite horse from the jungle tribe and ride through the jungle. Even if you can't whip the horse, you can still experience a unique leisure.
Walking along the wooden plank road, you can enjoy the scenery while walking. How can a colorful forest be complete without the birch forest, which is known as the "pure love tree"?
The scenic area is densely populated with birch trees, whose rows are graceful and their straight branches seem to reach deep into the sky. Looking up at the treetops and the blue sky through the sunlight, the intoxicating blue is reflected by the sunlight and the birch trees.
Tianjing Lake
Tianjing Lake in the Colorful Forest of Shenxian Valley is adjacent to water and accompanied by the sky. The main color here is the same color between water and sky. Wooden plank roads, glass bridges, and a constant stream of tourists. Green grass, blue sky, and leisurely white clouds are reflected on the lake surface. You can enjoy the scenery while boating on the lake. The scenery is also very pleasant. I was a little dazed for a moment.
Walking along the left side of Tianjing Lake, you can reach the edge of Agate Lake, which is a pearl hidden deep in the grasslands of Bashang. It is surrounded by hills, with blue water like dark green, shimmering water, and smoke lingering in the clouds.
The Colorful Forest Scenic Area features a Fengning Manchu quadrangle, home to the Manchu Cultural Park. Deep within the souls of the grassland people, this park persistently watches over the winding paths of history and preserves the Manchu ethnic memory.
There are seven exhibition halls in the Manchu Cultural Park. The first exhibition hall is the one you enter from the entrance. It displays the origin, development, migration, war and evolution of the Manchu regime; the second exhibition hall displays the historical evolution and changes of Fengning County; the third exhibition hall displays the interpretation, development and evolution of the Manchu residential architectural culture; the fourth exhibition hall displays the evolution of farming culture; the fifth exhibition hall displays the religious culture of the Manchu, from the worship of natural wind and rain to the promotion of animal totems, it reflects the struggle and submission between man and nature everywhere.
The sixth exhibition hall showcases the Manchu clothing culture. From the Sushen people wearing fish skin and animal skin clothing to birch bark and silk embroidery, these few pieces of clothing capture the centuries-long historical evolution of an entire ethnic group.
The seventh exhibition hall recreates the family life of ordinary Manchu villagers in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. The lamb skins in the hanging baskets, the printed quilt on the bedside table, the old newspapers on the wall, the charcoal brazier on the floor—each object seems to still carry the warmth of an era.
In the Colorful Forest, you can not only encounter a variety of flowers and plants, but also visit the animal park on the grassland. Entering the park, you might stumble upon cattle, sheep, and horses grazing on the grassland or strolling leisurely. Here, they are the masters of the world.
The alpacas and ponies are kept in captivity for people to watch, and if you are brave enough, you can have close contact with them.
Blue peacocks eat in a swaggering manner. If you catch them in a good mood, you can also see the beauty of the peacock's tail.
As long as you keep walking, you will find that the beautiful scenery is actually hidden not far away, so close that you only need to cross the hill to see the magnificent sunset above the clouds.
The rolling green mountains in the distance, the windmills standing on the top of the mountain, the blooming flowers swaying in the wind, the cattle and sheep grazing comfortably, and the smiling children jumping up and scattering all over the mountain. These scenes are frozen in time, and reflected by the sunset glow and the clouds in the sky, forming a harmonious and perfect landscape painting.
The Sky Road to the Clouds is located in the back mountain of the Colorful Forest. Many people may not be familiar with this area, and it is really hard to find without someone to lead the way.
The road connecting the Clouds to the Sky is a long stretch of pristine dirt and stone road, passing through meadows, hillsides, and flooded areas. The uneven surface is full of potholes, putting both the vehicle's performance and the driver's skills to the test. If you're unfamiliar with the road conditions, lack confidence in your driving skills, or drive a low-rider car, this adventure is not recommended.
But don’t worry about missing out on these beautiful scenery. The Colorful Forest has special off-road vehicles leading to the Sky Road above the Clouds. The four-wheel drive SUV will take you flying, and the beautiful scenery is always there.
As night fell, a bonfire party began next to the Colorful Forest International Resort Hotel. With the bonfire as a backdrop, people sang, danced, wished each other well, and shared happiness.
With a delicious roasted whole lamb, all your worries are thrown behind you.
When fireworks pierce the darkness, painting brilliant shooting stars in the night sky, perhaps this romantic courtesy can only be encountered on the grassland.
1. The temperature difference between day and night on the grassland is large, so you must bring thick clothes when visiting here, such as a jacket or a down jacket; if you get up early to play, the dewdrops will be crystal clear, so it is best to wear waterproof sports shoes such as riding boots.
2. Self-driving route: Get off at Datan Town on the Zhangcheng Expressway, go straight for 8 kilometers, then turn right following the sign and drive along the road for 5 kilometers.
3. Opening hours: 7:00-18:30 from May to October, closed in other months.
4. Ticket prices: Adult ticket: 118 yuan/person, ticket + sightseeing bus package: 138 yuan/person, Yunshang Tianlu: 198 yuan/person
The beauty of the colorful forest is ever-changing, each season bringing its own beauty and emotion. The wind blows, flowers fall, hooves pick up mud. As time passes, the weather changes, and nature, like a magician, always brings forth the most beautiful scenery.
