Beijing-Tianjin Twin Cities Story! Catch the Last Autumn Ride to Check in at Beining x Taoranting

🌟Prologue: Fold Autumn into a Ticket
When the first ginkgo leaf falls, the two cities of Beijing and Tianjin quietly don a caramel-colored filter. Don’t wait for the wind to blow all the leaves away—spend 48 hours this weekend taking the high-speed train back and forth, locking “every tree is autumn-colored” into your camera and memories.
🚄 Beijing · Taoranting — “Poetry beneath the Imperial City”
📍 Arrival: Taoranting Station, Line 4, Exit C; step out to see the golden welcome avenue.
📸 Best photo spots:
① Stone Bridge on the Lake Island: Overhead shot of koi fish + reflections, autumn leaves like scattered gold floating on the water.
② Ancient Pagoda Tree in front of Cibei Temple: 500 years old, sunlight streams through the branches, naturally spotlighting the scene.
③ Kiln Platform Overlooking the City Tower: With vermilion city walls as the backdrop, wear a beige trench coat and snap a photo for a “Palace Museum style” tone.
🕒 Time: 9-10 AM for the softest light, fewer people, and free-to-lie-on benches.
☕️ Life-saving coffee: Osmanthus latte at “Taoran Coffee” near the East Gate, cup sleeve printed with “Taoran Gong Wangji,” perfect to take away as a bookmark.
🚅 Cross-city high-speed train: Beijing South → Tianjin, 30 minutes flash trip, ticket 58 RMB, ID card swipe entry, smoother than the subway.
🌊 Tianjin · Beining — “The Gentle Tail of the Humor Capital”
📍 Arrival: Beining Park Station, Line 6, Exit A; turn left 30 meters to the South Gate instantly.
📸 Hidden photo route:
1️⃣ Baixiang Bridge: Shoot “bridge arch + golden willow + reflection” symmetrical shots, ultra-wide angle on your phone makes it easy.
2️⃣ Lakeside Pavilion Corridor: Sit between the corridor pillars, use the window frame as foreground, distant smoke tree looks like a spilled palette.
3️⃣ Beiyang Railway Track: Abandoned old locomotive + ground covered with ginkgo leaves, stepping on them makes a crisp sound, like a movie soundtrack.
🕓 Time: 3-4 PM, side light makes leaf veins semi-transparent, portrait mode instantly turns skin creamy.
🍟 Energy boost: “Xiao Lao Shaomai” at the West Gate, triple fresh + shrimp combo, dipped in Laba vinegar, one bite and you’re fully revived.
🎒 Packing list
Outfit: Oatmeal coat/dark jeans + beige scarf, contrasting colors that don’t steal the scene.
Props: Old newspaper, kraft paper bag, instant camera, hold them up casually for foreground.
Equipment: Phone + mini tripod, stable even against the wind; mirrorless camera + 50mm prime lens, dreamy portrait blur.
🌅 Bonus: Autumn Night Return to Beijing
18:00 high-speed train from Tianjin Station back to Beijing, sunset outside the window dyes the wheat fields orange sea. Looping “Autumn Leaves” in your earphones, tuck two ginkgo leaves into the ticket stub—one for Beijing, one for Tianjin, autumn gently folded and pocketed.
📌 Final quiet reminder
Leaves fall faster from mid-November, get up early if you want “golden ground.”
Temperature difference between the two cities ±3℃, a knit sweater is enough to block the wind.
Parks are free admission, no reservation needed, closed on Mondays—don’t go empty-handed.
Save this guide to your favorites, hop on the train this weekend, and attend a grand farewell. Don’t let the wind take all the leaves—save some for the next heartbeat.