Beijing's 3 Secret Autumn Fairy Tale Routes! Shoot Stunning Photos for Free, Weekend Getaway!

Hi~ darlings! Today I'm sharing 3 secret autumn routes I've kept for years, routes even many old Beijingers might not have explored. Free entry, fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, and your phone’s 128GB storage won’t be enough! Quickly tag your travel buddy and set off this weekend!

🍂 Route 1: Bahe River · 0.5h from downtown to a "Little Arxan"
🕒 Time: Depart after lunch, wake up naturally 🛌
📍 Navigation: Bahe River (Chaoyang District, Dongba/Jinzhan section)
👀 Activities:
Cycle along the river 🚴‍♀️, with poplars and reeds on both sides creating an instant filter effect; backlit portraits are amazing!
Wild camping site 🏕️ ready, bring your own coffee pot ☕️, and daydream by the river all afternoon.
Secret fishing spot 🎣 for carp, even beginners can enjoy the thrill of catching fish!
⚠️ Tips: It’s windy by the river, wear layered jackets; remember to take your trash with you, enjoy autumn responsibly~

🍁 Route 2: Yanqing Hundred-Mile Gallery · See mountains, rivers, and caves in one day
🕒 Time: Depart at 8 AM, return by 7 PM
📍 Navigation order:
① Hundred-Mile Landscape Gallery (Ganggou → Wulong Gorge → Dishuihu)
② Shangxia Nai Mountain Village (free small zoo 🐰)
👀 Activities:
Ganggou viewing platform overlooks colorful valleys, perfect for drone shots worthy of National Geographic covers.
Wulong Gorge trail is only 2 km, easy for elderly and kids, with streams and maple leaves 🍁 all along.
Dishuihu Cave costs 25 RMB 💰, lights illuminate stalactites like ice waterfalls, constant 18°C inside, bring a jacket!
Shangxia Nai Mountain Village is free to pet rabbits and squirrels 🐿️, bring carrots to become the group favorite instantly.
🍗 Lunch: Caimumu Farmhouse, iron pot stewed fish with pancakes, about 60 RMB per person, very filling.

🍂 Route 3: Jizhou Secret Realm · 2-day trip through ancient temples + trendy cafes
🕒 Time: Depart early Saturday, return Sunday evening
📍 Navigation order:
Day 1: Beijing → Dule Temple → Xijingyu Village → Overnight in Jizhou Ancient City
Day 2: North Shaolin Temple → Jinwei North Second Line → Wanghu Grilled Fish → Return to Beijing
👀 Activities:
Dule Temple 🎫 50 RMB, see the thousand-year-old Liao Dynasty Guanyin Pavilion, autumn leaves drifting on ancient eaves, a time travel moment.
Xijingyu "Stone Village" ☕️, two niche cafes:
① “Qiao Family Courtyard” latte, courtyard perfect for mountain silhouette shots;
② “Shiyu” rooftop coffee, 360° mountain views, autumn sunshine + roasted chestnuts, so healing!
North Shaolin Temple is free 🥋, martial monks perform daily at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, watch their amazing acrobatics live.
Jinwei North Second Line 🛣️, Tianjin’s version of “Akina Mountain,” maple leaf tunnel + reservoir reflections, remember to film from the passenger seat!
Wanghu Grilled Fish 🐟, freshly caught and grilled, catfish tofu hotpot base + pancakes, about 80 RMB per person, no traffic jams returning to Beijing after.
🏨 Accommodation: “Yueke Home” guesthouse inside the ancient city, about 150 RMB per person, cat petting 🐈 + rooftop stargazing.

📸 Secret Photo Tips
Time: Before 9 AM + after 4 PM, soft light is magical.
Outfits: Morandi color tones for Bahe & Gallery; Hanfu or trench coat for Jizhou ancient village, super photogenic.
Props: Fallen leaves 🍁, reeds, coffee cups, bicycles, anything you grab adds atmosphere.
Filters: Use LightFace’s “Autumn Movie” + Snapseed for selective brightening, instantly magazine-style.

⚠️ Final reminders
Many free sections, but some parking costs 10 RMB/time, bring small change.
Big temperature difference, layer “T-shirt + sweatshirt + jacket,” remove or add as needed.
Protect the environment! Don’t pick leaves or trample farmland, so we can enjoy the beautiful scenery year after year.