The Jiangjuntuo Scenic Area is 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) to the northwest of the downtown of Fangshan District, Beijing. It has been established since 1998, and is now an absolute, ecological, natural scenic spot with a total area of 112 hectares (276.8 acres). Inside, there is a vast orchard covering an area of 24.7 hectares (61 acres) along with a well-preserved aesthetic forest which has an area of 15 hectares (37 acres).

This purely natural scenic spot is a wonderland of plants and animals. Here, it abounds in fruit trees such as apricot, peach, apple, pear, jujube, persimmon, and walnut trees among others. Moreover, feverfew, bupleurum, forsythia, and vast quantities of other precious Chinese medicinal plants, can also be found blooming in a large grass garden. It's at its peak especially when numerous kinds of flowers are in their full blossom and their fragrances pervade the whole scenic spot. This static beauty contrasts finely with the amusing activities of lovely, little animals like berghaans and hares in flocks dashing here and there.

Visitors can enjoy themselves here not only by climbing mountains and viewing the flowers, but also by taking part in hang-gliding, bungee jumping and arrow shooting. Hang gliding is the most popular entertainment here. It is a physical and recreational activity which results in extreme excitement but without any danger, owing to the advanced safety facility. In a nutshell, it is a 'game of the brave'.

Like most of the other scenic spots, Jiangjuntuo has its own particular story. 'Jiangjun' means a general and 'tuo' stands for a knoll. The site was so named because here stands an interesting hill in the shape of a general's hat. Actually, the story goes that Zhang Liang, one of the founding fathers of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), threw his hat here and it magically became a small hill. Later, this reputed wise man retired after having made his mark in the unification of the Western Han Dynasty, leaving no personal rivalries or ambitions. Now his statue, sculptured in memory of his wisdom and achievements, stands on the front slope of this small hill.

The Jiufeng National Forest Park is located in the Bei'anhe Town, Haidian District. It is a famous forest park in Beijing, only 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the Summer Palace. The two peaks look like a rousant vulture, where two ancient pines are poking into the sky. Therefore, the mountain gets its name 'Jiufeng' (Vulture Peak). Its man-made forest landscape, unique rocks and varied landforms, immense forest and places of historical interest constitute a bewitching view.

Covering an area of 832 hectares (2,056 acres), the forest park is a treasure house of green plants. The vast expanse of forest stretches before your eyes and you can imagine a magnificent scene. The verdant forest and varied landforms offers a playground to countless lovely little animals, such as wild chicken, hares, roe deer and squirrels.

The Jiufeng Mountain is high, steep and magnificent with peaks in all its majesty. The hills rise and fall with the terrain, looking as if a gigantic dragon is dancing. Seen from the summit of Jiufeng Mountain, the sunrise is a tremendous spectacle and the sunset glorifies the park. Visitors can also easily enjoy a panoramic city view of Beijing. Oddly-shaped rocks can be found everywhere in the mountain. At the foot of Jiufeng Mountain, a huge rock is so steep that only lizards can climb, so it is named 'lizard rock'.

Since ancient times, Jiufeng Mountain is a well-known tourist resort. Many places of historical interest sit in the mountain. The Jiufeng Mountain Villa built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) was once one of 72 mountain strongholds for stationing troops. The simple Puzhao Temple and the elegant Xiufeng Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Xiangtang Temple was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as a retreat place for eunuchs. The winding path up the mountain has the history of over a thousand years. Moreover, here sits the first seismographic station built in the 1930s.

Take No. 346 Bus from the Summer Palace to Bei’anhe Village, and go then for 800 meters to the west.

The Memorial of Jiaozhuanghu Tunnel Warfare Site is located in Jiaozhuanghu Village, Longwantun Town of Shunyi District, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of Beijing. It features photos and an article once used in tunnel warfare, and presents a historical picture of the Jiaozhuanghu people's valiant fight for victory in the world-wide anti-fascist war.

These attractive tunnels were built during the period of China's War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945). In the battle, the Jiaozhuanghu people summed up their experience of repelling the enemy and protecting themselves, and they developed a new method, one of Tunnel Warfare. They built 11.5 kilometer-long tunnels (7 miles), extending in all directions and forming a network of tunnels. With fierce, cruel enemies, the tunnels helped them greatly, and dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese aggressors. Even in the world war history, such a new form of fighting was a great wonder.

An 800-meter-long tunnel and a five-storey blockhouse have now been renovated and opened to tourists. Inside the tunnel are meeting rooms, command posts, individual shelters, traps, planks, gunshot holes, warehouses and some other things. Entrances to the tunnels are camouflaged in ingenious ways: a pot hole, a water jar, a kitchen range, a pig pen and a donkey stall could all be entrances. These tunnels show the mighty force of the Chinese people and their great creativity.

There are other interesting tourist activities here. One can visit the ruins of tunnel warfare, watch films and listen to stories of the Jiaozhuanghu people's struggle against the Japanese aggressors. Another interesting activity is sharing a special meal of steamed corn bread, cornmeal porridge and pickles, which were the only foods available during the war. For tourists curious to know the real life of that period, the video showing the daily life of the Jiaozhuanghu people is the best choice.

bus no. 934 stops at Jiaozhuanghu station

The Yinshan Pagoda Forest Scenic Area is situated in the southwest of Haizi Village, Changping District, and is 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Ming Tombs. Featured by beautiful natural landscapes and a forest of pagodas, this intriguing scenic area lures visitors from both home and abroad.

In winter, the Yinshan Mountain (Silver Mountain), with three steep peaks and black cliffs, shows her special charms in the snow. The cliffs, composed of black granite, look like iron walls and contrast sharply with the snow covered mountain. The mountain is also known as the 'Iron-wall Silver Mountain' because of these natural features. Pine, oak and cypress trees grow all over this amazing mountain, and the combination of these colorful trees blankets the mountain, creating a spectacular array of colors.

The pagoda forest to the south of the mountain also makes the mountain unique. Since the Sui Dynasty (581-618), this mountain has been a holy land of Buddhism and many temples had been built in the valley. To house the Buddhist relics, various pagodas were built in the Jin (1115-1234) and the following dynasties. It is said that in ancient times the pagodas in this area were countless; however, over the centuries, the temples and many pagodas were ruined. At present, visitors can find eighteen pagodas in the mountain region and in the original temple area. They are made of bricks and stones and consist of four parts: the base, the body, the corbel bracket and the top.

Among the eighteen still standing, there are seven pagodas in the original temple area which are the most renowned. Five of them are multi-eaved and were built in the Jin Dynasty. The other two are lama pagodas, built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Those Jin pagodas are ginger yellow in color, stand on a tall base, and are 20 to 30 meters (65.6 to 98.4 feet) high. Two of them are hexagonal ones, each seven stories, and the other three octagonal ones have thirteen floors. Fine-patterned reliefs are engraved on the surface of the first floor and the base. Inside the fake arches on the first floor are lifelike brick carvings of Buddha. Delicate brick carvings of corbel brackets can be found under the eaves of the first floor. One of the two Yuan lama pagodas resembles the Jin pagodas and the other is unique for its combination of both the multi-eaved pavilion and the lama style pagoda.

In addition, an ancient lectern and many tablet inscriptions are also worth visiting. This scenic area is indeed an ideal place to appreciate the natural scenery and research ancient Chinese Buddhism and architecture.

Bus no. 314, 357, 376, 914, 947, 949 stops at Changping Dongguan, then take a small bus 

Located in Zhangfang Village, Fangshan District, Zhangfang Ancient Battle Tunnel lies 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) from the city's center. The tunnel was discovered by chance in 1991, and is the only known underground military facility in Beijing. It was built during the reign of Emperor Song Zhenzong (968-1022), the third emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

The battle tunnel is 4 meters (13.1 feet) deep, 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) high and 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide. The full length of the great underground tunnel is 1,500 meters (1,640 yards); 400 meters (437.4 yards) of the tunnel have been restored. The layout and detailed arrangement of this military tunnel were surprisingly advanced for its era; the tunnel houses backrooms, weapon rooms and military headquarters. Usually backrooms were used for the soldiers to take cover in the case of a surprise attack. Weapon rooms (as the name indicates) were used to store the many varieties of weapons used in ancient China. The lamp-stands which are located on either side of the tunnel cast an air of mystery on this underground stronghold.

Like most of the ancient Chinese military tunnels, Zhangfang Ancient Battle Tunnel allowed warriors to attack and defend themselves with as much freedom as possible. In this sense it served as a magic weapon for almost 400 years until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Now the tunnel is an ideal place to visit and learn about Beijing's ancient military history.

Zhangfang Ancient Battle Tunnel not only depicts the advanced military affairs, politics, and architecture of ancient China, but also the traditional Chinese culture of loyalty and integrity. Archaeologists speculate that this battle tunnel was designed and built by General Yang Liulang, a famous general in the Song Dynasty. His entire family remains highly respected in China for the great sacrifice they made for the empire. After all the men of the family fought to the death in the battle, their beautiful and valiant widows picked up the weapons and followed, eventually falling to the very same fate. The Yang family stands for the most valued virtue of the traditional Chinese people - loyalty to the empire.

Bus no. 917 stops at Zhangfang station

Xu Beihong Museum lies in No.53 Xinjiekou Beidajie, Xicheng District. It is a monumental museum featuring the life, works and precious collections of Xu Beihong, the father of Chinese modern painting. Consisting of an introductory hall and seven exhibit halls, the museum exhibits more than 1,100 pieces of his excellent works, including Chinese traditional paintings, oil paintings, sketches and seals. Also on display are a large amount of his precious collections of famous painters, art books, rubbings of stone inscription, and pictures.

Xu Beihong (1895-1953) is an outstanding and prolific painter and influential art educator. He had worked as the first president of the Chinese Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the first chairman of the Chinese Artists' Association. After eight years' study in Europe, he returned to China, and devoted himself to painting and art education. Besides, he is an enthusiastic patriot; his works, with his deep affection for the motherland, greatly inspired the suffering Chinese people. When he passed away, his wife, the incumbent curator of the museum, Liao Jingwen contributed his precious works, famous collections and other important things to the country.

In the court of the museum stands a white jade bust of Xu Beihong. The introductory hall exhibits Xu Beihong's self-portraits. Three halls display Xu Beihong's splendid Chinese traditional paintings. One of the most famous is a painting of the legend of Jiufang Gao, a remarkable man able to judge the qualities of horses. On a monumental scale, this painting shows his deep indignation and strong desire for the country's bright future. The Foolish Old Man Removing Mountains painted in 1940 encouraged people to win the victory of wars. In addition, his paintings of horses enjoy high prestige; no matter galloping horse, standing horse, or cantering horse, racing horse; they were all portrayed with human feelings of happiness or sadness.

Two halls feature his distinctive oil paintings. The well-known Five Hundred Soldiers in the Field was in praise of the Chinese people's fortitude and character. The sketches, including portraits and scenery sketches are also on display in another two halls. The last hall shows pictures and photos of the master's life and career. Here, one can see the master's tools of painting, his last collection and an uncompleted works.

Line 2 to Jishuitan, and then walk to the museum.

Bus no. 22, 38, 47, 409, 626, 726, 810, 826 to Jishuitan south, then walk southwards for about 220 yards to the Xu Beihong Museum.

Located in Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing County, the Shijinglong Ski Resort is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Beijing. The 35-hectare (86.5-mile) resort is the largest and most well-appointed one in the greater Beijing area. The resort was built in 1999 and can accommodate over 5,000 guests. Located near scenic Longqing Gorge, Shijinglong’s diverse terrain offers an ideal venue for both novice and veteran skiers.

The resort has seven ski runs of varying degrees of difficulty ranging from expert to amateur. The most challenging slope is over 1,000 meters (1,093.6 yards) long. With a maximum slope of thirty degrees, it has a pitch of 300 meters (1,080 feet). The mid-level run has a maximum slope of twenty-eight degrees. The junior ski run for beginners is over 3,000 meters (3,280 yards) long with an average slope of ten degrees. In addition, there is a separate snowboarding park available.

Shijinglong has the largest snowmaking operation of the region's ski resorts. Fourteen imported snowmaking machines provide an ample supply of snow assuring the best possible conditions for skiing. The resort also offers a wide variety of equipment for sale or rent. Over forty skilled instructors are available to guests and a fully staffed ski school has been established. In addition to snowboarding and skiing, the resort offers sleigh rides, ice skating, curling and snowmobiling.

In order to emulate international level facilities, Shijinglong built open-air spring baths in 2002. These have proven immensely popular with skiers to relieve sore muscles and restore energy. There is also a coffee bar at the junction of the junior and mid-level ski runs offering an array of hot beverages and desserts. Cable car rides are available for visitors who want to simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Covering an area of 5,436 acres, Kangxi Grassland is the largest prairie in Beijing, 9.3 miles to the west of Badaling Great Wall and 50 miles from Beijing downtown. Adjoining Guanting Lake to the west and Haituo Mountain to the north, the grassland is one of the best places to experience the exotic Mongolian lifestyle. In summer, it is cool and humid, which makes it a fine summer resort; while in winter, when it snows and the river is frozen, Kangxi turns into a white paradise, where visitors can go skating, fishing and sledding.

Kangxi grassland is flat and vast with abundant plant and animal resources. The best time to visit it is spring and summer, especially June to September. During that period of year, the green grass carpet is dotted with colorful flower clusters, such as cogon, clover, wild chrysanthemum and dandelion. Flocks of cattle and sheep are wandering on the meadows, some browsing around, while some lying down for a nap. Along the river shore, silver gulls, wild ducks, grey cranes, swans, rabbits, foxes and voles run freely. White Mongolian yurts are scattered around, which adds more charm.

Kangxi has the largest state-operated horse racecourse in China. There are superb horserace arena, professional horsemanship club, hunting ground and jeep race club inside. On the grassland, riding horses must be the most interesting activity for visitors in the day time. Under the azure sky, visitors can ride a horse to dash on the broad grassland, with soft breeze brushing cheeks; or wander slowly in the meadows, enjoying a good view of the sunset scene. If visitors are unable to ride a horse yet, no worry, there are also professional coaches to teach you patiently.

The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu is located in the former classrooms and other campus buildings of an old primary school and also offers outdoor seating in the courtyard as well as an intimate Great Wall view terrace. Guests are encouraged to sit down, relax, and savor the ambiance, service and food all day long. On Saturday evenings the candles are lit and you can enjoy a fine dining experience at the Great Wall. 

The la carte menu is mainly Western-themed with comfort dishes from around the world. The daily specials change with the seasons. The staff grows much of the produce and fruit. More than 80 percent of the ingredients come from the local area and 90 percent originate in China, including the superb Yunnan coffee. All the food is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, from the mayonnaise and tomato sauce to the brownies and ice cream. Before or after your meal you can visit Schoolhouse Art Glass to view original pieces of glass art and free live demonstrations.

The Schoolhouse operates a “school bus” every Saturday and Sunday, leaving the city at 9:30am and leaving Mutianyu at 4:30pm.  Seats must be reserved by 6pm on Thursday. 

The new TOMS shoe store at the foot of Beijing Oriental Plaza’s dizzyingly lengthy roll call of foreign brands offers a brief intermission from singleminded consumerism. TOMS’ business model is all about letting lovers of fashion give something back – in this case, it’s a donation to a child in need. The US brand has sent more than 35 million pairs of new shoes to youth in more than 70 countries as part of its One for One project. Fans of the brand may have heard about founder Blake Mycoskie’s commitment to villages in Argentina, but what the imagery in the new TOMS store doesn’t tell you is that TOMS has donated more than 600,000 pairs of shoes to children in 10 Chinese provinces, and they’re not stopping there.

If it’s true that Chinese consumers are moving away from labels in search of a more meaningful ways to shop, then TOMS’ philanthropic efforts may be one answer to their search. The shop, which displays hard-to-miss “GIVE” signage, offers a wide range of the signature comfortable and casual TOMS footwear for women, men, and children in trendy prints and colors, and it doesn’t disappoint for those looking for a shoe outside the realm of a canvas slip-on. Desert and chukka boots, brogues, and sneakers are in high supply, while the TOMS spring collection offers comfy and cute woolen shoes in celebration of the Year of the Ram. When we visited their shop display even featured a few good fortune red styles for good measure.

We know what you’re thinking: Will TOMS’ entry into China be enough to stamp out all those copycats in the markets? We’re certainly breathing a sigh of relief that Chinese shoppers now have the chance to wear the style and make the donation. To make sure they’re getting the real deal, shoppers can turn to the TOMS online store or one of the 25 stores set to be open across the country by the end of 2016.

This is the first Beijing outpost of the global "conscious capitalist" purveyor of shoes, bags, apparel, and eyewear. TOMS' One For One campaign entails a reciprocal giving campaign of shoes, eyeglasses, access to clean water, birth kits, and more for those in need.