Weekend short trips in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region! A 2-day 1-night guide to 5 hidden gem cities is here
1. Tangshan🎡
🚄 Transportation: High-speed train from Beijing in 1 hour, super convenient for a spontaneous trip!
📍 Activities:
• Day 1: Rush to Qingdongling⛩️ in the morning, where the red walls and yellow tiles hide century-old stories, perfect for photos with a historical filter; in the afternoon, visit the Li Dazhao Memorial Hall🖼️ to relive the glorious past—very meaningful~
• Day 2: Start your morning at Tangshan Nanhu Park🌳, enjoy boating and the beautiful scenery for a relaxing time; in the afternoon, explore Kailuan National Mine Park⛏️, go down the mine to experience real miner life, educational and impressive!
🍜 Must-eat: Who understands! The soul dipping sauce of Tangshan barbecue is so fragrant it makes you stomp your feet🤤, the chess piece sesame seed cake is addictive, and the intangible cultural heritage-style leicha roll is super authentic~
🏨 Accommodation: Choose anywhere on Lunan or Lubei Road, all within a 10-minute walk to food streets, very convenient for nighttime food tours!
2. Baoding🦆
🚄 Transportation: High-speed train from Beijing in 1 hour, no pressure for a weekend getaway!
📍 Activities:
• Day 1: Baiyangdian Lake🛶 is a must in the morning! Glide through the reed marshes and be pleasantly surprised by wild ducks; in the afternoon, visit the Zhili Governor’s Office🏯, an ancient and charming official building that instantly transports you back to the Qing Dynasty~
• Day 2: Climb Langya Mountain🗻 in the morning, check in at the Five Heroes Memorial Tower, the mountain views are magnificent and inspiring; in the afternoon, visit Yesanpo National Park🏞️, with its healing canyons and streams, perfect for a cool summer visit!
🍜 Must-eat: Freshly baked donkey meat sandwich packed with meat, crispy and crumbly with every bite😋; wild duck eggs from Baiyangdian that are rich and oily, plus fried lotus flowers that are fragrant and unique~
🏨 Accommodation: Hotels cluster in Jingxiu and Lianchi districts, right by the attractions, saving time and effort!
3. Cangzhou🤸
🚄 Transportation: High-speed train from Beijing in 1.5 hours, just right for a weekend pace~
📍 Activities:
• Day 1: Be amazed at Wuqiao Acrobatic World🎪 in the morning! Aerialists and bowl-balancing acts will have you cheering, plus you can try magic tricks yourself; in the afternoon, visit the Cangzhou Iron Lion🦁, a thousand-year-old ancient lion with imposing presence, a must-see city landmark~
• Day 2: Stroll slowly through Cangzhou Garden Expo Park🎑 in the morning, blending Jiangnan garden style with northern grandeur, perfect for photos; in the afternoon, walk and feed fish at Nanhu Park🌉, basking in the sun is so comfortable~
🍜 Must-eat: Golden thread jujubes sweet to the core🍬, Cangzhou lion’s head meatballs stewed soft and flavorful, Hejian donkey meat so tasty you’ll lick the plate, carb happiness maxed out!
🏨 Accommodation: Many hotels in Yunhe and Xinhua districts, attractions within walking distance, plus night markets and snacks to enjoy in the evening~
4. Xingtai⛰️
🚄 Transportation: High-speed train from Beijing in 2 hours, the scenery along the way is super healing~
📍 Activities:
• Day 1: Xingtai Grand Canyon🌄 is definitely worth the ticket! Cliffs, waterfalls, and streams for hiking and fresh air, nature’s masterpiece is breathtaking; in the afternoon, visit Yunmeng Mountain☁️, where the mountaintop is shrouded in mist like a fairyland, plus explore the Guiguzi cultural relics~
• Day 2: Check out the Xing Kiln Ruins🏺 in the morning, touch thousand-year-old porcelain shards and feel the delicacy of Xing white porcelain; in the afternoon, visit Xingtai City Museum🏛️, from the Stone Age to modern times, get the full city history~
🍜 Must-eat: Daokou roast chicken so juicy it drips oil, tender enough to fall off the bone🤤; Nangong smoked dishes fragrant but not greasy, wraps are amazing; clay oven sesame seed cakes stuffed with meat, carb joy overload!
🏨 Accommodation: Hotels in Qiaoxi and Qiaodong districts offer great value, taxis are super convenient, and nearby food shops hide many surprises~
5. Zhangjiakou🏔️
🚄 Transportation: High-speed train from Beijing in 1 hour, perfect for a short weekend trip~
📍 Activities:
• Day 1: Dash to Dajingmen Great Wall🏯 in the morning! Climb the tower to see endless mountains, the inscription “Magnificent Rivers and Mountains” is very imposing; in the afternoon, stroll through Zhangjiakou Fort🏘️, the Ming and Qing old streets, with many stories hidden in the old houses~
• Day 2: Seasonal favorites! In winter, have fun skiing at Wanlong Ski Resort🎿, even beginners can enjoy; in summer, drive the Grassland Sky Road🚗, every shot looks like a desktop wallpaper; in the afternoon, visit the Olympic Sports Center🏟️, check out the Winter Olympic venues and feel the sports passion~
🍜 Must-eat: Oatmeal steamed buns dipped in sauce, deliciously addictive😋; yam fish with a chewy texture and rich flavor, Saiwai Kungfu lamb back tender beyond compare, big bites of meat are super satisfying!
🏨 Accommodation: Hotels in Qiaoxi and Qiaodong districts are convenient for attractions and food streets, and you can enjoy the city night view in the evening~
💡 Tips: Each of the 5 cities has its own charm—history lovers head to Tangshan and Baoding, nature fans choose Xingtai and Zhangjiakou, and for fun, go to Cangzhou~ Two days on the weekend is enough to fully enjoy, pick one and set off!🚗💨