Three Easy Destinations from Beijing This Weekend: Beidaihe, Cuandixia, and Qingdao

We very rarely encourage anyone to leave Beijing, instead preferring to offer some new place to explore or new experience to try. However, since Beijing is closed this weekend, the best thing to do is hop on the subway, provided your nearest station isn't one of the many named on this list. Instead, get thee to a train station or long-distance bus station forthwith and enjoy the next 36 hours. Here are three easy suggestions where you can go now, with an overnight bag:

1. Qingdao: Qingdao was formerly a German colony, the only such German holding in China. The Tsingtao Brewery serves as a reminder of that period. Qingdao is a beautiful slice of China’s coastline, gifted with beaches that are some of the most popular in the country. Read more about it here. It'll be about a 4.5-hour train ride from Beijing.

2. Beidahe and Qinhuangdao: Beidaihe’s cool coastal climate and proximity to Beijing have made it a favorite getaway for Chinese and foreigners alike since the early 20th century. While the city of Qinhuangdao itself is mostly a port town, although it is also known for its water sports, but the best beaches are to be found in the district of Beidaihe, just south down the coast. You can be there in under two hours on high-speed rail. More details here.

3. Cuandixia: A 400-year-old village with more than 70 preserved courtyards, Cuandixia village is a popular day trip, located about 90km away from Beijing. The village is sometimes called the “Potala Palace” of the Beijing region due to its location on a slope. While that may be a bit of a stretch, the area and surrounding scenery is beautiful and makes for a good 12-to-36-hour escape if you have returning visitors who can’t be bothered going to the Great Wall yet again. It takes about 2-2.5 hours to get there. Here's how to go. 

Photo: Margaux Schreurs