Jingbei First Grassland, also known as Bashang Grassland, is located in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City, Hebei Province, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It is the closest natural grassland to Beijing, renowned for its vast grassland scenery, cool climate, and rich folk culture. The total area of the scenic spot is approximately 350 square kilometers, with an average altitude of 1,800 meters. The average temperature in summer is 17.4°C, making it an ideal place for summer cooling and autumn sightseeing. There are numerous reception facilities such as yurts and resorts in the grassland, which can accommodate tens of thousands of tourists for accommodation and dining at the same time, meeting the needs of different tourists. The grassland is rich in vegetation, mainly perennial herbaceous plants, forming a green ocean dotted with wildflowers, presenting a charming scenery.
Historical Culture
Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, where Jingbei First Grassland is located, has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It is a gathering place for ethnic minorities such as the Manchu and Mongolian, and the cultures of various ethnic groups have merged to form unique folk customs.
Historically, this grassland was an activity area for northern nomadic peoples and was a nomadic place for dynasties such as Liao, Jin, and Yuan, with a long history of nomadic culture. In modern times, it was also an important node of the Grassland Silk Road, promoting economic and cultural exchanges between various regions. Today, many traditional folk activities such as the Nadam Fair and the Obo Worship are still preserved locally. These activities are not only an important part of the local ethnic culture but also attract many tourists to watch and experience.
Major Attractions
Qiansongba Forest Park
Qiansongba Forest Park is an important part of Jingbei First Grassland, located in the northwest of the grassland, with a total area of 2,000 hectares. There are large areas of primitive spruce forests in the park. According to statistics, there are nearly a thousand spruces over 100 years old, hence the name "Qiansongba" (meaning a dam with a thousand pines). The spruces here have straight trunks and lush branches and leaves, forming a dense forest landscape. There are also natural landscapes such as streams and canyons in the park, with fresh air, making it a natural oxygen bar. Tourists can hike and enjoy the scenery here to feel the charm of nature.
Liushugou Forest Park
Liushugou Forest Park is located in the southeast of Jingbei First Grassland, covering an area of about 146 square kilometers. The park is mainly dominated by trees such as willows and birches, along with large areas of grassland and wetlands. In summer, the grass here is lush and wildflowers are in full bloom; in autumn, the leaves turn yellow, presenting a picturesque scenery. There is a 10-kilometer-long canyon in the park, with gurgling streams and jagged rocks, making it a good place for exploration and leisure.
Dahan Palace
Dahan Palace was built according to the layout of Genghis Khan's palace in those days, located in the central area of Jingbei First Grassland, covering an area of about 300,000 square meters. The palace is magnificent, reproducing the architectural style of the imperial court during the Mongol Khanate period. There are statues of Genghis Khan, council halls, bedrooms and other buildings in the palace, displaying the history and culture as well as the court life of the Mongolian people. Tourists can learn about the history of the Mongolian people and experience activities such as court etiquette here.
Shandian Lake (Lightning Lake)
Shandian Lake is a pearl on Jingbei First Grassland, named because its shape resembles a bolt of lightning, with an area of about 1,000 mu (about 66.67 hectares). The lake is surrounded by vast grasslands, and the water is clear to the bottom, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and the grassland scenery, which is very beautiful. Tourists can fish, row boats by the lake, or ride horses and fly kites on the grassland by the lake to enjoy a leisurely time.
Baili Tianlu (Hundred-Mile Sky Road)
Baili Tianlu is an important part of Jingbei First Grassland. It is named "Baili Tianlu" (Hundred-Mile Sky Road) because it is about 100 kilometers long, winding like a giant dragon lying on the top of the mountains. It is also known as Yunzhong Tianlu (Sky Road in the Clouds) and Jingbei First Tianlu (First Sky Road in Northern Beijing). It is also a key eco-tourism belt project built locally, known as the most beautiful and exciting plateau self-driving route in China. Along the way, there are various landscapes such as grasslands, forests, wetlands, mountains, farmland, flower seas, and villages, with a high degree of landscape diversity. Driving on the sky road, you can not only see the vast grasslands but also pass through dense primitive forests, and enjoy the tranquility of wetlands and the simplicity of rural scenery.
Tour Routes
Here is a recommended classic one-day tour route: Start from the scenic spot entrance in the morning, first go to Dahan Palace to visit the court buildings and learn about Mongolian history and culture, with a visiting time of about 2 hours; then go to Shandian Lake to walk, take photos by the lake, and experience water projects, with a playing time of about 1.5 hours; have lunch at a restaurant near Shandian Lake to taste local specialty foods at noon; in the afternoon, go to Qiansongba Forest Park to hike through the forest and enjoy natural landscapes such as streams and canyons, with a playing time of about 3 hours; end the day's trip in the evening. If you have enough time, you can arrange a two-day tour and go to Liushugou Forest Park on the second day to experience the grassland and forest scenery in depth.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are June-August and September-October. From June to August, the grassland is lush with green grass and blooming wildflowers, suitable for summer cooling; from September to October, the grassland has clear autumn weather and picturesque scenery, suitable for photography.
- The grassland area is large, so it is recommended to rent an off-road vehicle or take a scenic spot sightseeing bus for sightseeing to reach various attractions more conveniently.
- You can experience horse riding on the grassland. It is recommended to choose a regular horse farm, follow the guidance of the staff, and control the horse riding time to 1-2 hours.
- Local specialty foods include roasted whole lamb, hand-held meat, milk tea, etc., which can be tasted in restaurants or homestays in the scenic area, with an average consumption of about 50-100 yuan per person.
- If you plan to stay overnight, you can choose yurts or resorts. The prices vary according to different grades, generally 200-500 yuan per night. It is recommended to book in advance.
- There are multiple viewing platforms in the scenic area. It is recommended to go there at sunrise or sunset to take beautiful photos of the grassland's light and shadow scenery.
Notes
- The temperature difference between day and night on the grassland is large. Even in summer, you need to wear a coat at night. It is recommended to bring long-sleeved clothes and a thin coat.
- The ultraviolet rays on the grassland are strong, so you need to take sun protection measures, such as applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and sunglasses.
- Respect the customs and habits of local ethnic minorities, and abide by relevant regulations when entering places such as yurts.
- Take good care of the grassland environment, do not litter at will, and do not damage vegetation and wild animals.
- Pay attention to safety when riding a horse. Do not leave the guidance of the horse trainer without permission, and avoid doing dangerous actions on the horseback.
- The weather on the grassland changes quickly, and there may be showers. It is recommended to bring rain gear.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of the scenic spot. It is recommended to agree on the meeting time and place with your companions in advance.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Beijing, drive along Jingcheng Expressway and Daguang Expressway, get off at Fengning Exit, then go to Jingbei First Grassland along the provincial road. The whole journey is about 280 kilometers, and the driving time is about 4.5 hours.
- Bus: There are long-distance buses from Beijing Dongzhimen Long-Distance Bus Station to Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, with multiple departures every day. The journey takes about 5 hours. After arriving in Fengning, you can transfer to a local taxi or tourist bus to the scenic spot. The distance from Fengning to the scenic spot is about 50 kilometers, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
- Tourist bus: Some travel agencies in Beijing have tourist buses to Jingbei First Grassland. You can consult and register in advance, usually for one-day or multi-day tour packages.
Opening Hours
It is open all year round, and the specific opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. Summer (June 1 - August 31): 7:00-19:00; Autumn (September 1 - October 31): 8:00-18:00; Winter (November 1 - May 31 of the next year): 9:00-17:00. The opening hours of some attractions such as Dahan Palace are the same as the overall opening hours of the scenic spot. For details, please refer to the announcement of the scenic spot on that day.
Tickets
It is open for free, but some attractions in the scenic spot require separate charges.
As of August 13, 2025, the ticket for Dahan Palace is 88 yuan per person. You can search for the service account "京北草原大汗行宫" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online; the self-driving ticket for Baili Tianlu is 118 yuan per person. You can search for the service account "百里天路景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online; the ticket for Shandian Lake is 30 yuan per person.