Escape to the mountains! Huangcaoliang: A must-visit Beijing weekend getaway

✨Hey there, nature lovers😎! Hidden near Beijing is an amazing, off-the-beaten-track hiking spot—Huangcaoliang in Mentougou💖. This 1773m-high alpine meadow is as beautiful as a Windows desktop, uncrowded, free, and incredibly healing! Here's a fresh guide👇 📍Basic Information: 🚗Transportation: Navigate to "Baiyu Tunnel" or "Tianjin Guan Tunnel" (Public transport is inconvenient; self-driving/group tours are recommended) 🗺️Route: The classic loop is about 12km, with a total climb of 800m ⏰Duration: 5–6 hours (including photo stops and breaks) 🎒Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Steep slopes require the use of both hands and feet😣) 💰Tickets: Free, but it may be closed during fire season, so check the announcements before you go❗ 🚶♀️Two recommended routes: ✅Loop Trail (Easier with a group tour): Baiyu Tunnel→Xiangbishan→Message Wall→Qizualou→Huangcaoliang Summit→Shiliping→Baiyu Parking Lot. Don't miss the Ming Dynasty "Seven Towers" (Qizualou), where crumbling walls meet blooming flowers, a stunning contrast💥. The view from the summit overlooking Lingshan Mountain is breathtaking🌟. ✅Relaxed Photo Route: Ascend from the west side of "Tianjin Guan Tunnel" to reach the meadow in 1.5 hours💐. The alpine flower field is picturesque, with larkspur and anemones resembling a dreamlike carpet. Run and take photos, and you'll feel like you've stepped into a Miyazaki movie🤩(I went in September and didn't see any flowers😭So sad). 🌼Stunning Scenery: ▫️Amazing Alpine Meadow: From late June to July, wildflowers bloom in abundance! Globeflowers, evening primroses, and blueheads…like a dreamy color palette🎨. ▫️High chance of encountering a sea of clouds: Likely to be seen on the morning after rain, the meadow floats among the clouds, like a fairyland☁️. ▫️Impressive Great Wall ruins: The stone walls of Qizualou are ancient and imposing. Pair your workwear pants with the wall for cool and stylish photos📷. ▫️Romantic stargazing and camping: You can camp at Shiliping on the summit (no water source), and the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye at night🌌. 📸Top 3 photo spots: 1️⃣Running shots in the meadow: Wear a bright windbreaker and look back at the sea of flowers. The light is soft after 3pm, perfect for live continuous shooting😍. 2️⃣Qizualou beacon tower: Raise your arms against the wind on the high wall. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the vastness of the world. Sunglasses and trekking poles add to the atmosphere✨. 3️⃣Xiangbishan Canyon: The strange rocks form a natural frame. Take a side shot as you pass through the valley for a dramatic photo✅. ⚠️Things to avoid: ✔️Non-slip hiking shoes are a must! The gravel road is slippery, safety first👟. ✔️Bring enough water (2L) + snacks, there are no supplies along the way😫. ✔️High SPF sunscreen + physical sun protection are essential, there's no shade on the meadow☀️. ✔️There's no signal in some areas, download offline maps in advance📶. ✔️Protect the environment, take all your trash with you, there are no trash cans here🚮. 🌿Huangcaoliang is just the right level of difficulty for a weekend escape from Beijing to get some fresh air🌬️. @Hiking buddies, save this and let's go💨! 📌Follow me to unlock more hiking treasures👉