Shunyi

Beyond Capital Airport, Shunyi offers European-style streets, wetlands and mountain scenery, making it a good choice for a weekend road trip or a short family break. Below is a guide to sights, dining, accommodation and suggested routes.

• Luo Hong Art Museum: Built with an investment of 500 million yuan, the museum has outdoor gardens with mist features and a black swan lake, as well as indoor photography exhibitions. Taking photos outdoors is free. Exhibition admission costs 100 yuan, with free entry for children under 15. Closed on Mondays.

• COFCO Shine Hills: This open-air shopping district features European-style buildings, with fountains, a clock tower and small markets dotted throughout. There are plenty of brand-name shops and dining options, making it a place for shopping, photography or afternoon tea. After dark, you can also enjoy the illuminated streets.

• Hanshiqiao Wetland: Known as “Little Baiyangdian,” this is the only natural reed marsh in Beijing’s outskirts. In autumn, you can admire golden reeds, go boating or cycling, and watch birds. Entry to the wetland is free; boat rentals cost extra.

• Luoma Lake Park: Known as Shunyi’s “Little Houhai,” the lake has a roughly 3-kilometer circuit, with more than 30 Chinese and Western restaurants and cafés along its shores. Visit in the evening for a lakeside sunset walk. The park is open around the clock, with free admission.

• Wucai Qianshan: The wooded hills are full of color in autumn, making this a good spot for scenic hikes. Routes include Yueming Jiangou and Suofeng Dong. Access is free throughout, and the trails are relatively beginner-friendly, so you can plan a gentle walk in the hills.

• Beijing International Flower Port: During the autumn Chrysanthemum Festival, you can see chrysanthemum displays covering 30,000 square meters. The grounds also have an animal encounter area and a camping area, making it easy to combine flower photography with family activities.

Recommended Food

• Nanmen Shuanrou (Shine Hills branch): This restaurant specializes in Beijing-style copper-pot hotpot, serving fresh meat with traditional sesame dipping sauce. It is an option for a family meal.
• Tongli Teahouse: Specializes in Cantonese dim sum, with discounts on selected items on weekdays. Popular dishes include beef brisket rice noodle rolls and sampan congee. Expect to spend about 100 yuan per person.

• Porta 20 (Luoma Lake branch): Serves Spanish food, with lakeside seats by floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the water. Arrive in the early evening if you would like to watch the sunset over dinner.

• Jiushijiu Ding Zhanfang: Specializes in whole roast lamb and Mongolian food, with ethnic-style décor. It is suitable for larger group meals; book ahead.

• Chunbao Restaurant: Serves farmhouse-style dishes, including generous portions of free-range chicken stewed with mushrooms and fish stewed in an iron pot. It is an option for a meal after hiking.

Recommended Accommodation

• Howard Johnson Junhe Hotel: Designed in the style of a European castle, this hotel is close to Hanshiqiao Wetland. It has a 3,000-square-meter spa and bathing center, spacious lawns and a good range of family facilities, making it convenient for combining accommodation with resort activities.

• Yishengyuan International Conference Center: This garden-style hotel has lake views and a campsite, with guest accommodation featuring architectural styles from different countries. Stays include a complimentary tea-room experience, and the overall setting is quiet.

• Xiangzhu · Banshan Yaji Guesthouse: Located in Longwantun Town, this quiet guesthouse features Chinese-style courtyards. The various sights in Wucai Qianshan are all within a 15-minute drive. Weekend rates are about 480–650 yuan per night.

• Home Inn Shunyi Central Subway Station Branch: Close to Shunyi Station on Metro Line 15, with plenty of shopping and dining nearby. It is suitable for travelers looking to keep accommodation costs down.

Suggested Itineraries

• One-Day Arts and Leisure Trip: Spend the morning viewing exhibitions and photographing the gardens at Luo Hong Art Museum. Head to Shine Hills at midday for shopping and lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Luoma Lake Park for lakeside coffee and the sunset, then have dinner at one of the lake’s Western restaurants.
• Two-Day Nature and Leisure Trip: Day 1: Go boating and admire the reeds at Hanshiqiao Wetland. In the early evening, check in at Howard Johnson Junhe Hotel and enjoy its spa baths. Day 2: Drive to Wucai Qianshan for a hike, have farmhouse-style food for lunch, then visit the Jiaozhuanghu Tunnel Warfare Site Memorial Museum in the afternoon before heading home.

Transport and Travel Tips

• Getting around: Metro Line 15 provides access to the areas around Shine Hills, Luo Hong Art Museum and Luoma Lake. Hanshiqiao Wetland, Wucai Qianshan and Flower Port are farther away, so driving or taking a taxi is more convenient.
• Tickets and reservations: Luo Hong Art Museum is closed on Mondays. Buy exhibition tickets in advance; free admission may also be available through Holiland prepaid top-up promotions. The Jiaozhuanghu Tunnel Warfare Site Memorial Museum requires advance reservations.
• What to wear in autumn: In mid-to-late October, temperatures in Shunyi vary noticeably between day and night. Bring a windproof jacket and wear trainers with good grip when visiting mountain areas such as Wucai Qianshan.
• Driving tips: The parking areas at Wucai Qianshan and Baimaoyu can get congested on weekends. Consider heading into the hills before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. There are no small shops in the hills, so bring enough drinking water and snacks.