Easy Escapes From Beijing: Four Ancient Towns to Explore

If you missed your chance to escape Beijing during the recent October holiday, then no worries! These four ancient towns are all just a couple of hours' drive from Beijing and offer an easy escape with fresh air, local eats and a bit of history. If you're unable to drive in China, then we'd recommend hiring a driver for the day, and you can check out this post and this post for some tips. 

Jimingyi Ancient City 鸡鸣驿城

Once a Ming dynasty postal station on the route to the Great Wall, Jimingyi Ancient City is one of the best-preserved fortress towns near Beijing. Within the city walls, you'll find the Yicheng Post Station, numerous temples such as the Dragon King Temple, the Temple of Wealth and Pudu Temple, plus even the legendary refuge of Empress Dowager Cixi. Pro tip: Be sure to check out the intricate clay sculptures inside the Pudu Temple. They are an absolute hidden treasure. 

Beyond exploring the town itself, a walk along the ancient walls rewards you with views of the nearby Jiming Mountain, the namesake of the town. The mountain summit features the Yongning Temple, and some visitors prefer to hike the mountain first before descending into Jimingyi for a well-earned meal and rest.

Jimingyi Ancient City鸡鸣驿城
Huailai County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province
河北省怀来县张家口怀来县
Drive time: About two hours from central Beijing
Tickets: Jimingyi Ancient City: RMB 40; Jiming Mountain RMB 50

Yongning Ancient Town 永宁古城

Nestled in Yanqing District, Yongning is a small walled town that some Beijinger colleagues discovered last year. The town has roots in the Ming and Qing periods and has a number of historic sites, including Yuhuang Pavilion, Yongning Temple and a century-old Catholic church. However, it isn't the history here that's the real draw but its market, with many visitors stopping here as part of a day trip touring the Baili Landscape Gallery (百里山水画廊), a popular nearby scenic area. 

Our personal recommendation would be to tour Baili Landscape in the morning and then stop by Yongning in the afternoon to grab some much-needed sustenance from the market. You'll be able to find locals selling a range of products and traditional snacks, and a must-try local bite here is火勺夹肉 huǒ sháo jiā ròu. Literally meaning “fire spoon sandwiched meat,” it's a crispy baked flatbread stuffed with savory meat, which is a specialty of the ancient city. 

Yongning Ancient Town永宁古城
Yongning Town, Yanqing District
延庆区永宁镇
Drive time: About two hours
Tickets: Free entry

Luanzhou Ancient City 滦州古城

The streets in Luanzhou Ancient City are built along a small river, while the entire old town is situated next to the larger Luan River, giving the city a vibe reminiscent of towns south of the Yangtze. For the best views of the city, we'd recommend climbing the pagoda in the center of town, allowing you to take in views of the city's tiled rooftops and winding alleys. Please note, though, that the pagoda opening hours can be irregular during the off-season. 

Aside from exploring the city itself, there are some great local eats to enjoy, such as 滦州火烧 (luánzhōu huǒshāo), a kind of flaky roll that can be stuffed with a range of fillings such as pork belly or donkey meat and that is often paired with stewed tofu for a hearty, rustic combination.  

Luanzhou Ancient City滦州古城
Tangshan City, Hebei Province
河北省唐山市
Drive time: Around two hours and 40 minutes
Tickets: Free entry; some attractions charge small entry fees

Shengfang Ancient Town 胜芳古镇

Of all the towns on this list, Shengfang feels the most lived-in and authentic rather than a curated tourist spot. Its riverside houses are still home to local families, and instead of souvenir shops, you're more likely to find retirees playing chess and chatting under willow trees.

The key sights to check out are the Wang Family Compound and the Shengfang Museum, which offers insight into the town's history. You can also sample local meat pies (肉饼 ròubǐng) and fried sticky rice cakes (炸糕 zhágāo). A visit here takes about two to three hours, so most visitors pass through on their way to Tianjin, making it perfect for a half-day detour rather than a full-day trip.

Shengfang Ancient Town 胜芳古镇
Bazhou City, Hebei Province
河北省霸州市
Drive time: About one hour and 50 minutes
Tickets: Free entry; small entry fees for select sites

Ultimately, these ancient towns on Beijing's periphery are perfect for a day trip escape. If you're tired of frantic, checklist travel and chasing Instagram hotspots, spending a leisurely day wandering through these ancient streets is a fantastic alternative.

READ: View Spectacular Autumn Leaves at These Spots in Beijing

Images: the Beijingers, TC