The Rolling Hills area is one of our favourite spots for a ramble about the countryside, and there are a lot of options for a long or short hike.

We’ll see farms and fields (and maybe sheep and cows grazing in empty cornfields) as we hike through pine forests over low hills on shepherd’s trails and tracks.

We’ve planned a short hike that is suitable for ages 5 and up, and can add on extra distance for kids with more energy.

In the area there are also some little guesthouses and mini-playgrounds, and we’ll finish up at the Jinpoluo Farm Playground, with dumplings to eat, Yuanxiao (for Lantern Festival to make … and hopefully eat) and free time to play at the farm playground.

The cost of the hike covers the food and entry to the playground. The playground also has extra paid activities like picking seasonal vegetables, donkey rides, and tractor rides, which you’d pay for by yourself if interested.

Kids club: relaxed outings for kids to enjoy some family time in nature. This outing is best for ages 6 and up. Younger kids could walk in places but would need to be carried for some parts.

Itinerary

Things to do on the hike

Find the pheasants: keep an eye out for feathers on the trail, and look out for scared pheasants taking flight. Which are male, and which are female?

Look out for cows and sheep: shepherds and cowherds send their flocks into the hills and cornfields to fill up on food. Sometimes we see them, sometimes we don’t.

Climb up to the lookout: a paved track leads to the top of one of the highest hills in the area and down the other side. If it’s clear you can see the Yunmeng Mountains, Yanqi Lake, Beijing’s CBD, and more mountains all around. Involves some stair-climbing; best for bigger kids.

Things to do at the playground

Snow stuff: some of the rides and activities that cost extra at the farm include snow slides and toboggans.Let us know if you’d like to know what costs what.

Trampolines

Haybale maze: a small maze of hip-height hay bales.

Donkey, horse, and tractor rides: take a ride at an extra cost (you can pay the playground staff directly).

Seasonal vegetable picking: pick your own vegetables for ¥15 per 500g. Selection depends on what’s available on the day.

Please contact us if you'd like more details about the plan.

Participation notes

Safety and supervision: we choose hikes that are not dangerous, and we’ll warn you about any parts of the hike that require extra attention. You’re responsible for watching your children. We’ll let you know where’s good to play.

Vehicle: all participants must wear seatbelts while in the vehicle. Ask us about bringing your car seat, as certain seats might not fit.

Weather: if the weather doesn’t look like fun, we’ll cancel or postpone the hike.

Food: bring your own picnic lunch. We’ll supply some snacks and water for you.