Kids Club: Immortal Valley and the Big Buddha
Hike up Immortal Valley, passing cliffs, waterfalls, boulders, and pools of water on the way to the 'Big Buddha' carved into the cliffside. Longer option available for big kids.
This hike is not currently scheduled
There's a lot to see on our Immortal Valley hike – pools filled with clear water, waterfalls, big trees, wild flowers, some distant Great Wall, the Miyun Reservoir, and long views of valleys and mountains.
We’ll walk up the valley, passing those cliffs, waterfalls, boulders, and pools of water on the way to the ‘Big Buddha’ carved into the cliffside. It’s an up-and-back trail, and you can make it into a more relaxed walk by not going all the way up. (Make a note with your booking if you’d like to try the longer hike.)
This is a really scenic hike in winter because of all the icefalls, and we’ll also be able to step out onto a frozen reservoir.
Kids club: relaxed outings for kids to enjoy some family time in nature. Best for ages 6 and up. Younger children may need to be carried for parts of the hike, especially if you aim to get up to the Big Buddha.
Itinerary
| 09:00 | Driving to the hike |
| 11:00 | Start walking up to the first waterfall lookout |
| 11:30 | Climb steep stairs to the first lookout |
| 11:45 | Continue up Immortal Valley, passing pools on the way to the next waterfall |
| 12:30 | Picnic lunch by the Big Buddha |
| 13:00 | Big kids start the longer version of the hike, heading up to the top trail |
| 13:30 | Those doing the shorter hike start to head back, taking a side trail down from the Big Buddha, then back the same way to the finish |
| 14:30 | Hike is finished. |
| 15:00 | Driving back, stopping for a bathroom break |
| 17:00 | Arrive at Lido, then on to Liangmaqiao |
Things to do
While there aren't specially structured activities this time, there are some fun things to do.
Play on the ice: water runs in a stream down the valley, collecting in large and small rock pools. On this hike all the water will be frozen.
Grab an icicle to snack on (With parental permission, of course.)
Spot the weird rocks: the cliffs on either side of the valley are topped by rocky crags, some vaguely reminiscent of various animals. Signs beside the path describe what you should be looking for, but is there really a frog-shaped rock?
Extra hiking: Big kids might like to do a longer hike—finish your picnic early and follow the guides up to the Big Buddha and then farther up the valley. It’s a long climb up to the top, then a long descent down a ridgeline trail.
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.
COVID-19 and participation precautions
The brief version:
- Please DO NOT participate if you are sick or showing symptoms of fever and/or have an elevated temperature, or have been in close contact with someone who was/is.
- You MUST agree to the mitigation and prevention measures outlined here and that Beijing Hikers will not be held responsible if any participants become sick.
Please read in full here: Operating hikes under COVID-19 precautions
