preface

October is a bit special for us. That autumn day in 2009, we made our vows at our wedding and had the best honeymoon time. Since then, we may have made a small wish-to hold hands together like this in the future and see more of the world. So, every October for the next ten years, we would arrange a trip for ourselves to relive the "honeymoon".

This year is no exception. I took advantage of the National Day holiday to come to Japan for the red leaves I miss. However, unfortunately, autumn is still light, and I visited three cities in a week, but only the one outside the window is slightly colored.

This makes me feel a little unwilling. The October I am looking forward to should have more brilliant colors. Unfortunately, the holiday passed quickly, and it was not realistic to arrange a long-distance trip. Fortunately, my husband woke me up with one word-whether in the sky or in front of me, two people together can be a romantic honeymoon.

Why go to the ends of the earth to find color? Driving in Beijing by yourself, you can also reap surprises around you.

The tallest building "China Zun" sets off the clear blue sky

There is still a touch of summer green that is unwilling to fade away in the lake water in the park

The mountains and alleys have been covered with a layer of eager autumn warmth and yellow

Driving through the winding silver mountain road

Watching red climbing the courtyard walls of the ancient town

Even the dark night can give rise to golden light

Under the white clouds

The gray Great Wall stands tall

And we will drive the purple Jeep Freedom Man to join the colorful and romantic journey, and customize the unique journey of young and ever-changing styles.

Schedule Self-driving routes

D1 International Trade Mall

D2 Beijing Urban Area-Simatai Great Wall, Gubeishui Town

D3 Simatai Great Wall in Gubei Water Town-One Line of Sky in Cuanxixia Village

D4 Yixiantian in Cuanxixia Village-Hongjing Road

D5 798/751

Tips:

1. There is no limit to weekends in Beijing, and there are many people going to the suburbs to play, so traffic jams are serious, so try to stagger the weekend peak periods.

2. The road conditions of main transportation such as highways and national highways are relatively good, but mountainous areas and some scenic spots will have complex road conditions. For example, the roads on the first line of sky are potholes and there are many corners on Hongjing Road. Fortunately, the power of 1.3T is matched with a 9AT gearbox. Coupled with the rare rear independent suspension of this level, Freedom Man can drive easily and comfortably on the rugged mountain roads in the suburbs of Beijing, and he can handle continuous corners leisurely.

International Trade Mall-bustling city, freedom and freedom

I have been to the Imperial Capital many times, seen the magnificent Forbidden City, the alleys passing through the tunnels, and felt the tidiness of Houhai. However, when I think about it, I have not fully appreciated the prosperous urban side of this city.

Maybe we blame the hustle and bustle of Greater Beijing for fear that rushing into the crowd will lose the comfort and casual nature of the holiday. However, this time our friends in Beijing gave us different inspiration. We learned to do the opposite, and we had a free world instead.

Just like the high-rise Guomao, which is crowded with high-rise buildings, it has witnessed many office workers rushing to and from work at night on weekdays, but on weekends, the traffic is smooth and parking is worry-free.

Guomao Mall is an old shopping center in Beijing. With continuous expansion and renovation over the years, it has become a landmark comprehensive leisure center in the central Urban area.

Because it is adjacent to the CCTV Building and China Zun, the North District has become a "check-in place for Internet celebrities." Not only is the rooftop on the sixth floor open to the public free of charge, but several restaurants in the surrounding area are also very popular.

There are tables both indoors and outdoors in Hikalisha. Because it mainly serves afternoon tea, there are very few people during lunch hours, so you can consider checking in at the wrong peak. There are champagne sets for a few hundred yuan each, as well as more affordable coffee and desserts.

The shops in the mall are also worth visiting. Lego, which makes it easy to "trap", incorporates the elements of Beijing.

FAO SCHWARZ Toy Store, which is from the United States and has a history of more than 150 years, has also settled its first flagship store in Asia. The interactive and super-large store is not just a playground for children.

If you prefer a quiet weekend, you can find it at Sisyphus Bookstore.

Tips:

- A parking fee of 10 yuan/hour in the underground parking lot, which registered members can also deduct with consumption points.

- Facing the CCTV building, the restaurant on the side of the building is a gathering place for "Internet celebrities" to take photos, and the prices are not cheap. For example, the Ferris Wheel afternoon tea at Follow-Bislo and the Italian food at ATTA BJ on the seventh floor are 300 to 400 per person. The window location is difficult to determine; in comparison, Blue Frog and the Hikalisher we went to consume slightly less and the location is easier to determine.

- If it is just for taking photos, the angle of the rooftop on the sixth floor is actually better than that in the restaurant and it is open for free.

Gubei Water Town-At the foot of the Great Wall, Hongye Jiangnan

Autumn in the north always comes suddenly, but goes simply. Fortunately, in the suburbs not far from the capital, you can get a corner of the autumn scenery in just a two-hour drive.

When I first stepped into the town, I couldn't believe my eyes. This was not the suburbs of Beijing, but clearly Jiangnan!

My husband is originally from the south, and I have also lived in the south for a long time. After returning to live in the north, I actually miss the scenery of the Yangtze River and I also want to have it almost like before, driving on the weekend and walking into the beautiful mountains and rivers. However, due to the limitations of the climate and environment in the north, we cannot always get what we want. I didn't expect that this feeling will be regained in Beijing now.

After careful investigation, we learned that although Gubei Water Town has occupied an important military geographical position since ancient times, its current appearance is built by a team including the managers of Wuzhen in recent years. No wonder it is full of Jiangnan Town temperament.

It is said that this place has different scenery all year round, but when we came, it was the red leaves covered the walls and the old-fashioned buildings nestled against each other, setting off the clear water of the Great Wall. It had a unique style and was also the most beautiful moment in the town.

The nine-square-kilometer town resort is divided into "six districts and three valleys"-Laoying District, Republic of China District, Shuijie Style District, Wolongbao Folk Culture District, Tanghe Ancient Village District, B & B and Dining Area and Houchuan Zen Valley, Yidian Valley, Yunfeng Cuigu, which is full of retro scenes such as escort bureaus, dye workshops and big stage stages, and will also be interspersed with folk performances such as opera, acrobatics, and cross talk...

At night, the night view is even more charming, with wonderful drones flying Kongming lanterns and drone formation performances.

Many people come to Gubei Water Town for a day trip. If they leave early and return late, they can visit the town. However, we still recommend staying here for one night. After all, as mentioned above, the scenery and activities at night are also wonderful, and the accommodation here itself is very special. There are 4 themed hotels, 10 boutique hotels and 28 B & Bs in the entire ancient town. B & Bs are especially recommended. Most of them are built with water under the roof and picturesque windows.

Cute squirrel spokespersons can be seen everywhere in the ancient town. We have also seen several squirrels shuttling through the trees with our own eyes. They are just too naughty and come and go in a hurry, but the kittens we encounter are so obedient that we can love and care for.

These few days have been the hottest time for the vines to be red all over the place. I pressed the shutter and greedily took away the sweet color for private possession.

The Simatai Great Wall is located next to the town. Looking up from multiple angles, you can see its winding like a rainbow, and even its reflection can be reflected in the water.

Tips:

- The ticket price for Gubei Water Town is 140 yuan/person. If you stay in the town, you can enjoy a preferential price of 80 yuan/person, and you can enter and exit the scenic spot multiple times (although it is actually unnecessary).

- The hours of various performances (such as operas, drones, etc.) vary on weekdays and weekends, and will be adjusted occasionally temporarily. Accurate information will be announced at the entrance of the scenic spot every day, or staff can be asked on site.

- Accommodation outside the ancient town is very cheap, only a little over 100 yuan per person. If you want to save money, you can visit the ancient town on the first day, stay out of the scenic spot at around 9 o'clock after the night tour, and buy separate tickets for the Great Wall to visit the Simatai Great Wall the next day.

- If the budget allows, I strongly recommend staying in a scenic area. Boutique hotels have good facilities, and B & Bs are better for money. However, the number of rooms is limited, so try to book in advance. And it is best to check directly on the official website, phone first to inquire about the availability and then go to the reservation website to make a reservation. The room status update on the reservation website was not timely. I didn't know it at first, so I wasted a lot of time selecting rooms. In the end, I realized that there were only a few rooms available and there were not many options.

- It takes about 2-2.5 hours to drive from downtown Beijing by car. It is mainly highway and the road conditions are good. If you take public transportation, you can refer to the following flights.

Simatai Great Wall-Through the past and the present, the autumn wind is gentle

When it comes to the Great Wall, many people may think of Badaling. I climbed the Great Wall for the first time when I was a child, and I did go there. But in fact, the Simatai Great Wall is also very worth visiting. It was included in the World Heritage List in 1987. It is the only ancient architectural site in my country that retains the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty. It has been identified as the "Original Great Wall" by UNESCO. Some scholars even commented that "the Great Wall of China is the greatest in the world, and the Simatai Great Wall is the greatest Great Wall of China."

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is famous for its dangers, closeness, oddity, ingenuity and completeness. Danger means that it is built on a ridge cut by knives and axes, which is extremely thrilling;"dense" means the distance between the enemy towers. The two enemy towers are tens of meters apart, the farthest is no more than 300 meters, and the average distance is only 140 meters;"Strange" means that the Simatai Great Wall is dangerous, steep and magnificent. The barrier walls move step by step and can be attacked, retreated or defended."The architectural styles and forms of the tower and enemy towers are also unique and diverse.

Mr. and Mr. and Mr. have both been to the Great Wall separately, but now this is the first time they have walked on the Great Wall hand in hand. It feels like they have walked through a long historical story together.

Tips:

- Living in the ancient town, you can enjoy a discount of 120 yuan for night tours of the Great Wall, but I personally suggest that it is better to browse the Great Wall during the day. There is a cableway for both round-trip trips. If you are physically strong, you can also consider half-way cableway and half-way walking.

- The entrance fee for a solo tour of the Great Wall is 40 yuan per person, but due to the upper limit of the number of receptions, an appointment is required (although we were not in peak season when we went and there was no reservation, it was best to make an appointment on the official website at least one day in advance to be on the safe side).

The romantic road-the forest is full of color, and the autumn is fading

Say goodbye to Water Town and the Great Wall and continue to chase our autumn colors. Driving Freedom Man, the colors gradually fade along the way. Sometimes it takes only a moment to turn from the green of midsummer to the yellow of early autumn, but fortunately love is as timeless as time and never fades.

Cuandixia Village-Courtyard of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a new charm of ancient houses

When we arrived at Cuanxixia Village, the sky was already getting dark. Although we had been hungry all the way, when we looked up and saw the starry sky that had been long lost in the city, all the fatigue seemed to be swept away.

Cuanxixia Village is located in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, in the western suburbs, with an altitude of 650 meters. In 2009, it was rated as "the Most Beautiful Village in Beijing" and last year it was selected into the list of the first batch of city-level traditional villages in Beijing.

The ancient village was built during the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 500 years. It is the most well-preserved ancient residential complex. There are currently more than 70 Ming and Qing courtyards and more than 600 houses.

Because it is only more than a hundred kilometers away from Beijing, it attracts many tourists who come for weekend vacations. As a result, the locals have transformed many ancient courtyards into characteristic houses, including warm courtyards, traditional earth kang, and small things full of a sense of the times. Things... make time seem to slow down.

Tips:

To enter the village, you need to purchase tickets for Cuanbai Scenic Area at the entrance, which costs 35 yuan/person, including several attractions such as Cuanxia, Yixiantian and Baiyu.

Line of Sky-Meet on a narrow road, a ray of daylight

There is actually another reason to choose Cuanxixia Village. Just three kilometers away from the quiet village, there is a strange but familiar wild place-a line of sky in western Beijing. The Huarong Road in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the narrow road encounter in "The Warlords" are both filmed here.

In fact, this place was originally called Xiaobeigou Valley, and locals also called it Chuandi Ankou. It is connected to the village, like the neck of a treasure gourd, protecting this small village.

Tips:

- This section of the road in Yixiantian is only a few hundred meters long, with varying widths and widths, and there are places where vehicles can miss. You can drive directly through, or you can park your car in the parking lot at the end and return for a walk tour.

- Traffic is relatively heavy during the day on weekends. If you want to offset the peak, you can go there early in the morning or at night. However, there is no mobile phone signal or light source in the valley

Hongjing Road-Struggle and snake walking, galloping freely

Hongjing Road, also known as Shixia Road, is known as the "Beijing Road 99". It is a mountain road that winds through the high mountains of Fangshan District. The continuous corners and undulating terrain make Hongjing Road one of the online celebrity check-in spots for self-driving and cycling enthusiasts in Beijing and surrounding areas.

Jeep Freedom's strong power makes the whole vehicle speed up easily and comfortably during climbing mountains and overtaking. Thanks to the rare rear independent suspension among models of the same class, the body roll is not obvious when cornering continuously, and the entire chassis will give people a full sense of confidence and security.

798/751-Art Park, where cute pets dominate

After finishing the colorful journey in the suburbs of Beijing and returning to the Urban area, there is still one place I can't help but visit, that is, the 798/751 Fashion Art Park. As the earliest popular design park in Beijing, it is home to many creative art companies, so it has actually visited many times, but it is a surprise to be able to shoot a series of blockbusters while driving in Freedom Man.

"Internet celebrity small train" has always been the most popular photo destination. If you don't want to become a "tourist photo" that will become a popular "tourist photo", you have to put more thought into it.

After pursuing the autumn colors along the way, different places have given us different surprises, and the graffiti walls that can be seen everywhere in the park seem to capture all the colors in one go.

Tips:

798 and 751 are closely adjacent to each other, and the car cannot be too far to walk when parked in any parking lot. However, this is both an office place and a check-in place for Internet celebrities, so there are many cars and people on weekdays and holidays. If you want to avoid the peak, you can choose the early morning of weekdays. Working hours used to be the quietest.

The journey was gradually coming to an end, but I didn't expect that there were still surprises waiting for us. It turned out that there was a husk-themed cafe hidden here. More than 30 huskies rushed towards you together. What was it like? It's happiness! haha

Tips:

- The address is in Building D3, 798 Art District. Tickets are 158 yuan/person. There are four games a day, and each game is 2.5 hours (starting on 10, 13, 16, and 19 respectively). There are much fewer people on weekdays than on weekends, especially the first game in the morning. There are fewer people and the dogs are in good spirits.

- You need to make an appointment in advance on WeChat on the official website (the appointment fee is 10 yuan/person, and the maximum number of people per game is 80 people); go during the appointment time, register to wear a bracelet on the first floor, disinfect your hands on the second floor, wear shoe covers to receive drinks, and enter on the third floor; during free activity hours, the staff will distribute some small jerky to tease the dog, and take turns taking big photos one hour before the end of each game

- Remember to break the jerky into small pieces when feeding the dog, otherwise it will be gone in one bite. Haha, you cannot feed takeout food and drinks

- Dogs also have their own personality and temperament. Don't use "forced masturbation" such as hugging, pulling, or waking up. When taking a group photo, just look in front, and the staff will coordinate the dog's cooperation.

- There are also dozens of Siamese cats in the store. With a little fee, you can have both cats and dogs.

end

Although we only had a few days to squeeze out and we only drove ourselves in Beijing and surrounding areas, the Liberty Man's galloping along the way still left unforgettable memories for our "honeymoon" in October every year.

In the eyes of many people, autumn is full of maple leaves and warm yellow. However, along the way, we met more colors, combined all these in the color palette in our hearts, and left this pair in our memory. Romantic picture...