Jingbei First Grassland, also known as Bashang Grassland, is located in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. This is the natural grassland closest to Beijing, famous for its vast grassland scenery, cool climate, and rich folk culture. The scenic area covers a total area of about 350 square kilometers, with an average altitude of 1,800 meters and an average summer temperature of 17.4°C. It is an ideal place for summer vacations and autumn sightseeing. The grassland has numerous yurts, resorts, and other reception facilities, and can accommodate tens of thousands of tourists for accommodation and dining at the same time, meeting the needs of different visitors. The grassland is rich in vegetation, mainly perennial herbaceous plants, forming a green sea dotted with wildflowers, making the scenery very charming.
History and Culture
Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, where Jingbei First Grassland is located, has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It is home to ethnic minorities such as the Manchu and Mongolian peoples. The cultures of various ethnic groups have blended with one another, forming unique folk customs.
Historically, this grassland was an area where northern nomadic peoples lived and was once a grazing place during the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, with a long history of nomadic culture. In modern times, it was also an important node on the Grassland Silk Road, promoting economic and cultural exchanges among different regions. Today, many traditional folk activities are still preserved locally, such as the Naadam Festival and Aobao worship. These activities are not only an important part of local ethnic culture but also attract many tourists to watch and experience them.
Main Attractions
Qiansongba Forest Park
Qiansongba Forest Park is an important part of Jingbei First Grassland, located in the northwest of the grassland, with a total area of 2,000 hectares. The park contains large areas of primitive spruce forests. According to statistics, there are nearly a thousand spruces over a hundred years old, hence the name “Qiansongba” (Thousand Spruce Dam). The spruce trees here have tall, straight trunks and luxuriant branches and leaves, forming a dense forest landscape. The park also has natural landscapes such as streams and canyons. The air is fresh, making it a natural oxygen bar. Visitors can hike and enjoy the scenery here and feel the charm of nature.
Liushugou Forest Park
Liushugou Forest Park is located in the southeast of Jingbei First Grassland, covering an area of about 146 square kilometers. The park is mainly composed of willow, birch, and other trees, as well as large areas of grassland and wetlands. In summer, the grass is green and wildflowers are in full bloom; in autumn, the leaves turn yellow and the scenery is picturesque. There is a 10-kilometer-long canyon in the park, with murmuring streams and jagged rocks, making it a good place for exploration and leisure.
Great Khan Palace
The Great Khan Palace was built according to the layout of Genghis Khan’s palace at that time. It is located in the central area of Jingbei First Grassland and covers an area of about 300,000 square meters. The palace is magnificent and reproduces the court architectural style of the Mongol Khanate period. Inside, there are statues of Genghis Khan, a council hall, a bedchamber, and other buildings, displaying Mongolian history, culture, and court life. Visitors can learn about Mongolian history here and experience activities such as court etiquette.
Lightning Lake
Lightning Lake is a pearl on Jingbei First Grassland. It is named because its shape resembles a lightning bolt, covering an area of about 1,000 mu. Around the lake is vast grassland. The lake water is clear enough to see the bottom, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and grassland scenery, making it very beautiful. Visitors can fish and boat by the lake, or ride horses and fly kites on the grassland by the lake, enjoying leisurely time.
Hundred-Mile Sky Road
Hundred-Mile Sky Road is an important part of Jingbei First Grassland. Because it is about 100 kilometers long and lies like a giant dragon across the tops of the mountains, winding and twisting, it is called “Hundred-Mile Sky Road.” It is also known as the Sky Road in the Clouds and the First Sky Road North of Beijing. It is also a key ecological tourism belt project built by the local government and is praised as China’s most beautiful and exciting plateau self-driving route. Along the way, it combines diverse landscapes such as grassland, forest, wetland, mountains, farmland, flower seas, and villages, with a very high degree of landscape diversity. Driving on the sky road, one can see the vast grassland, pass through dense primitive forests, and also enjoy the tranquility of wetlands and the simplicity of pastoral scenery.
Suggested Tour Route：
A classic one-day tour route is recommended: In the morning, start from the scenic area entrance and first go to the Great Khan Palace to visit the court buildings and learn about Mongolian history and culture; the visit takes about 2 hours. Then go to Lightning Lake to stroll and take photos by the lake and experience water activities; the visit takes about 1.5 hours. At noon, dine at a restaurant near Lightning Lake and taste local specialties. In the afternoon, go to Qiansongba Forest Park to hike through the forest and enjoy natural landscapes such as streams and canyons; the visit takes about 3 hours. End the day’s itinerary in the evening. If time permits, a two-day tour can be arranged, with the second day going to Liushugou Forest Park to deeply experience the grassland and forest scenery.
Travel Suggestions：
The best seasons to visit are June–August and September–October. From June to August, the grassland is green with wildflowers in bloom, suitable for escaping the summer heat; from September to October, the grassland is clear and crisp in autumn, with picturesque scenery, suitable for photography.
The grassland is large. It is recommended to rent an off-road vehicle or take the scenic area shuttle bus to visit, so as to reach each attraction more conveniently.
You can experience horseback riding on the grassland. It is recommended to choose a regular horse farm, follow the instructions of the staff, and keep riding time to 1–2 hours.
Local specialties include roast whole lamb, hand-grabbed mutton, milk tea, etc. They can be tasted in restaurants or homestays in the scenic area, with an average per-person cost of about 50–100 yuan.
If you plan to stay overnight, you can choose a yurt or resort. Prices vary by grade, generally 200–500 yuan per night. It is recommended to book in advance.
There are several viewing platforms in the scenic area. It is recommended to go at sunrise or sunset to capture beautiful grassland light and shadow scenery.
Precautions：
There is a large temperature difference between day and night on the grassland. Even in summer, you need to wear a jacket at night. It is recommended to bring long-sleeved clothing and a light jacket.
The ultraviolet rays on the grassland are strong, so take sun protection measures, such as applying sunscreen, wearing a hat, and sunglasses.
Respect the customs of local ethnic minorities, and follow relevant rules when entering places such as yurts.
Protect the grassland environment. Do not litter or damage vegetation and wild animals.
Pay attention to safety when riding horses. Do not leave the guidance of the horse trainer without permission, and avoid dangerous movements on horseback.
The weather on the grassland changes quickly, and showers may occur. It is recommended to bring rain gear.
Mobile phone signal is weak in some areas of the scenic spot. It is recommended to agree in advance with companions on meeting times and places.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From Beijing, drive along the Jingcheng Expressway and Daguang Expressway, exit at Fengning, and then drive along provincial roads to Jingbei First Grassland. The total distance is about 280 kilometers, and the driving time is about 4.5 hours.
Bus: There are long-distance buses from Beijing Dongzhimen Long-Distance Bus Station to Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, with multiple departures every day. The journey takes about 5 hours. After arriving in Fengning, you can transfer to a local taxi or tourist bus to the scenic area. Fengning is about 50 kilometers from the scenic area, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
Tourist bus: Some travel agencies in Beijing offer tourist buses to Jingbei First Grassland. You can inquire and sign up in advance; they are usually one-day or multi-day tour packages.
Opening Hours：
Open all year round. Specific opening hours are adjusted according to the season. In summer (June 1–August 31), opening hours are 7:00–19:00; in autumn (September 1–October 31), opening hours are 8:00–18:00; in winter (November 1–May 31 of the following year), opening hours are 9:00–17:00. The opening hours of some attractions, such as the Great Khan Palace, are consistent with the overall opening hours of the scenic area. Please refer to the scenic area’s announcement on the day.
Tickets：
Admission is free, but some attractions within the scenic area charge separately.
As of August 13, 2025, the ticket for the Great Khan Palace is 88 yuan per person. You can search for the WeChat service account “京北草原大汗行宫” to get the latest updates or buy tickets online; the self-driving ticket for Hundred-Mile Sky Road is 118 yuan per person. You can search for the WeChat service account “百里天路景区” to get the latest updates or buy tickets online; the ticket for Lightning Lake is 30 yuan per person.