Beijing/Northern Suburbs

Northern Suburbs is in Beijing and consists of the administrative districts Changping District (昌平区; Chāngpíngqū) and Shunyi District (顺义区; Shùnyìqū).

Get in

Get around

See

Dingling — one of the Ming tombs in the region

• 🌍 Ming Dynasty Imperial tombs (明十三陵) (Bus 872 from Deshengmen Gate in central Beijing drops you near the Sacred Way; tomb complex is spread out, requires hiring a car at site to get to other points). A part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties". This is the final resting place of 13 of the 16 emperors the Ming Dynasty. The largest and most impressive of them is Changling (长陵), the tomb of Emperor Yongle (永乐皇帝), the 3rd emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Another notable one is Dingling (定陵), the tomb of Emperor Wanli (万历皇帝), and the only one whose burial chamber has been excavated and is open to the public. The site is not visually spectacular and only worth going to if you are well versed in Chinese history.  

Museums

• 🌍 Chinese Aviation Museum (中国民航博物馆; Zhōngguó Mínháng Bówùguǎn), Datangshan, Chanping District (昌平区小汤山) (About 50km outside Beijing, (as of October 2011) take Bus 643 from Tiantongyuan North Subway Station (天通苑北) on Line 5). 8AM-5:30PM. A must see for all aviation fans. It is probably better known by the name Datangshan. The museum hosts over 200 exhibits, many of them very rare. Entrance to the ground exhibits were free (Oct 2011). There is an entrance fee to the indoor display and hanger ¥20, and an extra ¥10 if you want to board Chairman Mao's plane and another ¥10 to board a DC-8 (Orbis), and ¥10 to sit in a MIG-15.  
• 🌍 Beijing Waxworks Palace of Ming Dynasty (明皇蜡像馆), Xiguanhuandao, Changping District (昌平区西关环岛), ☎ [phone]. 7:30AM-6PM. Here you can see China's historical and cultural figures in wax. ¥40. 

Galleries

There are some interesting galleries in Shunyi District including:

• Beijing Central Art Gallery (硕华画社), G/F L106 Euro Plaza, 99 Yu Xiang Lu, Tian Zhu,Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区天竺后沙峪,裕翔路99号欧陆广场一层 L106号) (Across from the New National Exhibition Centre), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 1PM-8PM. Contemporary Chinese paintings and sculptures. 
• Open Gallery (贞的画廊), 5 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang Cun, Shunyi District (顺义区西白新庄村开发街5号), ☎ [phone]. 8MA-8PM. Contemporary Chinese art. 

Do

• Happy Land Arts and Crafts Center (乐土工艺访; Lètǔgōngyìfǎng), Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄; Shùnyìqū Hòushāyù Xībáixīnzhuāng), ☎ [phone]. Summer 9AM-6PM; winter 9AM-5PM. The center offers pottery, painting, paper folding, jewelry making and other. 

Picking strawberries.

• Tianyi Farm Strawberry Emporium (天翼草莓园). A large strawberry farm in the countryside of Changping. From December to May you can pick your own strawberries for purchase. The strawberries are expensive so remember to pick only the best ones you can find. 150 yuan per kilo. 
• International Shooting Range, 1 Mafang Cun, Nankou town (At the gate of No. 208 Research Institute of China Ordinance, register with your ID. Then walk for 15 minutes or hitch a ride on a cart to the shooting range), ☎ [phone] ext 3103 (Chinese only). One of the few shooting ranges in China open to the public. Shotguns, handguns, and rifles are available. Silencer equipped handgun available for use with letter of introduction from company of employment. 15 RMB for each rifle and handgun bullet. 

Buy

Eat

Budget

• Ban Ruo (般若素食), 33 Gulou Dongjie, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街33号), ☎ [phone]. Buddhist vegetarian restaurant. Try the fake Beijing Duck and other fake meat dishes. 
• Kyros Kebab (烤肉霸), 807 Pinnacle Plaza, Shunyi District (顺义区荣祥广场807), ☎ [phone]. 9:30AM-9:30PM. Kebabs and sandwiches. 

Mid-range

• T6 Hot Pot (T6香辣火锅), 10 Tianshuiyuan Donglu, Changping District (昌平区甜水园东路10号), ☎ [phone]. 11AM-10PM. 
• Bravo (博纳意大利餐厅), Loong Palace, Huilongguan, Changping District (回龙观龙城丽宫国际酒店), ☎ [phone] ext 73019. 5:30PM-10PM. Italian restaurant. 

Splurge

• Obelisco (阿根廷烤肉), 1 Laiguangying Donglu, Shunyi District (顺义区来广营东路1号), ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-10PM; F-Su 11AM-10PM. Argentinian restaurants serving great steaks and red wine. 
• Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar (尚水长廊铁板烧餐厅), 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District (顺义区京顺路荣祥广场902), ☎ [phone]. 10:30AM-10PM. Sushi is served at the bar while you can have both sushi and teppanyaki in the private rooms. Unusually high level of service here. 

Drink

• The Pomegranate (石榴园), 19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuan, Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄开发路19号), ☎ [phone]. M-F 11AM-midnight, Sa-Su 11PM-2AM. Sports bar hidden in the hutongs of Shunyi. 
• The Cellar Lounge, Outside the south gate of Capital Paradise, Shunyi (顺义区京顺路天竺路口西名都园南门外), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 11AM-10PM. Wine bar with imported red wine and snacks. Imported red wine from ¥80. 

Sleep

Budget

• Beijing Country Paradise Conference Center (北京乡村乐园会议中心). Rooms with no internet access. Listed rates for doubles from ¥300, discounted from ¥150, breakfast ¥10. 
• Endemin Hotel (北京恩德民酒店), Building 5, Courtyard 400, Dongxiaokou, Changping District (昌平区东小口400号院5号楼), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Rooms with free internet. Meeting rooms, ticket office and gift shop available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥258, discounted from ¥178, cheapest rooms without window, including breakfast. 
• Home Inn (Changping Coliseum of Beijing) (如家酒店 (北京昌平体育馆店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (BěijīngChāngpíngtǐyùguǎndiàn)), 11 South Ring Road, Changping District (昌平区南环路11号; Chāngpíngqū Nánhuánlù) (6km north of Ring Road Six and 2km east of Badaling Expway), ☎ [phone] ext 856, fax: [phone]. Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office, laundry service and fitness facilities available. Chinese restaurant. Lister rates for doubles from ¥179, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15. 

Mid-range

• Wenhuibao Hotel (北京文惠宝宾馆; Běijīngwénhuìbǎobīnguǎn), 36 East Gulou Street, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街36号; Chāngpíngqū Gǔlóudōngjiē) (5km norht of Ring Road Six just east of Badaling Expway, buses 493, 914), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Spacious rooms with free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office, laundry service and massage available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥320, discounted from ¥165; no breakfast available. 
• Beijing Longmai Hotspring Village (北京龙脉温泉度假村; Běijīng Lóngmàiwēnquán Dùjiàcūn), Xiaotangshan, Changping District (昌平区小汤山; Chāngpíngqū Xiǎotāngshān), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. This hotspring resort is one of the closest to the city centre, but if you are willing to travel further you can also find better places. Room rates include single entry to the hotsprings, but everything else you will have to pay for. Listed rates for doubles from ¥600, discounted from ¥322 including breakfast. 
• Aulympic Airportel (空港奥竺宾馆; Kōnggǎngàozhúbīnguǎn), 36 Xiao Tianzhu Road, Capital Airport, Shunyi District (顺义区小天竺路36号奥竺苑; Shùnyìqū Xiǎotiānzhúlù, àozhúyuàn) (8 minute drive from the airport), ☎ [phone]. Three star hotel located close to Ligao Park, Tianzhu Garden, and New International Exhibition Center. 258 air-conditioned rooms equipped with double/twin beds, cable TV, IDD telephone, and free high-speed Internet. The hotel offers venues for corporate and social events. Meeting rooms are available for seminars. Classy bar and a restaurant. From ¥355.58 for a double. 
• Bishui Plaza (北京碧水大厦; Běijīng Bìshuǐddshà), Green Rivers Manor, Huilongguan Town, Changping District (昌平区回龙观镇碧水庄园内; Chāngpíngqū Huílóngguànzhèn Bìshuǐzhuāngyuán Nèi) (Take the train from Beijing North Railway Station next to Xizhimen Metro Station, get off at Shahe Station (沙河站) and take an unofficial taxi the last km or so, or take bus []), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Four stare hotel located close to mountains and river. Rooms with free internet. Business center, shops, beauty salon and ticket office available. There are also lots of recreational opportunities including disco, karaoke, playground, billiard, table tennis, fitness, bowling, tennis, indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna. Chinese and Western restaurants, large area with barbeque, and also coffee shop, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥759, discounted from ¥402, breakfast ¥68. 

Splurge

• Commune by the Great Wall, Kempinski (北京长城脚下的公社 (凯宾斯基管理)), 昌平区八达岭高速水关长城出口. Five star hotel Listed rates for doubles ¥2,415-2,890. 
• Rylinwon Resort & Spa (北京顺义瑞麟湾温泉度假酒店), 顺义区南彩镇顺平辅路39号. 

Connect