Just off the speedin' track

The recent launch of a high-speed rail service has stirred up the wanderlust of Chinese travellers looking for seasonal thrills.

China's biggest online travel agency, Ctrip, reports that searches for winter tourism products along the route covered by the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed train have more than quintupled since the service began running on Dec 30. The 174-kilometer high-speed railway track has reduced the travel time between the two host cities of the 2022 Winter Olympics from more than three hours to around an hour.

Approximately 30,000 passengers used the service on its first day of running, according to the Beijing Railway Bureau.

At the same time, two services connecting Zhangjiakou with Datong in Shanxi province and Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, also began operating on the same day, bringing the rich tourism resources of the country's northern regions within two hours' reach of Beijing.

There are many natural and historical attractions worth exploring along all of the routes, so let China Daily be your guide to what's on offer.

BEIJING

Changping Station

For rail passengers boarding the Beijing-Zhangjiakou service, historical sites await less than 30 minutes away from downtown Beijing. Travellers can explore an ancient impregnable pass and frontier garrison, as well as mausoleums from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Experience the natural military defense system at the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall and take in the overlapping mountain ranges, deep gorges, lush vegetation and flowing streams in the distance. Then, a 20-minute drive away sits the Ming Tombs, featuring red walls, yellow tiles and upturned eaves. Visitors can get a taste of the solemnity and harmony of traditional Chinese tomb culture, as well as enjoying the serene mountain-river setting.

Badaling Station

The Great Wall and the grand gorge give visitors the full measure of man's power and nature's force. The Badaling Great Wall has parts that were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty to defend Beijing against the Mongolians. It is one of the best preserved of all the sections of China's Great Wall. The northern part of Badaling is steeper and offers better views. More information about the Great Wall is available at the nearby Great Wall Museum and Great Wall National Theater. The Longqing Gorge is 10 km northeast of Yanqing district and covers 119 square km and is spanned by a massive concrete dam that is more than 70 meters high. Depending on the season, visitors will see a waterfall or, in winter, an icefall－as if it were frozen in time. There is the option to take a boat along a river flanked by cliffs, and enjoy imposing views of the mountains along the way. Many winter art festivals have been held at the gorge, where visitors can also pay tributes at the surrounding temples, scattered and hidden in a grove of trees in the mountains. A Guinness World Record-holding 258-meter elevator shaped like a dragon takes visitors to the top of the dam, while the journey from the mountain top to the bottom of the gorge is also a thrilling experience.

ZHANGJIAKOU

Huailai Station

Here travellers can disembark to explore and enjoy activities that cater to a range of tastes, from visiting the national desert and wetland parks to learning about ancient postal culture and sampling gourmet wine. Tianmo stands out as a boundary from the surrounding farmland, mountains and reservoir and boasts distinctive natural beauty. Many famous Chinese movies and series have been shot in the small desert. Nearby sits the Guanting Reservoir, an ideal place for fishing and boating, or simply just to meander along the shore. The reservoir area harbors many wetlands, replete with lotus ponds, verdant reed marshes and swaying willows. In the spring, it's a good place to observe migrant birds. A wetland museum offers visitors greater insight regarding the local natural landscape. Should naturalists feel inspired and want to write home about the area's charm, they can head to Crowing (Jiming) Post House and learn about the ancient postal service. Built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and serving as a transport hub and a military garrison for the region, it can boast being among the best preserved examples of its kind. Many beautiful murals can be spotted on the buildings in the neighborhood, featuring Taoist goddesses, flowers, birds and other auspicious animals. The ancient masonry technique of brick carving can also be widely seen. Wrap up the visit at the nearby Chateau SunGod Greatwall, where wine tasting and grape picking activities are available for visitors as they learn about the process of winemaking and storage in the chateau's underground cellar.

Taizicheng Station

All roads from the station lead to Chongli county, which is a paradise for skiing. The 2022 venues for the cross-country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping events are all within short reach by public transport. Local winter resorts have never failed to attract visitors from far and wide for their perfect skiing conditions and stunning scenery. The Wanlong, Genting, Thaiwoo and Changchengling ski resorts are among the best of their kind in the area.

North Xuanhua Station

This is the gateway to Xuanhua Ancient City, which was founded during the Ming Dynasty and boasts a history of over 600 years. It used to play a crucial role in defending the capital and consists of three main towers. The Gongji Tower sits at the southern end of the central axis and, in the old days, was used as the main gateway to the city. It was built on tall, solid walls and features exquisite carvings. At the other end of the central axis stand the Zhenshuo and Qingyuan towers. An ancient bell hangs in one, and its sound is said to be heard as far as 20 kilometers away. Over the years, an annual bell ringing ceremony has been held during the first lunar month. Visitors can catch a glimpse of what life was like here in the past by dropping in at the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) tombs, located in the nearby Xiabali village. A total of 11 tombs have been uncovered, featuring more than 90 murals depicting scenes such as tea ceremonies, travel, dining and chess-playing. It's also a good spot to see Chinese traditional constellations and Western zodiac elements in the night sky.

For those with the time to explore further, about an hour away from Zhangjiakou, Hohhot is home to the magnificent natural beauty of the Mongolian grasslands and distinctive traditions, art and food, while Datong abounds in historical relics and natural beauty, including the Yungang Grottoes, Hengshan Mountain and the famous, precipitously-placed wooden Hanging Monastery.