Ulan Butong around the National Day holiday is at its most vibrant time of the year.
Heading north from Beijing, past Weichang, the birch forests start to turn yellow. Outside the window, the grassland is gilded, the woods are colorful, and morning and evening mists roll over the hills, making it more layered and photogenic than in summer. The golden autumn period in Ulan Butong (the core area of Bashang) is from September 20–October 5. From late September to early October, it enters its peak beauty for the year, with thousands of acres of birch trees turning gold and mountains covered in colorful foliage. The autumn light on the grassland is intense and clear, and the sunset scatters warm light across the fields. The National Day holiday falls right at the end of this peak period; going a few days earlier offers the highest color saturation, while during the holiday, you should budget extra time for traffic and crowds.
Day 1: Drive from Beijing and arrive at the grassland in the afternoon. Take the Jingcheng Expressway to the Chengwei Expressway, passing Weichang North and Yudaokou to enter the Ulan Butong Scenic Area. The total distance is about 450 km, with a drive time of 6–6.5 hours. Be sure to set your navigation destination to "Ulan Butong Scenic Area Ticket Office (South Gate)" and take the Yuke Highway, which is paved the entire way. Buy a general admission ticket at the entrance for 120 yuan/person, valid for 3 days. You will need to register your fingerprint or facial recognition for your first entry. After settling into your accommodation, head straight to Jiangjun Paozi in the evening to watch the sunset. The lake surface is dyed gold by the setting sun, and herds of horses drink water by the shore in the distance.
Day 2: Spend the whole day capturing the grassland. Wake up at 4:30 AM and arrive at Beigou before sunrise. 4:30 AM–7:00 AM is the most important time for photography in Bashang. Advection fog rises from between the hills, and the birch forests emerge layer by layer in the morning mist, with smoke rising from distant yurts. In the morning, head to Wucai Mountain, the place with the most intense autumn colors in all of Bashang, where red, yellow, and green colors interweave, and the mountains look like an overturned palette. In the afternoon, go to Hamaba. This requires an additional ticket of 30–40 yuan, but it is worth it—the birch and larch forests on the hillsides spread along the valley, and cattle and sheep are scattered on the grass, making every shot look like an oil painting. Wait for the sunset at Hamaba in the evening, when the setting sun dyes the entire valley a warm gold.
Day 3: Visit Toufenggou and Princess Lake. In the morning, go to Toufenggou to watch the sunrise. There is a high probability of morning mist here, and the birch forests in the valley appear and disappear in the fog. In the morning, walk along Xiaohetou, where streams meander across the grassland and the shrubs on both sides have turned deep red. You might occasionally encounter herds of horses wading across the river, with water splashes glittering in the backlight. In the afternoon, go to Princess Lake. The lake water appears deep blue under the autumn sun, surrounded by golden birch forests, with the tree crowns and sky reflected on the lake surface.
Day 4: Return to Beijing. Take a final walk on the grassland in the morning, pack your bags, and return along the same route. If you have enough time, you can stop at Saihanba Forest Park; the forest road with intermingled larch and birch trees is worth a slow drive.
🚄 How to get there?
Drive about 450 km from Beijing, a 6–6.5 hour drive; an SUV is recommended. Main route: Beijing → Jingcheng Expressway → Chengwei Expressway → Weichang North → Yudaokou → Ulan Butong Scenic Area South Gate. The scenic area is vast, and the attractions are far apart, so driving yourself is the most convenient option. Some dirt roads in the valleys within the scenic area are not suitable for sedans.
🎫 Ticket information
Ulan Butong Scenic Area general admission ticket is 120 yuan/person, valid for 3 days, allowing multiple entries. You will need to register your fingerprint or facial recognition for your first entry. Hamaba charges an additional 30–40 yuan. Ashatu Stone Forest is 160 yuan/person (if you plan to visit).
🗺️ 4-day, 3-night itinerary
Day 1: Depart from Beijing → Jingcheng Expressway → Chengwei Expressway → Weichang North → Yudaokou → Ulan Butong Scenic Area South Gate → Sunset at Jiangjun Paozi → Overnight stay near Junmachang or Xiaohongshan.
Day 2: Sunrise and morning mist at Beigou → Wucai Mountain → Hamaba → Sunset at Hamaba → Overnight stay at a grassland homestay.
Day 3: Sunrise at Toufenggou → Xiaohetou → Princess Lake → Overnight stay at a grassland homestay.
Day 4: Morning light on the grassland → Return to Beijing.
🏠 Accommodation tips
Accommodation is concentrated around Junmachang and Xiaohongshan. During peak season, standard hotels cost 300–600 yuan/night. Conditions are simple, but the location is good, with the grassland right outside your door. Accommodation is in high demand during the National Day holiday, so be sure to book in advance. Yurts offer a great experience but have poor insulation. With temperatures near 0°C at night in October, it is recommended to prioritize homestays or hotels with heating.
🍜 Food recommendations
Hand-grabbed mutton is a grassland staple; the mutton is boiled until it falls off the bone and eaten with chive flower sauce. Roasted lamb leg has crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. Pot tea is brewed with milk tea, roasted rice, and milk skin; a bowl in the morning will warm you up. Bashang oat noodles (wowo) served with lamb and mushroom sauce are a local staple.
📸 Photography spots
Beigou sunrise: The 4:30 AM–7:00 AM morning mist rolling over the birch forests is the most classic scene in Bashang. Wucai Mountain: Panoramic views of interweaving red, yellow, and green colors. Hamaba: Birch forests in the valley with cattle and sheep scattered on the grass. Jiangjun Paozi: Golden reflections on the lake at sunset. Toufenggou: Birch forests appearing and disappearing in the morning mist. Xiaohetou: Herds of horses wading through water with backlit splashes.
💡 A few reminders
The golden viewing period is September 20–October 5. The window is only about 20 days, and the birch trees start shedding leaves after mid-October.
There is a huge temperature difference between day and night, with temperatures near 0°C in the early morning. You must bring a down jacket or a thick windbreaker; you can wear a thin sweater during the day.
You must wake up early to photograph the morning mist. Sunrise is around 5:40 AM–6:10 AM. It is recommended to check the sunrise time for the day in advance.
Some dirt roads in the valleys within the scenic area are bumpy. Sedans should enter with caution; an SUV is recommended.
There are large crowds during the National Day holiday; be sure to book accommodation and off-road vehicles in advance.
The images in this article are for illustrative purposes only; please refer to the actual scenery on-site.