A dreamlike winter trip in and around Beijing: Top weekend getaways.

Winter in Beijing is like a cold yet charming painting, and these hidden gems around the city add vibrant colors to it. You don't need a long holiday to make your travel dreams come true — just a weekend is enough! 1. Yeyahu National Wetland Park Only a 1-hour drive away, you can take a taxi from Xishankou Subway Station in Changping to get there. It has the depth and tranquility of Lake Baikal, with wild ducks playing on the lake, wooden walkways winding through, and reeds swaying in the wind. Every scene seems to tell the poetry of nature. 2. Shahe Wetland Park A 50-minute drive away, near Gonghuacheng Subway Station. Its biggest charm is that it's free to enter. As a suburban reservoir, it has a rich variety of ecological species. At sunset, the afterglow on the water is intoxicatingly beautiful. 3. Pofengling Although it's a 2-hour drive away, it's definitely worth taking a taxi from Yanshan Subway Station to get there. It's an ocean of red leaves, where you can climb mountains, enjoy the scenery, take a cable car to overlook the view, and visit the rural market to experience a different kind of life. 4. Summer Palace The Summer Palace looks like a fairyland when it snows, especially the "Painting Boat." The red walls, yellow tiles, and white snow complement each other, perfectly presenting the ultimate aesthetics of our ancestors. 5. Huyu Icefall It has the largest icefall in Beijing, where you can touch the ice columns up close and feel the magic of nature. 6. Qinhuangdao - Aranya You don't have to go to Iceland to enjoy similar stunning scenery and Nordic style. 7. Where the Great Wall meets the sea The Great Wall embraces the sea here, witnessing the legend of generations defending the land. Standing there, you will feel endless pride and awe. 8. Harbin - Ice and Snow World/Saint Sophia Cathedral World-famous ice and snow amusement projects and unique ice and snow experiences. Whether it's thrilling rides or exotic cathedrals, they are all unforgettable.