One-day tour experience of Shentangyu plank road and Yanqi Lake West Mountain plank road

During the May Day holiday, I went to the Shentangyu Plank Road in Huairou and the Xishan Plank Road in Yanqi Lake. Let me share my feelings. This trip includes mountains and water, and is not very strenuous, suitable for people of all ages, including couples, families, and children. Both attractions are free, but parking is charged. [Car] The recommended mode of transportation is self-driving, any type of vehicle will do. Don't take the bus, there are so few buses that you can easily end up walking. [One] The Shentangyu plank road is very long (more than 7km) and is discontinuous, with most of the scenery being similar. Two distinctive sections are recommended. The first paragraph, water scene. First, navigate to Shentangyu Village, where there are many free parking spaces. This is a 2km plank road built along the Yanqi River where you can play in the water. There are many places to eat nearby, so you can join a group for lunch. I recommend rainbow trout. The rainbow trout in Huairou are all raised in live water. Second paragraph, mountain view. Further ahead is the "Nine Bends and Listening to the Piano" climbing point, where you can see the Great Wall and explore the caves (1 km). I feel that these two sections are the highlights of the entire plank road, where you can enjoy the mountain view, play in the water, and have a meal. On the way there, drive slowly when passing Yanqi Lake West Road, the scenery in this section is beautiful. There is also a parking lot on this road (parking is 20, no time limit), where you can rent bicycles and ride around the lake. [Two] Yanqi Lake West Mountain Plank Road, return to "Yanqi Lake P5 Parking Lot" (parking 20). The Xishan plank road is also very long and not circular. You just need to walk back from the highest peak. Personally, I feel that the scenery here is better. Both plank roads are on the east side of the mountain and are best climbed in the afternoon when there is no sun. These two attractions are more suitable for a leisurely stroll and cannot support a full day trip. It is recommended to visit nearby attractions in the morning, such as Hongluo Temple and Yanqi Lake. I personally recommend Hongluo Temple, a thousand-year-old temple where you can climb the mountain and pray for blessings. In May, you can see wisteria wrapped around pine trees; in autumn, you can see male and female ginkgo trees. Especially in autumn, the scenery is extremely beautiful when the leaves of the two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees turn yellow. The climbing is not difficult, and there are cable cars going up and down the mountain. After leaving Hongluo Temple, we went to Shentangyu for dinner and took a walk on the plank road after dinner. On the way back, we climbed the mountain to see Yanqi Lake. I feel this trip is more fulfilling.