Fengning Manchu Autonomous County Travel

Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde, Hebei — known as the 'First Prairie North of Beijing', is located in the transition zone between the Bashang Plateau and the Yanshan Mountains. It features diverse landforms such as grasslands, forests, karst caves, and wetlands, and is a blend of Manchu folk culture and Mongol-Yuan customs. A 3-day 2-night in-depth tour unlocks multiple pleasures of grassland galloping, cultural tracing, and folk custom experience.

2000+
Grassland Area (Hectares)
3
National-Level Scenic Areas
15+
Core Attractions
12+
Specialty Foods
First Prairie North of Beijing, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City
First Prairie North of Beijing - Landmark of Grassland Customs
Fengning's iconic landscape, covering a total area of 350 square kilometers. It is covered with lush green grass in summer, golden in autumn, and snow-covered in winter. As the closest natural grassland to Beijing, it offers activities such as horse riding, archery, and bonfire parties, known as the 'Pearl of Bashang'.

3-Day 2-Night Grassland Exploration Tour in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County

Gallop through the heart of the grassland, trace Mongol-Yuan culture, explore karst cave wonders, taste Manchu-Mongolian flavors, and experience the boldness and tenderness of the Bashang Grassland

Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
First Prairie North of Beijing, Khan's Palace, Baiyun Ancient Cave, Qiansongba, Shandian Lake
Suitable For
Grassland lovers, family travelers with kids, cultural explorers, photography enthusiasts
Per Capita Budget
¥800-¥1800
01
Gallop on the Grassland
First Prairie North of Beijing · Khan's Palace · Bonfire Party
Itinerary Highlights

Arrive at the First Prairie North of Beijing in the morning and experience activities such as horse riding and grassland off-roading; visit the Khan's Palace in the afternoon to feel the royal momentum of the Mongol-Yuan dynasty; participate in the grassland bonfire party in the evening and taste the whole roast lamb feast.

Attraction Arrangement
First Prairie North of Beijing
Fengning's core scenic area, belonging to the Bashang Plateau grassland, with an average altitude of 1500 meters and an average summer temperature of 23℃, it is a summer resort. Activities such as horse riding (50-100 yuan/hour), grassland karting, and grass sliding are available. The grassland sunrise and starry sky landscapes are extremely distinctive.
Khan's Palace
A scenic area rebuilt based on the prototype of Genghis Khan's palace, covering an area of 2 million square meters. It includes buildings such as the palace gate, golden tent, and council hall, displaying yurt culture, weapons and armors, hunting culture, etc. There are live equestrian performances reproducing the Mongol-Yuan war scenes.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Grassland Yurt Homestay (Great experience, advance booking required in peak season)
  • Datang Town Hotels (Well-equipped)
  • Resorts around Khan's Palace
Food Recommendations
  • Bashang Whole Roast Lamb
  • Hand-Held Meat
  • Oat Flour Nest Rolls
  • Milk Tofu
Travel Tips
  • The grassland has strong ultraviolet rays, so prepare sunscreen and sun hats; there is a large temperature difference between day and night, so bring a coat even in summer
  • Whole roast lamb needs to be booked 4-6 hours in advance (about 1500-2000 yuan per lamb, suitable for more than 10 people)
  • Bonfire parties usually start at 20:00, and you can participate in Mongolian song and dance interactions
02
Landscape Secret Realm
Qiansongba · Shandian Lake · Horse Town
Itinerary Highlights

Explore Qiansongba Forest Park in the morning and walk in the transition zone between forest and grassland; visit Shandian Lake in the afternoon to enjoy the grassland lake scenery; check in at the Horse Town Tourism Area in the evening to experience special projects integrating Manchu and horse culture.

Attraction Arrangement
Qiansongba Forest Park
A national-level forest park located in the transition zone between Bashang and Baxia, with a forest coverage rate of 82%, known as a "natural oxygen bar". The park has landscapes such as primitive spruce forests, birch forests, and wetland flower seas. Self-driving through the "First Sky Road North of Beijing" allows you to overlook the unique landform where grasslands and forests interweave.
Shandian Lake Scenic Area
The largest natural lake on the Bashang Plateau, named for its lightning-like shape, covering an area of about 1000 mu. The lake water is clear, surrounded by vast grasslands. You can take a boat tour on the lake and fish by the lake. In autumn, the lake surface reflects the autumn scenery of the grassland, with extremely beautiful scenery.
Horse Town Tourism Area
A characteristic tourism area with horse culture as the core, integrating Manchu folk customs and modern entertainment. It has a horse culture museum, Manchu intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, parent-child amusement facilities, etc. At night, there is a large-scale live performance "Man Rhythm and Horse Style" showing the history of Manchu and Mongolian ethnic groups.
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Qiansongba is about 15 kilometers from Datang Town, 20 minutes by self-driving or take the scenic spot through train (15 yuan)
  • Shandian Lake is about 20 kilometers from Qiansongba, about 50 yuan by taxi
  • Horse Town is located north of Datang Town, reachable on foot or by taxi (10 yuan)
Experience Projects
  • Self-driving on the "First Sky Road North of Beijing" in Qiansongba (ticket includes toll fee)
  • Shandian Lake boat tour (60 yuan per person, about 40 minutes)
  • Horse Town "Man Rhythm and Horse Style" performance (180 yuan per person)
  • Grassland starry sky photography (tripod is recommended)
Travel Tips
  • Some sections of Qiansongba are steep, drive carefully; wear non-slip shoes for hiking
  • It is windy around Shandian Lake, it is recommended to bring a windproof coat
  • Horse Town performance tickets need to be purchased 1 day in advance in peak season
03
Cultural Tracing
Baiyun Ancient Cave · Manchu Museum · Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop
Itinerary Highlights

Explore Baiyun Ancient Cave in the morning to watch the karst caves and religious buildings of "Three Temples and Two Caves"; visit the Fengning Manchu Museum in the afternoon to systematically understand Manchu culture; walk into the intangible cultural heritage workshop in the evening to experience the making of Manchu paper-cutting and cloth paste painting.

Attraction Arrangement
Baiyun Ancient Cave
A scenic area integrating karst caves, temples and forests, named for the white clouds often lingering in the caves. The core landscapes are "Three Temples and Two Caves": Baohua Temple, Qingyun View and Yinxian Nunnery are built around the karst caves. The stalactites in Baiyun Cave and Babao Cave are peculiar, enshrining Buddhist and Taoist gods, reflecting the characteristics of the integration of three religions.
Fengning Manchu Museum
A thematic museum displaying Manchu history and culture, with a collection of more than 800 cultural relics. It has exhibition areas such as "Manchu Origin", "Folk Customs", and "Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance", focusing on displaying Manchu costumes, marriage customs, Shaman culture, and intangible cultural heritage skills such as Fengning cloth paste painting and paper-cutting.
Manchu Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop
An experience base focusing on displaying Fengning Manchu intangible cultural heritage skills. You can watch the production process of the national-level intangible cultural heritage "Fengning Manchu Paper-cutting" and the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage "Cloth Paste Painting", and personally participate in experience projects such as paper-cutting and sewing Manchu purses to feel the charm of Manchu handicrafts.
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Baiyun Ancient Cave is about 30 kilometers from the county seat, reachable by taking the bus to Heishanzui Town (8 yuan, 1 hour)
  • Manchu Museum is located in the county center, take No.1 bus to Cultural Square Station
  • Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop is adjacent to the museum, 5 minutes on foot
Specialty Recommendations
  • Fengning Paper-cutting (works by intangible cultural heritage inheritors)
  • Cloth Paste Painting (decorative ornaments)
  • Bashang Oat Flour (vacuum-packed)
  • Grassland Dairy Products (milk tablets, milk crisps)
Return Guide
  • Fengning County is about 170 kilometers from Chengde urban area, 2.5 hours by self-driving
  • About 220 kilometers from Beijing, 3.5 hours by self-driving. There are long-distance buses directly from the county seat to Beijing (about 4 hours)
  • Specialties can be purchased at intangible cultural heritage workshops or specialty stores in the county seat, and express delivery is supported

Must-Try Foods in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County

Bashang Whole Roast Lamb

Fengning grassland's iconic food, using locally raised sheep, roasted with traditional fruit charcoal, with crispy outer skin and tender meat, served with cumin, chili and other seasonings. The roasting process takes 3-4 hours, which is the highest courtesy for entertaining guests on the grassland, often accompanied by Mongolian toasting song ceremonies.

Oat Flour Nest Rolls

A traditional Manchu pasta in Fengning, made from Bashang oat flour, manually rubbed into honeycomb-shaped nest rolls, steamed and served with mutton soup, mushroom sauce, etc. It has a chewy texture and rich nutrition, is a staple food for Bashang people to resist the cold, known as the "Pearl Beyond the Great Wall".

Hand-Held Meat

A characteristic Manchu-Mongolian dish, cooked boned mutton in clear water, eaten with mashed garlic, chives flower and other seasonings. The meat is soft and rotten, retaining the original taste, reflecting the grassland people's eating style of "eating meat in large mouthfuls", and is a classic dish for herdsmen to entertain distinguished guests.

Manchu Eight Great Bowls

A traditional Manchu banquet in Fengning, consisting of eight braised dishes, including braised pork, braised chicken nuggets, braised meatballs, etc. The ingredients are mostly local livestock, poultry and mountain delicacies, steamed in traditional Manchu pottery bowls, with a mix of meat and vegetables and mellow taste, which is a necessary banquet for festivals and entertaining guests.

Fengning Manchu Autonomous County Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
  • Summer (June-August): The grassland is at its most beautiful, suitable for summer vacation and horse riding, with an average temperature of 20-25℃
  • Autumn (September-October): The grassland is golden, the forest in Qiansongba is dyed, a great season for photography
  • Winter (December-February): Can experience ice and snow projects (skiing, snowmobiling), with fewer tourists
Must-Try Foods
  • Bashang Whole Roast Lamb
  • Oat Flour Nest Rolls
  • Hand-Held Meat
  • Manchu Eight Great Bowls
  • Milk Tofu
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: 200-400 yuan (main attractions)
  • Accommodation: 150-400 yuan/night (grassland yurts are more expensive in peak season)
  • Catering: 100-200 yuan/day (whole roast lamb is about 150 yuan per person)
  • Transportation: 150-300 yuan (including transportation within the county)
  • Total: 800-1800 yuan