Hiking in China is usually associated with challenging destinations like Lhasa in Tibet or Aba Ngaba in Sichuan. But the sport can be done practically in our backyard: in mountains around Beijing. These locations are a good choice for beginners, since they aren't very steep and are convenient to reach.

Aside from providing exercise and an adrenaline rush, hiking gives people an opportunity to enjoy nature. Although summer has already descended upon the city, the mountains retain the atmosphere of spring.

One-day Hike in Miaofeng Mountain

Miaofeng is the mountain nearest downtown Beijing. With a height of more than 1,000 meters, it is considered by experts one of the best hiking destinations around the city.

It has three peaks that soar to 1,200 meters: Miaofengshan Peak, Dongdatuo Peak and Luobodi Peak. The best thing about Miaofeng is that one can reach the three peaks in one day. You can enjoy the feeling of being "on top of the world" for an entire day, and see the city laid out before you.

The route around the mountain can be divided into five sections: Langryu to Miaofengshan Peak to Baigong to Dongdatuo Peak to Luoboshan Peak and to Dajue Temple. Hikers will need approximately seven hours to complete the course; eight if you add in short breaks and lunch.

Little Goat, an avid hiker, shared on Soufun.com the schedule his group followed when they climbed Miaofeng last year.

They gathered at the Beijing North Railway Station at 6:30 am, then bought tickets (3.50 yuan each) for Train 7231 to Nankou station. The train left at 6:41 am and reached the destination an hour later. They made their way to Langryu on a minibus that sat six to seven people, which cost 30 yuan.

They began ascending Miaofengshan Peak before 10: 30 am, then Baigong at around 11:50 am. Afterwards, they broke for lunch on some grassy flatland.

On the way to Dongdatuo Peak, climbers will pass three stone tablets that mark the boundaries of Haidian, Mentougou and Changping districts. By the time people complete the route around Miaofeng, they would have gone through the city's three districts.

Little Goat and his team reached Luobodi Peak at around 3 pm. After a quick break, they went down the mountain to ensure they would get to the foot before sundown.

There are cliffs and rugged roads along the way, so people need to be very careful. Ask for help from other climbers if you need it.

Weaker climbers are advised to use another route once they reach Miaofengshan Peak. On their way down, they can go through Jiangou Village, which is famous for its vast field of roses. The best time to view the flowers is between May and June, when they are in full bloom.