Beijing isn’t just about the Great Wall and historic palaces — it’s also a city of hidden trails and tucked-away cafés. That’s the spirit of our Hike & Chill Guide: pairing an outdoor climb with a cultural or coffee escape. This is part of our weekly series (new post every Monday) where we share one hidden hike and one chill spot in Beijing. You can catch up on past guides here. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes adventures.
In this edition, we’re taking you to Mangshan Forest Park for a forest hike that feels worlds away from downtown, and then slowing down at a local café where books, lattes, and hutong calm bring the perfect finish to your adventure.
When it comes to the “hike” in our Hike & Chill Guide, Mangshan Forest Park is our pick of the week for adventurers and casual hikers alike. Known as Beijing’s largest forest park, Mangshan offers a 9 km loop trail that combines wooden boardwalks, shaded forest paths, and panoramic viewpoints. It’s not just another climb — this Beijing hike delivers both challenge and calm, making it the perfect outdoor half of your Hike & Chill escape.
🗺️ Location: Mangshan National Forest Park, Changping District, Beijing (北京市昌平区蟒山国家森林公园)
📍 Subway Access: Take Line Changping to Changping Dongguan (昌平东关) → then taxi (≈15 min) or bus 886 (direct to park, but intervals are long).
📍 Driving: Navigate directly to “蟒山森林公园” — free parking at the gate (rarely full, even on weekends).
🎟️ Ticket: ¥30 (peak season) / ¥15–20 (off-season). Some free paths exist, but buying a ticket is worth it for the full loop + a little souvenir 🎫.
🕰️ Best Time to Visit: Morning start (arrive 8:30–9:00am) — fewer crowds, cooler air, and better mountain light. Aim to summit before noon for the best views.
Mangshan is Beijing’s biggest city-escape forest park, but still under the radar. Unlike the crowded Great Wall or Fragrant Hills, here you’ll mostly meet a handful of hikers along the trail. The mountain offers a 9km loop through wood plank paths, stone steps, shaded forests, and wide-open viewpoints.
Highlights include:
By the time you reach the top, grab a seat at the viewing terrace, crack open an ice-cold Coke 🥤, and let the breeze reward your climb.
✅ Full Loop → ~5.5 hrs, ~9km, 500m elevation gain.
✅ Easier Route (千寿道) → gentler stone steps, passing a small Tianchi (pond). Great for spotting cats, lizards, and wildflowers along the way.
✅ Challenging Route (春秋道) → steep rocky path, less marked. Only recommended for confident hikers.
Mangshan blends adventure + serenity: a proper workout through varied terrain, yet calm enough to feel like a private mountain. Whether you want a full 9km trek or just half the trail with a scenic break, it’s a place to escape the city, recharge, and see a different face of Beijing.
The “chill” in our Hike & Chill Guide is as important as the hike itself. After a morning exploring Beijing’s hidden trails, we love finding quiet spots where the city slows down. This week’s Chiller’s Pick is 一介野生 Coffee × TINO (Temple of Heaven branch) — a glasshouse café that blends sunlight, stillness, and specialty coffee. Just like Our Beijing’s hikes combine adventure with reflection, this café offers the perfect counterbalance: calm, cozy, and quietly local.
A transparent glasshouse tucked inside WE-Beijing Street (北京街) on the northeast side of the Temple of Heaven, the café is bright and airy. Golden sunlight pours through wide windows, while outside, branches sway in the breeze 🌿. It’s a place where even the busiest traveler feels their mind slow down. Unlike Beijing’s trendier coffee spots, here you get space, silence, and comfort — the real definition of a “chill” escape.
Late morning or early afternoon — when sunlight fills the café through the glass walls, making it ideal for reading, journaling, or simply people-watching in peace. After a morning hike (like Mangshan in Part 1), it’s the perfect spot to rest your legs and let the day slow down.
Pick a sunny day, order the Rainforest Special, and claim a window seat. It’s the perfect chill half of your Hike & Chill day — and a reminder that sometimes the best Beijing adventures are found in quiet corners. And if you want to discover even more local gems, you can join Our Beijing’s bike tour to explore hidden hutongs, markets, and everyday life up close.
Q1: How do I plan a full Hike & Chill day?
A: Start your morning with a hike (this week’s pick is Mangshan Forest Park), then slow down at a café (like One Jie Wild Coffee × TINO). It’s the balance of activity and rest that makes the experience special.
Not sure how to fit it together?
👉 Contact Our Beijing and we’ll design a seamless Hike & Chill itinerary for you.
Q2: Is Mangshan Forest Park beginner-friendly?
A: Yes. The park has multiple routes: 千寿道 is the easiest, while 春秋道 is the toughest. The full 9 km loop is moderate — doable if you pace yourself and bring enough water.
Want to skip the planning and just enjoy the trail?
👉 Join one of Our Beijing’s hike adventure, where we match routes to your group’s level.
Q3: What’s the best time to go for both hike and café?
A: Head out early (around 8–9am) for the hike — you’ll reach the summit before it gets hot or crowded. Then head back into the city around noon for a relaxed lunch and café break.
👉 We can even suggest (or book) the best post-hike cafés for your group.
Q4: Can I do this without speaking Chinese?
A: Absolutely. Mangshan has clear signage, and One Jie Wild Coffee × TINO offers a bilingual menu. Plus, with Our Beijing as your guide, you’ll never have to worry about language barriers — we’ll handle the logistics so you can focus on the adventure.
Q: How does this connect to Our Beijing experiences?
A: What we show here is the same philosophy behind our curated tours: pairing adventure with local life. Our wild Great Wall hikes, hutong bike tours, and street-food rides all follow the same rhythm — explore + connect.
That’s the heart of our Hike & Chill Guide — balancing outdoor adventure with quiet city escapes. From the forest trails of Mangshan to the calm glasshouse of One Jie Wild Coffee × TINO, this week’s picks remind us that the best way to experience Beijing is to mix challenge with pause, movement with reflection.
This guide is part of our weekly series (new every Monday). You can check past editions and other wonderful blogs . And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram → [Our Beijing IG link here] for more hidden hikes, hutong bike rides, and café stops.
At Our Beijing, we believe that adventure is more than ticking off landmarks — it’s about slowing down, finding hidden corners, and connecting with the city in unexpected ways. Whether it’s a wild Great Wall hike, a street-food cycling tour, or a family day in the hutongs, we’ll help you unlock the side of Beijing that most visitors never see.