It's springtime in Beijing. Willows are sprouting new life, jasmine trees lining city streets are a splash of yellow flowers and the harsh winter has given way to a gentle breeze. Stuck indoors for a bitterly cold winter, urbanites are eager to get outdoors into nature, and feel the sun again. Compared with the choking chaos in the heart of the city, suburban Beijing has cleaner air and more natural scenery. In recent years, Beijingers have enjoyed driving out to the suburbs during the weekends with family members or friends, camping, climbing, fishing or just sightseeing. And spring is one of the best periods to escape from the city and head for greener pastures. The following are some popular routes to interesting scenic spots in suburban Beijing where people can relax on weekends.

- Huairou District, northeast Beijing

Many scenic spots are located enroute to Huairou District. YouGuShenTan Scenic Area, located 75 km from the city, is the most famous natural resort in the district. Spring begins here from the end of April every year, the mountains are covered in multi-hued fields of flowers. Besides the floral beauty of the area, a waterfall provides a relaxing venue for relaxation. The steep mountain cliffs and gorges, high quality mineral water, and dense foliage on the mountains make this a natural oxygen bar.

Another place that is worth visiting in the district is Yanqihu Lake (Swan Lake in Chinese). It got its name from the flocks of wild geese, white cranes and other rare migratory birds that make their home here each spring. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the lake is calm and clear, making it ideal for bird life. A large-scale water recreation center has been built here allowing visitors the chance to appreciate the scenery by boat or from a mountain pavilion. In the evening, visitors can also watch movies screened on water and colorful musical fountains or take part in organized dances.

Huairou District is also famous for its rainbow trout. Visitors can catch their own fish and enjoy cooking it along with other local foods.

- Miyun District, northeast Beijing

The flowers in Miyun District bloom even later than in Huairou, and the best time for viewing them here is in early May. On hills and fields, the red azaleas will appear first, followed by snow-white pear tree flowers, which remain in blossom until summer.

The attraction of this district is the water, which is mainly reflected by the Heilongtan Pool and a waterfall that is said to be the biggest in Beijing. The Heilongtan Pool is located in a 4-km-long gorge with a water level variance of more than 220 meters. The narrow gorge snakes its way through three pools and 18 waterfalls, of which the largest is 62.5 meters high. Enjoy the excitement of hearing the roar of water before actually seeing the falls.

This spring scenic spot has opened an area for visitors to plant their own trees.

Fish lovers heading to Miyun District can sample the way fish is cooked here-the secret ingredient being the water used in cooking, which comes from a reservoir nearby. Also try other country foods, such as corn cakes and handmade bean curd. You can even spend a night in a Miyun household hotel run by villagers to enjoy starlit night skies impossible to see in the city.

- Changping District, north Beijing

Zhuijiuyu and Shuanglongshan Mountain in this district are less well-known than the aforementioned spots, as they have only recently been developed as tourist spots. The rivers and streams flow the whole year, giving it the name Small Three Gorges in north Beijing. The flowers on the mountains in the scenic area are now in bloom.

As the mountains are mainly composed of pure granite, the scenery along the river changes with different views. Also, the scenic spot is not very large, making hiking not too strenuous.

Shanglongshan Mountain is not far from Zhuijiuyu, which is an important base in the Changping District for picking green vegetables and fruits, lots of fun for travelers. In the scenic area, there is a holiday hotel specially built for relaxation and recreation. The local foods and wild vegetable dishes served are much sought after for their unique flavors.

- Pinggu District, northeast Beijing

If you enjoy the sublime beauty of peach flowers, there is no better viewing place in Beijing than Pinggu District. It is the largest peach orchard in the world, covering an area of 170,000 mu (about 11,333 hectares). Besides flower appreciation, visitors can also pick peaches, plums and strawberries in the greenhouse bases there, or camp out and enjoy dinner in the sea of peach blossoms.

Also there are many holiday inns in the scenic area where visitors can enjoy authentic country foods, while looking at the stunning flower, mountain and lake vistas.

- Fangshan District, southwest Beijing

The National Forest Park is located here, which covers an area of more than 5,300 mu (about 353 hectares). It became popular for its uniquely shaped mountains, an old temple, dense forest and mysterious caves. Besides various kinds of flowers, the forest park is also famous for its pines, cypress, gingko, banyan and other old trees. In 1996, some monkeys were set free in the forest there. Today visitors can see them when walking through the forest. If you look carefully, you may catch sight of foxes, roe deer, hares and other wild animals.

The mountains feature natural stone sculptures and caves, and anyone interested in scientific and archeological research can have a field day in Fangshan District.

- Shijingshan District, west Beijing

If you do not want to travel too far from the city and just need a breather from a busy work schedule, Badachu Park is a good option. Located in the Shijingshan District in west Beijing, Badachu Park is the closest area from the center of Beijing to enjoy mountains and forests. The park is called "the lungs of the city" by Beijingers as it has 97.4-percent vegetation coverage.

Badachu, or the Eight Great Sites, got the name because of the eight well-preserved ancient Buddhist temples here-the earliest one was built 1,300 years ago. The mountains surrounding the park are not too high, making this a favorite route for climbers. It is also listed by the Beijing Government as one of the four best places for mountain climbing.

In the park, various climbing routes have been designed to meet the demands of visitors. Gentle slopes, a temple trail, a forest trail or a trail for exploration-there is bound to be one that suits you.

Besides climbing, you can also enjoy other recreational activities, such as driving a specially made vehicle on a long slideway and scenic mountain horse trails. Take time to try the teahouses, sip high-quality Chinese tea and have fun at the tea culture festival held in spring every year.