Beijing/Northern Suburbs

Changping and Shunyi are the northern outer suburbs of Beijing. Many of the communities in the districts would be satellite cities of Beijing but given the city's system of multiple ring roads, the communities are seen as incorporated as part of a mega city.
The communities of Shunyi between the 5th and 6th ring include rich suburbs favored by families who want larger homes, green space, golf courses, and distance from the hustle of Beijing's urban center. There is a large community of expat families in Shunyi and several international schools are located in the area. Pinnacle Plaza, a low rise shopping center resembling suburban California, is a gathering point for the Shunyi expat community.
Beyond the 6th ring both districts are a mix of urban and rural areas. The outer part of Changping is notable for Chinese historical sites including the Ming Tombs and the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. Beyond the 6th ring, Shunyi has pleasant nature reserves, particularly for bird watching. Beijing is one of the best bird watching cities among world cities.

The suburban parts of Shunyi between the 5th and 6th ring can be accessed by Line 15 of the Beijing Subway.
Changping is served by the Changping Line of the Beijing Subway which stretches 32km with stops including the Ming Tombs. Line S2 of the Beijing Suburban Railway is connected to the Beijing Subway. It begins in Changping and travels north to Yanqing District. Unfortunately Line S2 has very few trains running.

• Ming Dynasty Imperial tombsA part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties". This is the final resting place of 13 of the 16 emperors the Ming Dynasty. The largest and most impressive of them is Changling (长陵), the tomb of Emperor Yongle (永乐皇帝), the 3rd emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Another notable one is Dingling (定陵), the tomb of Emperor Wanli (万历皇帝), and the only one whose burial chamber has been excavated and is open to the public. The site is not visually spectacular and only worth going to if you have a lot of appreciation for Chinese history.

• JuyongguanThe nearest section of the Great Wall to the center of Beijing and among the most popular. It was a fortress guarding an important mountain pass during the Ming Dynasty. The wall in this section forms a full circle.

Museums

• Chinese Aviation Museum

  address: Datangshan, Chanping District (昌平区小汤山)
  A must see for all aviation fans. It is probably better known by the name Datangshan. The museum hosts over 200 exhibits, many of them very rare.

• Beijing Waxworks Palace of Ming Dynasty

  phone: +86 10 69747257
  address: Xiguanhuandao, Changping District (昌平区西关环岛)
  Here you can see China's historical and cultural figures in wax.

Galleries

There are some interesting galleries in Shunyi District including:

• Beijing Central Art Gallery

  phone: +86 10 80461348
  address: G/F L106 Euro Plaza, 99 Yu Xiang Lu, Tian Zhu,Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区天竺后沙峪,裕翔路99号欧陆广场一层 L106号)
  Contemporary Chinese paintings and sculptures.

• Open Gallery

  phone: +86 10 80464302
  address: 5 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang Cun, Shunyi District (顺义区西白新庄村开发街5号)
  Contemporary Chinese art.

• Hot springs - There are lots of hotsprings especially in the town of Xiaotangshan in Changping a byword for hot spring resorts. Shunyi also has options for going to hot springs.

• Happy Land Arts and Crafts Center

  phone: +86 10 8046 4055
  address: Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄; Shùnyìqū Hòushāyù Xībáixīnzhuāng)
  The center offers pottery, painting, paper folding, jewelry making and other.

• Tianyi Strawberry Garden

  address: Changping District
  A large strawberry farm where visitors can inside the farm's greenhouses pick strawberries for purchase from December to June.

• International Shooting Range

  phone: +86 10 69771368 ext 3103 (Chinese only)
  address: 1 Mafang Cun, Nankou, Changping District
  One of the few shooting ranges in China open to the public. Shotguns, handguns, and rifles are available. Silencer equipped handgun available for use with letter of introduction from company of employment.

Budget

• Ban Ruo

  phone: +86 10 69700208
  address: 33 Gulou Dongjie, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街33号)
  Buddhist vegetarian restaurant. Try the fake Beijing Duck and other fake meat dishes.

Mid-range

• T6 Hot Pot

  phone: +86 10 65914800
  address: 10 Tianshuiyuan Donglu, Changping District (昌平区甜水园东路10号)

• Bravo

  phone: +86 10 80799988 ext 73019
  address: Loong Palace, Huilongguan, Changping District (回龙观龙城丽宫国际酒店)
  Italian restaurant.

Splurge

• Obelisco

  phone: +86 10 84701666
  address: 1 Laiguangying Donglu, Shunyi District (顺义区来广营东路1号)
  Argentinian restaurants serving great steaks and red wine.

• Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar

  phone: +86 10 80465112
  address: 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District (顺义区京顺路荣祥广场902)
  Sushi is served at the bar while you can have both sushi and teppanyaki in the private rooms. Unusually high level of service here.

This is not the part of Beijing to go drinking. The closest to a bar street are the few bars located at Pinnacle Plaza in Shunyi.

• Llama

  address: Pinnacle Plaza
  Mexican themed bar with very good Tex-Mex food. The chimichanga is recommended. Coronas are RMB 25.

Budget

• Beijing Country Paradise Conference CenterRooms with no internet access.

• Endemin Hotel

  phone: +86 10 84812299
  address: Building 5, Courtyard 400, Dongxiaokou, Changping District (昌平区东小口400号院5号楼)
  Rooms with free internet. Meeting rooms, ticket office and gift shop available. Chinese restaurant.

• Home Inn (Changping Coliseum of Beijing)

  phone: +86 10 6972 6677 ext 856
  address: 11 South Ring Road, Changping District (昌平区南环路11号; Chāngpíngqū Nánhuánlù)
  Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office, laundry service and fitness facilities available. Chinese restaurant.

Mid-range

• Wenhuibao Hotel

  phone: +86 10 6972 8631
  address: 36 East Gulou Street, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街36号; Chāngpíngqū Gǔlóudōngjiē)
  Spacious rooms with free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office, laundry service and massage available. Chinese restaurant and room service.

• Beijing Longmai Hotspring Village

  phone: +86 10 6178 2666
  address: Xiaotangshan, Changping District (昌平区小汤山; Chāngpíngqū Xiǎotāngshān)
  This hotspring resort is one of the closest to the city centre, but if you are willing to travel further you can also find better places. Room rates include single entry to the hotsprings, but everything else you will have to pay for.

• Aulympic Airportel

  phone: +86 10 5827 1122
  address: 36 Xiao Tianzhu Road, Capital Airport, Shunyi District (顺义区小天竺路36号奥竺苑; Shùnyìqū Xiǎotiānzhúlù, àozhúyuàn)
  Three star hotel located close to Ligao Park, Tianzhu Garden, and New International Exhibition Center. 258 air-conditioned rooms equipped with double/twin beds, cable TV, IDD telephone, and free high-speed Internet. The hotel offers venues for corporate and social events. Meeting rooms are available for seminars. Classy bar and a restaurant.

• Bishui Plaza

  phone: +86 10 8072 9988
  address: Green Rivers Manor, Huilongguan Town, Changping District (昌平区回龙观镇碧水庄园内; Chāngpíngqū Huílóngguànzhèn Bìshuǐzhuāngyuán Nèi)
  Four stare hotel located close to mountains and river. Rooms with free internet. Business center, shops, beauty salon and ticket office available. There are also lots of recreational opportunities including disco, karaoke, playground, billiard, table tennis, fitness, bowling, tennis, indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna. Chinese and Western restaurants, large area with barbeque, and also coffee shop, bar and room service.

• Rylinwon Resort & Spa

  address: Nancai, Shunyi District
  A hot springs hotel near the Hanshiqiao Wetland Nature Reserve.

Splurge