According to the weather forecast, considering it will rain on Saturday, we chose to go to Yudu Mountain in Yanqing, Beijing on Sunday. We booked a day tour for 122 yuan, which includes a 60 yuan entrance ticket and round-trip bus fare. We gathered at 7:30 AM at the Jiande Gate subway station and set off by bus. The road conditions were great, with no traffic jams, and we arrived by 9:15 AM, after which we had free time.
Following the map and navigation, we decided to visit the farthest attraction first. On the way, we passed through the alpine meadow, and since we arrived early, there were basically no people, so we took a few photos. Then we followed the stream, going upstream. Due to the previous rain, the water level felt quite high, and the flow was fast. We strolled in the shade of the trees, listening to the rushing water, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the coolness of the mountains.
Upon reaching the source of the spring "Three Springs Pouring Jade," some paths were closed due to flooding. We turned left to climb the mountain. The name Yudu Mountain comes from a small independent hill, which is only 20 meters higher than the surrounding area but relatively independent. It was originally called "One Chop Mountain," but was renamed "Yudu Mountain" based on a homophone. We initially wanted to climb this small hill, but saw a sign indicating a "Blood Pine Road" leading up, so we took that route. It turned out to be a loop trail, with a total length of about 2000 meters. The highest point is approximately 1018 meters, about 100 meters higher than the base, but surrounded by taller mountains, so we couldn't see far. After that, we descended, looping back to where we started climbing. On the way down, we were suddenly stung by a wasp, which was very painful. After treating the wound quickly, we left, fortunately without an allergic reaction. Once we reached the bottom, we saw the sign for "Yudu Mountain." It turned out that if we had gone a little further from where we climbed, we could have reached the top of Yudu Mountain in just a few minutes along the newly built steps. The summit is a large platform with a pavilion, and there are no obstructions nearby, making the view much better than from the higher point we were at earlier. We rested at the top for a while, enjoying the scenery while eating some sandwiches we brought.
After descending, we followed the stream downstream, and at the bottom was Forgetting Worry Lake, which is actually a reservoir formed by a large dam built below. We walked around the lake for most of the circle. The weather was excellent, with blue skies and white clouds, green mountains, and clear waters. There were some boats on the lake, suitable for taking photos or just sitting and daydreaming.
After walking up from the boat dock, we returned to the alpine meadow, which was now quite crowded with various tents and canopies. We found a shady spot to lay out our picnic mat and relaxed while enjoying the view. People were flying kites, playing jianzi, tossing frisbees, and various other activities, while children ran around playing. Many others were lying down or sitting, eating snacks, chatting, or playing cards.
After resting for about an hour, we packed up and returned to the bus, which departed at 3:40 PM. The road conditions were still good, and we arrived back at Jiande Gate subway station around 5:30 PM, concluding a pleasant day trip.
Yudu Mountain is more suitable for visiting in the summer when the weather is good, as it is 5-6 degrees cooler than the city. Those who enjoy tranquility can relax in the alpine meadow or row on the lake, those who like water can wear sandals to trek upstream or bring fishing rods to fish, and those who enjoy hiking can wear long clothes and pants to trek in the mountains, with routes leading to Hoh River, Song Mountain, and Haituo Mountain.