Zhangjiakou in the northwestern Hebei province covers 37,000 sq km and has a population of 4.5 million. Its natural terrain divides the city into two sectors, Bashang and Baxia.

The Great Wall, grasslands and ancestral cultures attract tourists to Zhangjiakou. Only 200 kilometers from Beijing, Zhangbei county is located in the Bashang plain over 1,500 m high. The Bashang grasslands are 280 km north of Beijing. The climate and lands at the junction of the north China plain and Inner Mongolia give the area a unique landscape and make it a popular destination for tourists and photographers. With an average temperature much lower than Beijing, the grasslands offer a nearby escape from the summer heat. May through November is the best time to visit, and as early as October visitors may have the chance to see snow.

In recent years, tourism in Bashang has flourished and many special activities for tourists have been started. An inexpensive and interesting holiday is spending time at a farmer's home - eating roasted whole sheep and other simple food, chatting with farmers and sleeping on heated brick beds. From the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Bashang was where the imperial families went to escape the summer heat. Today, the ecology of Bashang remains well preserved. Beautiful scenery and local foods like milk tea, mutton and mushrooms are all part of the experience. Besides the charm of Bashang, visitors from Beijing can enjoy the sights during the six-hour drive along mountain highways, relaxing along the way at restaurants run by farmers.