Chengde Bashang Fairy Valley Colorful Forest, a leisurely summer retreat for mushroom picking

For northern friends, heading to the grasslands in summer has become an indispensable ritual. Watching the sunrise and sunset, galloping on horses, these must-experience grassland activities are checked off year after year, which can lead to a bit of aesthetic fatigue. So this year, try something different on the grassland—mushroom picking. Not all milk is called Telunsu, and not all grasslands have mushrooms. The nearest grassland to Beijing, and the quickest for friends from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei to reach, is the Bashang in Chengde, Hebei. Here, there are vast meadows, blue skies, wildflowers, and herds of cattle and sheep. To find mushrooms, you need to head to the forested areas—the Fairy Valley Colorful Forest. The Fairy Valley Colorful Forest is located within Fengning Datan Town in Chengde, Hebei. The grassland is its backdrop, and the forest is its essence. All the fun of the grassland is there, plus you can ride a horse into the forest and encounter fairy tales that belong to the forest. August is the most beautiful season on the grassland, and also the mushroom harvest season for the Colorful Forest. The flat boardwalks lead deep into the forest, and along the way, you can explore different styles of mushrooms that bring unexpected surprises like little sprites in the forest. Compared to flowers, plants, and trees, the 'mushroom life' is quite short, but beneath their delicate appearance, they exude an exceptionally strong vitality. The Colorful Forest is the perfect place for a family trip. The entire scenic area has a strong fairy tale vibe, with colorful little cabins dotted along the road, and cartoon-shaped trees and castles full of cuteness. Children love it, and even adults feel like they've become kids again, suddenly rediscovering the joy of childhood. At night, naturally, you should end the perfect Colorful Forest trip in the embrace of the grassland with a meal of delicious food and a bonfire. Roasted mutton is available nationwide, but only the grassland offers the purest and most authentic taste. The crispy and tender mutton, sizzling with oil, tempts everyone's appetite. Even those who usually don't like mutton can't help but take a few bites here. The grassland is a wonderful world. Here you can encounter large windmills, sunny rain, rainbows after the rain, and countless mushrooms. August has arrived, so act quickly. If you miss this limited edition 'mushroom season' of the Colorful Forest, you'll have to wait until next year.