1. Juyongguan Pass (居庸关) (National 4A standard scenic spot)
A renowned ancient fortress along the northern Beijing section of the Great Wall, holds dual historic titles as "one of the Nine Strategic Fortresses" and "the eighth of the Eight Passes of Taihang". Designated a National Cultural Heritage Site, it ranks among China’s four most pivotal military strongholds and predates the famed Jiayuguan Pass, sharing its epithet "the First Impregnable Pass under Heaven" while boasting an earlier construction date. There is about 30 km from NCEPU to Juyongguan, and it needs about 35 minutes by taxi to reach from NCEPU.
2. The Thirteen Mausoleums (十三陵) (National 5A standard scenic spot) :
Besides Tian'anmen Square, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, anothermust-see for tourists in Beijing today is definitely the Ming Tombs, also known as the MingDynasty Tombs or in Chinese, Shisanling (literally, The Thirteen Mausoleums). Dingling is the tomb of the tenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his two empresses. Its underground palace was the first of the underground structures excavated between 1956 and 1957. There is about 30 km from NCEPU and near Juyongguan pass.
3. Beijing Ming Tombs National Forest Park (明十三陵国家森林公园)(National 3A standard scenic spot)：
Mangshan National Forest Park is located on the east side of Ming Tombs Reservoir in Changping District, with the highest peak at 659 meters. The mountain is named Mang (meaning python in Chinese) because it undulates like a huge python. Covering an area of 8,000 hectares, Mangshan National Forest Park is the largest of its kind in Beijing. The park is home to 176 plant species; 96 percent of the park area is covered by forests. The most important species are evergreens such as Chinese pine, arborvitae, and lacebark pine. Walking in the forest and listening to the sound of mountain breeze is a refreshing experience. Apart from the vast natural landscape, there are several cultural attractions such as the Grand Buddha, Mangshan Pagoda, and the Highland Corridor. There is about 30 km from NCEPU and near Juyongguan pass.
4. Yinshan Pagoda Forest (银山塔林风景区)（国家4A级景区）:
The Yinshan Mountains have got its name because of the snow and ice covering it in winter. It is also known as the Iron-wall Silver Hills because of its iron-looking precipices. It was known as one of the eight most beautiful scenic spots in Beijing during the Ming and the Qing dynasties.
The mountains have three peaks thrusting into the clouds. Of the three, the middle peak outstands the other two with an altitude of 726.81 meters above the sea level. It currently houses 17 tomb pagodas, varying in size and height. The tallest stands over 20 meters tall with a diameter of about 7 meters, while the shortest is only two to three meters high. In terms of structure, they can be broadly categorized into two types: one is the dense-eave style pagoda, and the other is the inverted-bowl style pagoda. Besides these two forms, there is also a composite type of tomb pagoda that combines elements of both dense-eave and inverted-bowl styles into a single structure. This uniquely designed pagoda is considered a masterpiece among the forest, serving as a valuable legacy for studying ancient Chinese Buddhism and brick-and-stone architecture.
