For a feel of rural life

City-dwellers looking to escape the concrete jungle for a weekend of fun on the farm will do well to head to Shangzhuang township, in Beijing's northwest.

Located near the Shangzhuang reservoir, about an hour's drive from downtown, the township's many farms are now being thrown open to tourists.

At Shangzhuang Holiday Village, for example, visitors can partake in fruit and vegetable picking, have a go at fishing and indulge in local foods.

According to Lu Hongwei from a local tourism group, the resort has both European and Chinese-style houses.

While strawberries are nearing the end of their season in May, a palm-sized, very sweet watermelon is the fruit to look for now. This is also the time for blueberries, mulberries, cherries and fresh baby cucumbers.

The watermelon costs 10 yuan ($1.54) for 500 grams, while it's 80 yuan for the same amount of cherries, and 200 yuan for blueberries. The fruit-picking season will last the whole summer.

City-dwellers looking to escape the concrete jungle for a weekend of fun on the farm will do well to head to Shangzhuang township, in Beijing's northwest.

Located near the Shangzhuang reservoir, about an hour's drive from downtown, the township's many farms are now being thrown open to tourists.

At Shangzhuang Holiday Village, for example, visitors can partake in fruit and vegetable picking, have a go at fishing and indulge in local foods.

According to Lu Hongwei from a local tourism group, the resort has both European and Chinese-style houses.

While strawberries are nearing the end of their season in May, a palm-sized, very sweet watermelon is the fruit to look for now. This is also the time for blueberries, mulberries, cherries and fresh baby cucumbers.

The watermelon costs 10 yuan ($1.54) for 500 grams, while it's 80 yuan for the same amount of cherries, and 200 yuan for blueberries. The fruit-picking season will last the whole summer.