Why go
Lingshan sits in Mentougou district, on the edge of the alpine belt that runs along Beijing's western border — sub-alpine meadows, larch forests and a summit that feels a province away from the capital. The paragliding base operates from its lower slopes, where the launch gradient and prevailing breeze make for dependable thermals.
A tandem flight is a short, serious course: gear check, a 10-minute briefing on running and sitting into the harness, then the launch — three steps and the ground falls away. Instructors fly their own wing and your combined weight; passengers just hold on and look.
- A tandem flight with an instructor — no experience needed, just a willingness to run off a hill
- Beijing's highest summit (2,303 m) as the launch backdrop
- Morning flights for glassy air; afternoon flights for longer, bouncier rides
- A mountain day trip that works even if the wind grounds you — the hike and views hold up on their own
Practical tips
Dress for a mountain: it's 10°C colder on Lingshan's slopes than in the city, and the flight itself is wind-chilled. Closed shoes are mandatory — sandals won't pass the gear check. Weight limits apply for tandem flights, so state your weight honestly when booking. Go early in the season for greener meadows.
Nearby
The drive out of Beijing passes the wild Great Wall sections of Mentougou and Yanqing — several hiking loops thread the ruins along the ridge. Pair the flight with a night in the mountain villages and a sunrise attempt at Lingshan's summit for the full alpine weekend.
Getting there
- Drive or taxi from central Beijing (~2.5h) into Mentougou's mountain district; the flight base is near the village at the foot of Lingshan
- Peak
- Lingshan, 2,303 m — Beijing's highest
- Flight
- Tandem paraglide, 10–30 min
- Base
- Mentougou district, ~2.5h from central Beijing
