It's hunting season, apparently, but for most Beijingers, the only game on their mind is the one that involves dodging the traffic safely. Yet 120 miles from downtown Beijing, it's a different story: the Pu Wa hunting region in Tianlong Hunting village enjoys fresh, chilly air and surrounding mountains of intensive woodland: ideal territory. The area's 3.3 million square kilometers wild region contains official hunting grounds the Daxiagu ("The Great Valley"), Huangtuling ("Yellow Hill") and Laohugang ("Tiger Harbor").
Or there's the Beijing Aolin Hunting ground in Zhenxishankou village, Changping district. Unlike Pu Wa, there's less variety here but there are plenty of wild rabbits and, if killing live animals is not your thing, there are five large shooting ranges include pistol, rifle, three clay pigeon ranges and an archery range. Overnight accommodation is also possible for around 200 yuan.
Here, you can expect the villa's chef to cook your trophy and present you with a mountain dish (that you may or may not like). It's also worth mentioning that fresh organic fruit and vegetables can be picked.
Although you probably can't expect to smell the flowers this time of year at Tianlong, what you can do is hire a rifle and track wild animals from wild boar to mountain pheasants. The experience is gauged to be affordable for different groups– not everyone can pay 4,800 yuan, which is what it costs if you want to bag large prey like deer (see boxed section). You also don't have to use a gun - serious hunters may want to hone their skills with bow-and-arrows.
Of course, with gunmen roaming the hills, you'll need experienced guides on hand. Loading is done under strict inspection, and shooting is only allowed in designated areas; ammunition is exclusively supplied by the lodge and taking unused bullets away is also prohibited. The guidelines make it clear that the organizers will cancel any trip if they're not happy with your behavior. Foreigners will also need to bring a passport and Chinese nationals their ID card, though according to Ms Ren of the Tianlong Hunting ground, only one form of ID is necessary per hunting party.
The price of game:
Every life comes with a price tag attached (except, perhaps, rats). Here's the lowdown on what you can expect to pay, on average, per kill, based on figures supplied by Tianlong.
Clay pigeon: 2 yuan
Squirrel: 20 yuan
Pigeon: 30 yuan
Crow: 50 yuan
Rabbit: 60 yuan
Chicken: 80 yuan
Fox: 100 yuan
Badger: 120 yuan
Sheep: 900 yuan
Wild boar: 3,800
Deer: 4,800 yuan
You'll also need to pay for your weapon and other extras
Shotgun/ rifle/ pistol: 30 yuan
Bullets: 10 yuan (each) At Beijing Aolin Hunting lodge, 7 yuan each or 300 yuan for 50
Compulsory training: Free
Getting there:
Beijing Tianlong Hunting Field
Address: Puwa village, Fangshan district
北京市房山区蒲洼乡
Tel: 6137-1400/ 6137-1433
从六里桥上京石高速公路,到琉璃河出口沿十渡路标走,到十渡抗日战争纪念馆右转,沿"天龙狩猎山庄"路标即到
Take the Jingshi highway from Liuli Bridge and drive till you get to Liulihe . Follow the road marked Shidu until you get to the War of Resistance against the Japanese Aggression Museum before you turn right. Follow the Tianlong Hunting Ground road to the destination.
Beijing Aolin Hunting Ground
Address: Zhenxishankou village, Shisanling county, Changping district
北京市昌平区北十三陵镇西山口村
Tel: 6974-1166
沿八达岭高速向北直行,在京银路下,向北至南涧路向西至万西路
Drive along the BaDaling highway north and get off at Jingyin Road. Drive until you reach Nanjian Road and turn west (left) to Wanxi Road until you arrive.