4. Saihanba forest park

From Beiijing, it can take more than half a day through winding mountain roads to reach Saihanba forest park north of Hebei's Chengde city, but many people will tell you the journey is well worth it. Saihanba has an average altitude of 1,400 meters and is known in horse riding circles as a photographer's and rider's paradise, with its forests, plains and more than 10 plateau lakes. Gallop your horse through green plains brushed by the summer breeze, amble through the golden colors of the autumn forest or trudge through thick snow in sub-zero temperatures - Saihanba is a riding heaven for all seasons.

5. Xilin Gol grassland

The Xilin Gol grassland lies on the Mongolian plateau in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and is considered one of the most beautiful grasslands in Asia.

In Mongolian, Xinlin Gol means "river on the plateau" and the grassland covers more than 200,000 square kilometres on the Mongolian Plateau.

Ethnic Mongolians make up about one-third of the population here and that means you can get an authentic experience of what it is like to live like a true nomad of the steppes.

There are annual daylong horse endurance races that push the famously tough Xilin Gol steeds to their limits.

Take an hour-long flight to Xilinhot city from Beijing and the open plains await.