Suburban family hotels are a hit

Small hotels in Beijing's suburbs have soared in popularity this summer, with some of the hotel owners reporting full reservations until the end of August, the Beijing Evening News reported.

For those who cannot escape the summer heat with a holiday abroad, weekend getaways in the suburbs could be the answer.

For example, Baihe Canyon Natural Reserve, a popular place for water drifting in Huairou district, saw more than 2,000 visitors on July 26. The mountainous areas in Yanqing county, with temperatures usually 5 C lower than the downtown area, also drew a large number of visitors.