Last week, I headed for Pinggu District, about 70 kilometers northeast from the city proper. The place is home to an annual peach-picking festival, but there is more to do besides plucking fruit.

I made my first trip to Pinggu five years ago as a 16-year-old student from Singapore on an overseas community involvement project. Clueless about Beijing, and even more so Pinggu, I and 15 others spent a week laying a stone foundation for a children's playground. It was fun. We played with the children in that primary school during break times, and none of us left with dry eyes.

Fast-forward five years, I'm here in Beijing again as part of my degree program. Pinggu was definitely on my places-to-visit list, if not for the attractions, for nostalgia's sake. One of the things that changed was Pinggu's status to district, no longer a county.

Is the school still there? I asked a friend, a Pinggu native, who told me that Pinggu is very developed now, and schools that stood five years ago may have been demolished by now.

My wild imagination started churning out images of that beloved shantytown I once knew, turning into to a stuffy, congested city. The traffic in Pinggu in 2001 was light, but last week, my two-and-a-half-hour ride from Dongzhimen felt like an extended sauna prison.

Riding the small 918 van or minibus demands a constant water supply and a high tolerance for loud noises. There is no air conditioning, and the occasional drunk passenger may elicit yells from the bus conductor. All's not lost for the concerned passenger though, you can take the big, green 918 bus, which comes with a choice of air-conditioning.

Upon arrival, I made my way to the east the pride of Pinggu: Jinhai Lake. The big freshwater lake offers a cooling breeze for visitors. The picturesque lake has blue-ridged mountains as its backdrop, and a flurry of water sports activities in the foreground, including parasailing, abseiling, plus canoes, water bikes, and yachts for rent.

I took the 100 yuan (US$12.5) parasailing deal, and since it was my first time parasailing, I kept my camera in my bag on the pontoon. Bad move. Those photo ops of clear blue skies, and the sun's reflected rays on the water gleaming like sparkling diamonds are only etched in my mind, and not on pixels.

However, the parasailing deal was a mistake, because as soon as I had those breathtaking moments, it was time to get down. If you've got cash to spare take the 200 or the 300 yuan (US$25-37.5) deal.

For those who want more thrills, the abseiling facility is worth checking out, as you get to be suspended about 10 storys above the water for a much longer period of time. Looking down from the top can give you a giddy rush of Hollywood moments where the villain holds the female lead hostage atop a bridge, (think Spiderman and Mary Jane). The waters below are calmer and bluer though.

If you are a geography buff, head down to Jingdong (Eastern Beijing) Stalactite Cavern to learn more about water erosion. It is a lovely place to escape the summer's heat because of its constant 14-15 degrees Celsius temperature all year within the cave.

The stalactites are pretty mediocre but you could get a kick out of the names that are given to some stalactites, at the expense of the imagination of the "curators" of this damp "museum." Unfortunately, this AAAA tourist attraction offers no English guide for the 45-minute tour. And the only English signs offer short interpretations of certain stalactites, and are not as in-depth as the guide's live explanations.

Do look out for the folded stalactites that resemble drapes, as well as the "cat and mouse" stalactite. Bring sensible shoes, as the wet floors can be slippery, along the narrow pathways and steps.

The facilities outside the caves that accessorize this tourist spot are humble at best, neglected at worst. The gardens seem unattended with weeds flooding the paths.

On the way back to Pinggu district centre, I passed by the suburban orchards of peach trees, and a wave of nostalgia hit home. They hadn't changed.

Scenic spots: There are a few tourist spots in Pinggu, the main two being Jinhai Lake and Jingdong Stalactite Cavern (no pictures allowed inside).

Accomodation: There are plenty of hotels around Jinhai Lake, and a Yuyang Hotel in Pinggu district centre. Prices start from 200 yuan (US$25) for standard rooms. For the budget-conscious, nongjiayuan, or student hostels are available within 200 meters of these attractions. Prices start from 15 yuan (US$1.9) for the most basic accommodation.

Getting there: Take Bus No. 918 from Dongzhimen bus station. (10 yuan/US$1.3 for non-aircon, 15 yuan/US$1.9 for air-con).

It takes 2 hours to get to Pinggu, and if you take the minibus (van) 918 instead, it'll take 30 minutes more because of all the unofficial stops they make (6 yuan/US$0.8, no air-con). My recommendation is to take the bus or hire a taxi, which costs about 200 yuan (US$25) per trip.

How to get to Jinhai Lake: Take Bus No. 9 from Pinggu bus station to get off at Jinhaihu stop. 5 yuan (US$0.6);

To Jingdong Stalactite Cavern: take bus 8 from Pinggu's bus station to get off at Rongdong stop. 4-5 yuan (US$0.5-0.6).

(China Daily June 30, 2006)