Zhangbei sits on the southern edge of the Bashang plateau, about five hours’ drive north of our office. As the last hill ends and the road lifts onto the plateau, the view opens up to grass, wind turbines, and endless sky.
Once a year, we close the laptops for a few days and make the drive. These photos capture the moments from our last trip.
Bashang means “top of the dam” — a grassland perched above the hills at around 1,400 metres. The ridges are open and clear, making the sky feel endless as clouds roll across for kilometres.
In late summer and early autumn, the verges transform into long strips of pink and white cosmos. On a windy afternoon, the whole plateau fills with the scent of grass and dust, and the turbines provide a gentle, rhythmic sound.
This is nature at its purest. Park on the shoulder, walk twenty metres off the road, and you find yourself alone with the wind.
Over 100 km of ridge road across Zhangbei and Chongli, running along the top of the plateau with grassland on both sides.
Zhangbei is one of China’s largest wind power bases. Hundreds of turbines line the ridges, turning slowly against the evening sky.
Cosmos planted along the roadside bloom in September, turning the road into a strip of pink for tens of kilometres.
At this altitude, the air is dry and the nights are cold even in midsummer. The skies remain clear, and on a clear night the Milky Way shines brightly above.
One red banner. The whole team. And the wind turbines somewhere in the background.
Every year, we gather for the same photo. It’s become more than just a picture — it’s a moment we look forward to, a reminder of the journey we’ve shared, and the energy that keeps us moving forward.
About 450 km and five hours from Shijiazhuang, or three hours from Beijing. A car is essential — the sky road has no public transport.
June to September for green grass; late September for the flowers and the first yellow. Winter is beautiful but the road can close.
A jacket. It is 1,400 metres up and the temperature drops fast after sunset, even in August.
Photos from our team trip to Zhangbei, Hebei. More about the team →
