Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Tourist Area is located in Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, Beijing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, renowned for its unique "Great Wall playing with water" landscape and praised as "a scene of the frontier, a style of the south of the Yangtze River". The total area of the scenic spot reaches 4.8 square kilometers, among which the water area is about 1.8 square kilometers, and the vegetation coverage rate is as high as over 90%. It integrates the Great Wall, lakes, mountains and forests, forming "three unique landscapes" — "the first unique" is the Great Wall built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, which winds on the mountain ridges and surrounds Haoming Lake, constituting a peculiar landscape where mountains and water are connected; "the second unique" is that the lake water naturally divides three sections of the Great Wall, forming the unique feature of the Great Wall playing with water and the ancient city walls being submerged in water; "the third unique" is the Ming Dynasty chestnut garden, where there are more than 40 existing ancient trees, all with a history of over 300 years, still being lush and leafy. The scenic spot also has natural and cultural landscapes such as the remains of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, Haoming Lake and Heilongtan. It is a rare Great Wall scenic spot in Beijing where mountains and water are connected, suitable for leisure vacations, hiking sightseeing and historical and cultural exploration.
History and Culture
The main part of the Great Wall in Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Scenic Area was built in the second year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1404), with a history of over 600 years, and is one of the important passes of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Due to its dangerous terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its location at the north gate of the capital, it has been a military fortress guarding the capital since ancient times, playing an important role in resisting the invasion of northern nomadic peoples. Historically, it has experienced many wars, and although some parts of the Great Wall have been damaged, some sections still retain their original appearance, witnessing the wisdom of the ancient military defense system.
Huanghuacheng in the scenic spot was originally named "Huanghuazhen" (Yellow Flower Town), so named because there are many daylilies growing on the slopes around the town. It is an important castle along the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, responsible for guarding the safety of the Great Wall. In addition, the Ming Dynasty chestnut garden in the scenic spot also carries rich historical culture. According to records, these chestnut trees were planted by the garrison soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, which could not only be used as military rations but also help consolidate the soil and water of the city walls. Now, they have become precious historical relics, reflecting the survival wisdom of the combination of soldiers and civilians in ancient times.
Main Attractions
Haoming Lake
Haoming Lake is the core water landscape of Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall, formed by the construction of a reservoir. The lake covers an area of about 1.8 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of more than 30 meters. The lake water is clear to the bottom, surrounded by mountains, and the Great Wall winds between the mountains and water, forming a beautiful landscape painting. Tourists can take a boat to tour the lake and enjoy the unique "Great Wall entering the water" landscape. There is a small island in the lake called "Huxin Island" (Central Lake Island), with dense vegetation. You can climb the island to overlook, taking in the beauty of the lake, mountains, and the Great Wall. Every spring, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms bloom by the lake, and in autumn, the mountains are covered with colorful leaves, making the scenery particularly charming.
Water Great Wall
The Water Great Wall is the most distinctive landscape of Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall. This section of the Great Wall was originally part of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Due to the rise of the water level caused by the construction of the reservoir, part of the Great Wall's walls were submerged in water, forming the wonder of "the Great Wall playing with water". The part of the Great Wall submerged in water is about 200 meters long, with clear remains of the city walls, and some walls form breakpoints on the water surface, showing the unique style of the integration of the Great Wall and water. Tourists can watch this landscape up close by the lake, feeling the collision and integration of nature and cultural relics.
Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden
The Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden is located at the foot of the Great Wall, covering an area of about 100 mu. There are more than 40 ancient chestnut trees from the Ming Dynasty in the garden, all over 300 years old, and the oldest one has a history of more than 600 years, with a thick trunk that needs several people to embrace. These chestnut trees were planted by the garrison soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, with excellent varieties and plump fruits. The chestnut garden is not only a witness of history but also a rare ecological landscape. Every autumn, the branches are full of fruits, and tourists can experience the fun of picking chestnuts here (for a fee according to the scenic spot regulations) while understanding the wisdom of ancient soldiers and civilians in using natural resources.
Heilongtan
Heilongtan is a naturally formed deep pool in the depths of the scenic spot. The pool water is deep and green, named because it is said that a black dragon once lived here. The pool is surrounded by steep cliffs and strange rocks. Waterfalls pour down from the cliffs into the pool, with the sound of water gurgling, creating a quiet and beautiful scenery. There is a trail around the pool, and tourists can walk along the trail to enjoy the natural landscape of the pool water reflecting the rocks, feeling the coolness and tranquility in the mountains, making it a good place to escape the summer heat.
Great Wall Observation Deck
The Great Wall Observation Deck is located at the highest point of the Great Wall in the scenic spot, at an altitude of about 600 meters, and is the best place to enjoy the panoramic view of the Great Wall. From the observation deck, you can see the Great Wall winding like a giant dragon among the mountains, sometimes towering into the clouds, sometimes meandering down, reflecting with Haoming Lake, presenting a magnificent scenery. There are rest seats around the observation deck, where tourists can stop for a while, take photos, and feel the grandeur and magnificence of the Great Wall.
Food
Huairou Roast Rainbow Trout
Huairou Roast Rainbow Trout is a characteristic food around the scenic spot. It uses rainbow trout farmed in local reservoirs, with tender meat, few bones, and delicious taste. When roasting, it is grilled over charcoal fire, coated with secret sauce on the surface, until the outer skin is golden and crispy, and the inner meat is tender and juicy. It is available in many farmyards near the scenic spot. Generally, a rainbow trout weighs about 1.5-2 catties, with a price ranging from 80 to 120 yuan. It can be eaten with lettuce, cakes, etc., and is a must-try local delicacy for tourists.
Chestnut Feast
The Chestnut Feast uses chestnuts in the scenic spot as the main ingredient, and is a series of dishes launched combining local characteristics, including braised chicken with chestnuts, braised pork with chestnuts, chestnut porridge, etc. Among them, braised chicken with chestnuts uses locally raised free-range chickens and fresh chestnuts stewed together, with tender chicken, sweet chestnuts, rich soup, and rich nutrition. Restaurants and farmyards around the scenic spot will launch the Chestnut Feast in autumn (September-October) when chestnuts are ripe, with an average consumption of about 60-80 yuan per person, allowing tourists to fully experience the diverse flavors of chestnuts.
Stir-Fried Wild Vegetables with Meat
Stir-Fried Wild Vegetables with Meat is a common dish in local farmhouses. It uses wild vegetables picked from the mountains around the scenic spot, such as shepherd's purse, purslane, bitter vegetables, etc., stir-fried with pork. The wild vegetables have a refreshing taste with a natural fragrance, combined with the freshness of pork, presenting a unique flavor. This dish can be tasted in restaurants in the scenic spot and surrounding farmyards, with a price of about 30-40 yuan per plate, reflecting the local rural flavor.
Pancake Stuck with Braised Small Fish
Pancake Stuck with Braised Small Fish is a traditional food in northern rural areas, commonly found in farmyards around the scenic spot. It uses small miscellaneous fish from Haoming Lake, braised with ginger slices, green onion sections, etc., with a rich and delicious soup; at the same time, cornmeal pancakes are stuck on the edge of the pot, with the bottom of the pancakes soaked in the fish soup, absorbing the flavor of the fish, and the upper part is crispy and sweet. A portion of Pancake Stuck with Braised Small Fish is about 50-60 yuan, suitable for 2-3 people to share, and is an excellent choice to experience farmhouse flavor.
Tickets
The ticket price is 60 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "水长城" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are slightly adjusted according to the season. The peak season is from April 1 to October 31 every year, with opening hours from 8:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); the off-season is from November 1 to March 31 of the next year, with opening hours from 8:30 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). The scenic spot is open all year round, and may be temporarily closed in case of extreme weather (such as heavy rain, snowstorm, strong wind, etc.).
Tour Routes
Leisure and sightseeing route (about 3-4 hours in total): Enter from the main gate of the scenic spot, first visit Haoming Lake, you can choose to walk along the lakeside plank road to enjoy the lake view, or take a boat (30 yuan for a one-way trip) to Huxin Island to watch the Water Great Wall landscape. Then go to the Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden to visit the century-old chestnut ancient trees and learn about their historical background. Then walk along the trail to Heilongtan to enjoy the pool and waterfall landscape, and finally return to the exit of the scenic spot. This route is relatively easy, suitable for family tourists and middle-aged and elderly tourists.
Great Wall hiking route (about 5-6 hours in total): After entering from the main gate of the scenic spot, walk to the entrance of the Great Wall first, climb up along the Great Wall trail, pass through several watchtowers, enjoy the magnificent landscape of the Great Wall, and stop at the Great Wall Observation Deck for sightseeing and taking photos. Then go down the mountain along the other side of the Great Wall, go to Haoming Lake, take a boat back to Huxin Island, and then visit the Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden and Heilongtan. This route requires a lot of exercise, suitable for tourists with good physical strength who like hiking, allowing them to fully feel the beauty of the integration of the Great Wall with mountains and water.
Parent-child tour route (about 3 hours in total): Enter from the main gate of the scenic spot, first take the children to the Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden to let them know chestnut trees, and if it is the chestnut ripening season, they can participate in picking activities. Then go to Haoming Lake, take a boat to experience the water scenery, and watch the Water Great Wall on Huxin Island. Then take the children to the children's playground in the scenic spot (near the chestnut garden) to play, and finally taste the local farmhouse dishes nearby. This route combines sightseeing and parent-child interaction, suitable for families with children.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along the Jingcheng Expressway, get off at Huairou North Exit, then drive along Huaihuang Road towards Jiuduhe Town, and follow the road signs to reach the scenic spot. The whole journey is about 70 kilometers, and the driving time is about 1.5-2 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic spot, with a charging standard of 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- Bus: Take the 916 Express Bus (Dongzhimen - Huairou Bus Station) at Dongzhimen Hub Station, get off at Huairou Bus Station, then transfer to the H21 Bus (Huairou Bus Station - Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall), which directly reaches the gate of the scenic spot. The interval of 916 Express Bus is about 15 minutes, the whole journey is about 1.5 hours, and the fare is 12 yuan; the interval of H21 Bus is about 60 minutes, the whole journey is about 1 hour, and the fare is 6 yuan.
- Tourist special line: During the peak tourist season (April-October), the scenic spot will open a tourist special line from downtown Beijing to the scenic spot, with the departure point at Dongzhimen Tourism Distribution Center. Buses depart at 8:00 every morning and return at 16:30 in the afternoon. The round-trip fare is 80 yuan per person (including tickets), and reservations need to be made 1 day in advance on the official platform.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Water Great Wall: About 200 meters long, it is a unique landscape formed by the rise of the water level of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Part of the Great Wall's walls are submerged in Haoming Lake, showing the rare style of "the Great Wall playing with water". It is a landmark attraction of the scenic spot and a must-photograph place for photographers.
- Haoming Lake: With an area of 1.8 square kilometers, the lake water is clear, surrounded by the Great Wall and mountains. You can take a boat tour to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the integration of mountains, water, and the Great Wall. The one-way boat ticket is 30 yuan, and the round-trip ticket is 50 yuan. It is the core area to feel the natural scenery of the scenic spot.
- Ming Dynasty Chestnut Garden: Covering an area of 100 mu, there are more than 40 chestnut ancient trees over 300 years old, with the oldest one being 600 years old. They are historical relics planted by the Ming Dynasty garrison soldiers. You can pick chestnuts in autumn, experiencing the unique historical and ecological landscape.
- Great Wall Observation Deck: At an altitude of 600 meters, it is the best place to enjoy the panoramic view of the Great Wall. You can overlook the magnificent scene of the Great Wall winding among the mountains, forming a beautiful picture with Haoming Lake, suitable for climbing high to look far and taking photos.
Tour Suggestions
- Best visiting season: Spring (April-May) when flowers are in full bloom, and autumn (September-October) when the climate is cool and chestnuts are ripe, are the best seasons for visiting; summer is good for summer resort, but you need to pay attention to sun protection; winter is relatively cold with fewer tourists, suitable for tourists who like quietness.
- Equipment suggestions: Wear comfortable sports shoes for hiking. In summer, bring sun protection products and mosquito repellent; in winter, keep warm. If you plan to climb the Great Wall, you can bring a small amount of water and snacks. There are also small stores in the scenic spot, with prices slightly higher than those in the urban area.
- Catering suggestions: There are restaurants and small stores in the scenic spot, providing simple meals and snacks, with an average consumption of about 30-50 yuan per person; it is recommended to taste local characteristic foods such as roast rainbow trout and chestnut feast in farmyards around the scenic spot, with an average consumption of about 60-80 yuan per person.
- Time arrangement suggestions: It is recommended to arrive at the scenic spot before 9:00 a.m. to avoid the tourist peak; leisure sightseeing takes about 3-4 hours, and hiking the Great Wall takes about 5-6 hours. Arrange reasonably according to your own situation to avoid fatigue.
Matters Needing Attention
- Safety: When climbing the Great Wall, some sections are steep. Please pay attention to your footing and hold onto the handrails on both sides. The water areas in the scenic spot are deep, so swimming is prohibited. Children and the elderly must be accompanied by family members during the visit and should not act alone.
- Environmental Protection: Littering is prohibited in the scenic spot. Waste must be placed in designated trash cans. Picking plants and fruits in the scenic spot is forbidden (except in the specified chestnut-picking areas). Please protect the natural environment and historical relics.
- Tickets and Consumption: Keep your scenic spot ticket properly as some attractions may require inspection. Items such as boat rides and speedboat rides need to be paid for separately. It is recommended to check the prices in advance and choose according to your needs. When consuming at farmyards, confirm the prices in advance to avoid disputes.
- Other Aspects: Mobile phone signals in the scenic spot are generally available, but signals may be weak in some mountainous areas. It is advisable to keep in touch with your companions. There are many tourists during peak seasons, so it is recommended to visit during off-peak hours or book tickets and accommodation in advance. In case of emergencies, you can contact the scenic spot staff.