Longqing Gorge Scenic Area is located in the canyon northwest of Gucheng Village, 10 kilometers northeast of Yanqing District, Beijing, about 85 kilometers away from downtown Beijing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Its characteristic lies in integrating natural landscapes such as canyons, lakes, strange peaks, and cliffs with cultural landscapes. The mountains and waters reflect each other, with beautiful scenery, and it is known as the "Little Lijiang River" and "A Unique Wonder Beyond the Great Wall". The core landscape of the scenic area, the Longqing Gorge Reservoir Dam, is 72 meters high, 90 meters long, and 5 meters wide at the top. It blocks the water from the upper reaches of the Guishui River to form a reservoir area, which covers a water surface area of 340,000 square meters. The entire scenic area covers a planned area of about 1,190 hectares, with a total length of about 10 kilometers. The mountains on both sides are steep, with a high vegetation coverage rate, and the natural environment is very superior.
History and Culture
The Yanqing area where Longqing Gorge is located has a long history, with traces of human activities as early as the Neolithic Age. As a scenic area combining nature and humanity, the historical culture of Longqing Gorge is more reflected in the surrounding historical sites and related legends.
Gucheng Village near the scenic area was once an important frontier fortress in ancient times, with a relatively profound historical accumulation. The village retains some buildings and living customs with a sense of age, reflecting the local ancient military and folk culture. In addition, there are many folk legends about the formation of Longqing Gorge. It is said that this place was once where the Dragon King lived, and the strange rocks and peaks in the canyon are related to the stories of the Dragon King, adding a mysterious color to the scenic area. In modern times, Longqing Gorge began to be developed and constructed in the 1980s, gradually becoming a well-known tourist attraction, and its development process has also witnessed the growth of Beijing's tourism industry.
Main Attractions
Longqing Gorge Reservoir
Longqing Gorge Reservoir is the core area of the scenic spot, formed by a dam blocking the water flow. The water surface of the reservoir area is wide and the water quality is clear. Cliffs stand on both sides, and the peaks are reflected in the water, forming a beautiful landscape painting. Tourists can take a cruise to visit the reservoir area and enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides. The cruise route is about 7 kilometers long, and many strange peaks and rocks can be seen along the way.
Jingang Temple
Jingang Temple is located on the hillside near the entrance of Longqing Gorge Scenic Area. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and later renovated. The temple faces south, covering an area of about 1,200 square meters. The main buildings include the main hall and side halls, with a simple and elegant architectural style. The temple once enshrined the Vajra Buddha statues. Although there are no Buddha statues now, the architectural layout and historical style of the temple are still well preserved, and it is one of the important cultural landscapes in the scenic area.
Shenxian Courtyard
Shenxian Courtyard is situated on a peak in the southern part of Longqing Gorge Scenic Area, at an altitude of approximately 500 meters. It can be reached either by cable car or on foot via a hike. Within the courtyard, there are structures such as Yuhuang Pavilion and Niangniang Temple, which are said to be the abode of immortals. Standing on the viewing platform of Shenxian Courtyard, one can overlook the entire canyon scenery of Longqing Gorge and the full view of the reservoir. With a wide field of vision and spectacular scenery, it is an excellent viewing spot in the scenic area.
Zhenshan Tathagata
Zhenshan Tathagata is a famous pictographic stone in Longqing Gorge. It is located on the cliff on the east bank of the canyon, about 40 meters high, and looks like a Tathagata Buddha sitting in the mountains, with a serene expression, vivid and lifelike. Because of its lifelike shape, it is regarded as the "treasure of the mountain" by the local people and is a popular place for tourists to take photos.
Ice Lantern Art Festival Exhibition Area
The Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Art Festival is a characteristic winter event of the scenic area, held from January to February every year. The exhibition area covers an area of about 200,000 square meters, with thousands of ice and snow sculptures, including various shapes of figures, animals, and buildings. With colorful lights, it creates a dreamlike ice and snow world. The Ice Lantern Art Festival, which started in 1987, is a well-known winter tourism brand event in northern China.
Food
Yanqing Tofu Feast
Yanqing Tofu Feast is a very characteristic food around Longqing Gorge, with tofu as the main ingredient, matched with various side dishes. A table of tofu feast usually has more than a dozen dishes, including water tofu, frozen tofu, tofu balls, tofu skin, etc., with various cooking methods such as stewing, frying, deep-frying, and cold mixing. Among them, the core dish "Huopen Guo" (fire pot) is made by stewing tofu, Chinese cabbage, pork belly and other ingredients in a pot on a special fire pot, which tastes delicious and warms the body and heart.
Roast Whole Lamb
Farmhouses around Longqing Gorge often serve roast whole lamb. Local goats are selected, marinated, and then slowly roasted over charcoal fire until the outer skin is golden and crispy, and the inner meat is tender and juicy. The roasted whole lamb is fragrant, and with cumin, chili powder and other seasonings, it has a rich taste. Generally, roast whole lamb is also served with some cold dishes and staple foods, suitable for sharing among many people.
Yongning Huoshao
Yongning Huoshao is a characteristic snack in Yongning Town, Yanqing District, and is also common around Longqing Gorge. It is a kind of baked pasta, round in shape, with a crispy outer skin. The filling can be chosen according to taste, including pork filling, beef filling, vegetarian filling, etc. It is baked in a special stove, and the heat is well controlled, making the Huoshao fragrant. It can be used as a convenient staple food when traveling.
Tickets
The ticket price is 40 yuan per person. The boat ticket is charged separately or you can buy a combined ticket.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "龙庆峡风景区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted with the seasons. In the peak season (April 1 to November 15), the opening hours are from 8:00 to 17:30; in the off-season (November 16 to March 31 of the next year), the opening hours are from 8:30 to 17:00. During the winter Ice Lantern Art Festival, the opening hours will be extended, usually from about 17:00 to 22:00. The specific time is subject to the actual announcement of the scenic area. It is recommended that tourists check the official information of the scenic area before traveling to avoid delaying the trip.
Tour Routes
One-Day Classic Route
After arriving at the scenic area in the morning, first visit Jingang Temple near the entrance of the scenic area to learn about its history and culture, with a visiting time of about 30 minutes. Then take a cruise to visit Longqing Gorge Reservoir and enjoy the strange peaks, rocks and landscapes on both sides. The cruise trip takes about 1.5 hours. After the cruise, hike along the canyon plank road to enjoy natural landscapes such as Zhenshan Tathagata. The hiking distance is about 3 kilometers, taking about 1.5 hours. Have lunch at the farmhouses around the scenic area at noon and taste local characteristic foods. In the afternoon, take the cable car to Shenxian Courtyard to overlook the whole scenic area, with a playing time of about 1 hour, then take the cable car back. Finally, according to the time, take a short free walk in the scenic area and then return.
Winter Ice Lantern Festival Route
Arrive at the scenic area in the evening, first have dinner around the scenic area, then enter the Ice Lantern Art Festival exhibition area to watch ice sculptures, snow sculptures and enjoy the light show, with a playing time of about 3 hours, then end the trip and return.
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus No. 919 from Deshengmen, Beijing to Yanqing urban area, then transfer to bus No. Y43 to reach Longqing Gorge Scenic Area directly, with a total journey of about 2.5 hours. Bus No. 919 operates from 5:30 to 21:00, with a frequency of about 10 minutes per trip; bus No. Y43 operates from 7:00 to 18:00, with a frequency of about 30 minutes per trip.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along Beijing-Tibet Expressway (G6) to Yanqing urban area exit, then drive along the signs of Longqing Gorge Scenic Area. The total distance is about 85 kilometers, taking about 1.5 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- Tourist special line: During the peak tourist season, some travel agencies and tourist distribution centers in Beijing will open special tourist lines to Longqing Gorge. Tourists can sign up in advance to take them. For specific routes and times, please consult relevant institutions.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Longqing Gorge Reservoir: Taking a cruise to visit the reservoir is the core project to experience the landscape of Longqing Gorge. The reservoir area has a water surface of 340,000 square meters and a 7-kilometer cruise route. You can enjoy many natural landscapes along the way and feel the unique charm of the "Little Lijiang River".
- Ice Lantern Art Festival Exhibition Area: A characteristic winter project, the exhibition area covers 200,000 square meters. Thousands of ice and snow sculptures are magnificent under the light, making it a not-to-be-missed landscape in northern winter.
- Shenxian Courtyard: Located on a mountain peak at an altitude of 500 meters, after taking the cable car to the top, you can overlook the whole view of Longqing Gorge in 360 degrees. The canyon, reservoir and surrounding mountains are all in sight, with excellent viewing effect.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel season: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) have pleasant climates and beautiful scenery, suitable for cruising and hiking; winter (January-February) allows you to watch the Ice Lantern Art Festival, each with its own characteristics.
- Travel duration: A one-day tour is enough to visit the main attractions. If you want a deeper experience, you can stay one night nearby.
- Dining suggestions: There are many farmhouses around the scenic area, where you can taste local characteristic foods such as Yanqing Tofu Feast and roast whole lamb at moderate prices.
- Equipment suggestions: It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes when hiking. Pay attention to sun protection in summer and keep warm when watching ice lanterns in winter.
- Reservation suggestions: There are many tourists during the peak season and the Ice Lantern Art Festival. It is recommended to book tickets and cruises in advance through the official channels of the scenic area to avoid queuing.
Matters Needing Attention
- Safety instructions: When taking a cruise, follow the instructions of the staff and wear a life jacket; some sections of the hiking plank road are steep, so pay attention to your feet and do not deviate from the trail without permission.
- Environmental protection requirements: Littering is prohibited in the scenic area. Protect the natural environment and vegetation, and do not pick flowers and trees.
- Pet management: Pets are prohibited from entering the scenic area to avoid affecting other tourists and the scenic environment.
- Consumption tips: The prices of goods and services in the scenic area may be higher than those nearby. It is recommended to prepare drinking water and snacks in advance; pay attention to checking price labels when consuming to avoid disputes.
- Special weather: In case of heavy rain, strong wind and other bad weather, the scenic area may temporarily close some projects or the entire scenic area. It is recommended to pay attention to the weather forecast and the scenic area announcement before traveling.