Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area is located in Tongzhou District, Beijing, at the core area of the Beijing section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Covering a total area of about 10.7 square kilometers, the scenic area includes the watercourse of the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal, historical and cultural relics along the banks, as well as modern landscape facilities. Its characteristic lies in the integration of the Grand Canal's long-standing historical culture, natural scenery and modern urban functions, showing the profound heritage and contemporary charm of canal culture. The scenic area houses historical buildings such as the Ransheng Pagoda, Daguang Building and CaoYun Wharf, as well as modern landscapes like the Canal Park and Canal Culture Square, making it a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating cultural experience, leisure and sightseeing, and popular science education.
Historical Culture
The Grand Canal is the longest artificial canal in the world. The canal culture of the Beijing section can be traced back to the Sui and Tang dynasties. As an important wharf at the northern end of the Grand Canal, Tongzhou was once a hub of grain transportation by water (caoyun) and has long enjoyed the reputation of "First Beijing, Second Weizhen, Third Tongzhou". Since the Yuan Dynasty, Tongzhou has become a key node for transporting grain from the south to the north. The prosperity of caoyun drove the flourishing of local commerce and culture, leaving numerous historical relics and cultural traditions related to caoyun.
Built in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Ransheng Pagoda was renovated in the Liao, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is one of the iconic buildings of the Beijing section of the Grand Canal. The pagoda body is exquisitely carved, reflecting the superb level of ancient architectural art. Daguang Building was once a place for inspecting grain and collecting taxes during the Ming and Qing dynasties, witnessing the glorious history of caoyun. CaoYun Wharf was an important location for ancient merchant ships to berth and load/unload goods, and still retains the pattern and style of that year.
In 2014, the Grand Canal of China was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List. As the core area of the Beijing section of the Grand Canal, Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area has become an important window for displaying canal culture. In recent years, Tongzhou District has vigorously promoted the construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt. Through protecting and renovating historical relics, restoring the ecological landscape of the canal, and holding cultural activities, the Grand Canal has been rejuvenated with new vitality.
Main Attractions
Ransheng Pagoda
Located in Xihaizi Park, Tongzhou District, it is an octagonal 13-story densely eaved solid brick pagoda, about 56 meters high, and one of the tallest pagodas in Beijing. Each floor of the pagoda body is decorated with exquisite brick carvings, and the pagoda finial is made of gilded bronze, with a solemn and elegant shape. Built in the Northern Zhou Dynasty and renovated many times, the Ransheng Pagoda is an important symbol of Grand Canal culture and a valuable physical material for studying ancient architecture and Buddhist culture.
Daguang Building
Located on the west bank of the canal, it was the place where the caoyun governor inspected and accepted grain during the Ming and Qing dynasties, hence also known as the "Grain Inspection Building". It is a two-story pavilion-style building with five bays in width and three bays in depth, with a hip-and-gable roof and raised eave corners, presenting a magnificent momentum. After renovation, the interior of Daguang Building now houses an exhibition on caoyun culture, showing the historical origin, operation process of caoyun on the Grand Canal and related cultural relics, allowing tourists to deeply understand the canal caoyun culture.
CaoYun Wharf
Located on the bank of the Grand Canal, it was an important wharf for berthing ancient caoyun ships and was once a prosperous place with numerous merchant ships and piles of goods in history. After restoration, CaoYun Wharf now retains some original facilities and has a newly built cruise ship wharf. Tourists can take cruise ships here to tour the Grand Canal and experience the prosperity of caoyun in those days. Around the wharf, there is also a Canal Culture Corridor, displaying historical stories and cultural landscapes along the canal.
Canal Park
It is a large comprehensive park integrating leisure, entertainment and fitness, covering an area of about 107 hectares, including a water area of about 26 hectares. The park is equipped with facilities such as the Canal Culture Square, viewing platforms, fitness trails and children's play areas, with a high green coverage rate and beautiful environment. Every spring, peach blossoms and cherry blossoms bloom in the park, making it an ideal place for citizens to go for an outing and admire flowers; in autumn, the ginkgo avenue is golden, presenting a pleasant scenery.
Xihaizi Park
Located in the center of Tongzhou District, it is a time-honored classical garden. The park not only houses the Ransheng Pagoda but also attractions such as Xihai Lake and Li Zhuowu's Tomb. After renovation and upgrading, the park retains the style of traditional gardens while integrating modern elements, becoming an important place for citizens' leisure and entertainment. With clear lake water, lush green trees and scattered pavilions and towers, it is a great place to experience canal culture and traditional garden art.
Recommended Tour Routes
Half-day tour route recommendation: Start from CaoYun Wharf, take a cruise ship to tour the Grand Canal and admire the scenery on both banks, get off at Daguang Building to visit the caoyun culture exhibition, then walk to Ransheng Pagoda to climb the pagoda and overlook the canal scenery, and finally visit the Canal Culture Square to learn about the canal's history and culture. The whole journey takes about 3-4 hours.
One-day tour route recommendation: In the morning, visit Xihaizi Park to see attractions like Ransheng Pagoda and Li Zhuowu's Tomb, then go to CaoYun Wharf to take a cruise ship on the Grand Canal, have lunch on board and admire the historical relics and modern landscapes on both sides of the canal; in the afternoon, visit the area around Daguang Building, then take a walk in Canal Park to enjoy the natural landscapes and cultural facilities in the park, and watch the sunset by the canal in the evening to experience the tranquility and beauty of the canal. The whole journey takes about 5-6 hours.
In-depth cultural tour route recommendation: On the first day, visit Tongzhou District Museum in the morning to learn about Tongzhou's history and culture; in the afternoon, tour Xihaizi Park and Ransheng Pagoda, and taste Tongzhou's characteristic food by the canal in the evening. On the second day, go to CaoYun Wharf in the morning to take a cruise ship to deeply understand the canal caoyun culture and visit Daguang Building, CaoYun Wharf Ruins, etc.; in the afternoon, participate in canal culture experience activities in Canal Park, such as canal boatmen's work song performances and traditional handicraft making, then end the trip. The whole journey takes about two days and one night.
Travel Tips
- It is recommended to learn about the cruise ship operation time and routes of the scenic area in advance, and arrange the time for taking the cruise ship reasonably to better admire the canal scenery.
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes. If you need to walk for a long time, you can prepare a lightweight backpack and drinking water.
- Pay attention to sun protection and heatstroke prevention when visiting in summer. There are many mosquitoes by the canal, so you can bring mosquito repellent products; keep warm in winter, especially when visiting outdoors.
- If you are interested in the canal's history and culture, you can rent an electronic interpreter in the scenic area or participate in guided tours organized by the scenic area to deeply understand the stories behind the attractions.
- Pets are not allowed in the scenic area, please pay attention to the park regulations; smoking is prohibited in some areas, and you need to abide by relevant regulations.
- If you plan to taste Tongzhou's characteristic food, you can check the location and business hours of nearby restaurants in advance to arrange your dining time reasonably.
Notes
- Abide by the opening hours of the scenic area and do not stay in the park after closing.
- When visiting historical relics, abide by relevant regulations, such as not touching cultural relics and not carving on buildings.
- Pay attention to safety when walking by the canal and do not get close to the water's edge, especially tourists with children, who need to take good care of their children.
- There are multiple toilets and trash cans in the park, please keep the environment clean and do not litter.
- During large-scale events or festivals, some areas may be temporarily closed, and you need to follow the guidance and arrangements of the staff.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded areas, to avoid loss.
- If you need to ride a bike in the park, use a bicycle that meets the regulations, ride in the designated bike lanes, and pay attention to avoiding pedestrians.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Line 6 to Tongzhou Beiguan Station and walk for about 15 minutes to reach the scenic area; or take Line 7 to Huazhuang Station, transfer to Line 8 (Tongzhou Line) to Tongzhou Beiyuan Station, then transfer to a bus to get there.
- Bus: Take buses such as No. 322, 342, 589, 626, 666, 804, 808 to Tongzhou Dongguan Station or Daguang Building Station to reach the scenic area.
- Self-driving: There are multiple parking lots around the scenic area, such as CaoYun Wharf Parking Lot and Canal Park Parking Lot. The parking fee is about 10 yuan per hour, which may be tight during holidays, so green travel is recommended.
- Cruise ship: Tourists can also take a canal cruise ship from downtown Beijing to Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area. For specific routes and times, you can check the information of relevant cruise ship companies.
Opening Hours
Open all day, tourists can enter at any time. The opening hours of parks such as Canal Park and Xihaizi Park are: peak season (April 1 - October 31) 6:00 - 21:00, off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the next year) 6:30 - 20:00. Cruise ship operation time is generally 9:00 - 17:00, which may be adjusted according to seasons and weather conditions.
Tickets
Open to the public for free, tourists can enter the scenic area freely. However, tickets are required for taking cruise ships to tour the Grand Canal. The cruise ship ticket prices vary according to ship types and routes, generally 50-100 yuan per person, subject to the on-site announcement of the scenic area on the day. In addition, some temporary exhibitions or activities may be held in the scenic area, and tickets may be required for some activities.
You can search for the official WeChat public accounts "北京通州大运河文化旅游服务平台" or "北京大运河文旅" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
