Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is located in Songzhuang Town, Zhangjiawan Town and Huoxian Town, Tongzhou District, Beijing, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The park is built relying on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, featuring "taking the river as the soul, the forest as the body, and the integration of forest and water", integrating natural landscapes, historical culture and leisure entertainment functions. The total area of the scenic area is about 10,700 mu, including about 2,500 mu of water surface and about 7,200 mu of green area, making it the largest riverside forest park in eastern Beijing. The park has 36 scenic spots such as Caoyun Wharf, Moon Island Warbler, and Jungle Vitality, as well as about 8-kilometer-long riverside walkways and cycling paths.
History and Culture
The Tongzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal where Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is located is the northern starting point of the Grand Canal, with a long history. Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Grand Canal has become an important artery of north-south transportation. As a canal transportation hub, Tongzhou was once a place for material transportation and commercial prosperity, leaving rich canal cultural heritage.
The park retains some historical relics, such as the site of Caoyun Wharf, which was an important node for ancient grain transportation. In addition, the park reproduces historical scenes such as canal transportation and warehousing through landscape design, showing the important role of the Grand Canal in ancient transportation, commerce and cultural exchanges. In 2014, the Grand Canal of China was listed in the World Heritage List, and the section where Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is located is an important part of it.
In modern times, Tongzhou District has carried out ecological governance and landscape improvement along the Grand Canal, and built the Grand Canal Forest Park in 2010, making it an important place to display canal culture and carry out eco-tourism, and adding an ecological barrier to the sub-center of Beijing.
Main Attractions
Caoyun Wharf
Caoyun Wharf is one of the core attractions of the park, located beside the main channel of the Grand Canal, covering an area of about 50,000 square meters. The wharf replicates the pattern of ancient caoyun wharves, with facilities such as antique boat buildings and boat mooring pillars, and willows and other vegetation planted around, reproducing the transportation scene of "thousands of boats gathering". The wharf area can accommodate thousands of people, often holding Canal Culture Festival and other activities, and is also the starting point for tourists to take boat tours of the canal.
Moon Island Warbler
Moon Island Warbler is a scenic spot mainly based on natural landscapes. It is named after the island shaped like a crescent moon, covering an area of about 150 mu. The island is planted with various flowers and trees such as cherry blossoms, crabapples and magnolias. In spring, when the flowers are in full bloom, it is colorful and fragrant. There are also viewing buildings such as Wenyin Pavilion on the island. Tourists can climb high to overlook the canal scenery and listen to the birds, which is a good place for leisure and flower appreciation.
Jungle Vitality
Jungle Vitality is an area suitable for parent-child play, located on the west side of the park, covering an area of about 80 mu. The area is equipped with children's play facilities, climbing nets, slides, etc., and there is also a jungle crossing project, including suspension bridges, ropes and other obstacle facilities, with a total length of about 500 meters, suitable for children of different ages to experience. In addition, tall trees are planted in the area to form a shaded environment, which is cooler in summer.
Canal Breeze
Canal Breeze is a scenic spot showing canal culture, located in the middle of the park, covering an area of about 120 mu. The scenic spot has a canal history and culture corridor, which displays the excavation history of the Grand Canal,Canal Transportation stories and so on through sculptures, murals and other forms. There are also antique buildings such as Qingfeng Tower, where tourists can understand canal culture and enjoy the natural scenery on both sides of the canal.
Delicacies
Tongzhou Three Treasures
Tongzhou Three Treasures refer to Dashunzhai sugar firecakes, Xiaolou braised catfish and Wantong pickles, which are traditional characteristic foods of Tongzhou. Dashunzhai sugar firecakes are made of sesame paste, brown sugar and other raw materials, sweet and crisp. With a history of more than 300 years, they are sold in supermarkets and specialty stores around the park, about 20 yuan per catty. Xiaolou braised catfish is a time-honored dish in Tongzhou. The catfish is tender and the soup is rich. It can be tasted in nearby restaurants such as Xiaolou Restaurant, with an average per capita consumption of about 60 yuan. Wantong pickles are known for their crispness and refreshingness, with multiple varieties such as cucumbers and radishes, and the bottled price is about 10-15 yuan.
Canal Boatman Banquet
The Canal Boatmen's Feast is a characteristic banquet imitating the diet of ancient canal boatmen, commonly found in farmhouse restaurants around the park. The banquet mainly features stewed and steamed dishes, such as stewed mixed fish, steamed pork with rice flour, and tie bingzi (cornmeal pancakes). Ingredients are mostly freshwater fish along the canal and vegetables self-produced by farmers, with simple flavors and sufficient portions, costing about 50 yuan per capita. Recommended restaurants like "Canal Family" require advance booking.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
From autumn to winter, baked sweet potatoes are sold at the park entrance and some selling points in the park. Local sweet potatoes are selected and baked over charcoal fire, with a fragrant outer skin and soft, waxy and sweet inner flesh, about 8-10 yuan per catty. They are popular warm snacks among tourists.
Tickets
Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is free to visit without purchasing tickets. Some experience projects in the park such as cruise ships and bicycle rentals need to be paid separately.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "北京通州大运河文化旅游服务平台" to purchase ship tickets online.
Opening Hours
Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is open throughout the year from 6:00 to 21:00 (stopping admission at 20:30). In summer (June 1 to August 31), it is extended to 22:00 for closing, and in winter (November 1 to February 28 of the following year), it closes at 19:00. The opening hours of some small scenic spots in the park are from 8:00 to 18:00, subject to on-site announcements.
Tour Route
Recommended tour route: Enter from the west gate of the park, first visit Caoyun Wharf to understand the history of canal transportation, and take a boat to experience the canal scenery (about 1 hour); then go to Moon Island Warbler to enjoy flowers in spring and climb Wenyin Pavilion to view the scenery (about 1.5 hours); have lunch at a nearby farmhouse restaurant to taste the Canal Boatman Banquet; in the afternoon, go to Jungle Vitality to take children to experience the play facilities (about 2 hours); finally visit Canal Breeze to visit the cultural corridor and exit the park from the east gate. The whole journey is about 5 kilometers on foot. It is recommended to ride a bicycle, and the overall itinerary is 4-5 hours.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, via Jingtong Expressway → Tongyan Expressway → Jingtang Road, the whole journey is about 40 kilometers, and the driving time is 1 hour; or via East 6th Ring Road → Tonghuai Road, the driving time is about 50 minutes. The park has 4 parking lots, located at the west gate, Caoyun Wharf, Moon Island and the east gate respectively, and the parking fee for small cars is 10 yuan per time.
- Public Transport: Take Metro Line 6 to Wuzixueyuan Road Station, transfer to Bus Tong 41 to Grand Canal Forest Park Station and get off; or take Bus 805, 938 to Zhangjiawan Town Station, and walk about 15 minutes to the west gate.
- Cycling: From urban Beijing, you can cycle to the park through the Tonghui River Riverside Greenway, with a total length of about 30 kilometers. The greenway is flat and suitable for leisure cycling.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Caoyun Wharf: The landmark attraction of the park covers an area of 50,000 square meters. You can experience canal boating and feel the ancient canal transportation culture. The one-way cruise ticket is 60 yuan per person.
- Moon Island Warbler: A 150-mu flower appreciation resort. Cherry blossoms and crabapples are in full bloom in spring. The 12-meter-high Wenyin Pavilion overlooks the panoramic view of the canal.
- Jungle Vitality: 80-mu parent-child play area with a 500-meter jungle crossing project, suitable for children to climb and explore. The facilities are free to use.
- Canal Breeze: 120-mu cultural display area. The 200-meter-long history corridor shows canal stories through sculptures. Qingfeng Tower is an antique two-story building.
Tour Tips
- The park is large in area. It is recommended to rent a bicycle for 30 yuan/hour (single) and 50 yuan/hour (double) to save energy.
- In spring (March-May), Moon Island Warbler is in full bloom, suitable for flower appreciation and photography; in autumn (September-November), the red leaves on both sides of the canal are like fire, which is the best period for photography.
- Bring a picnic mat and food. There are many picnic areas in the park, such as Moon Island Lawn, where you can enjoy a riverside picnic.
- Pay attention to sun protection in summer. With many waters in the park, you can bring a sun hat and sunscreen; it is windy in winter, so prepare windproof clothing.
- There are many tourists on weekends and holidays. Taking a boat at Caoyun Wharf needs to queue up. It is recommended to visit at off-peak times or arrive in advance.
Notes
- Open fire is prohibited in the park. Barbecuing and picnicking are not allowed in non-designated areas.
- The canal is deep and dangerous. Swimming and fishing in the lake are prohibited. Children and the elderly need to be taken care of.
- Bicycles need to ride in the designated lanes. It is forbidden to enter the lawn and walkway. Rental bicycles need to be returned on time.
- There are few trash cans in the park. Please bring your own garbage bags to keep the environment clean.
- In case of large-scale activities, some areas may be temporarily closed.