Yanqi Lake Scenic Area - Beijing Tourist Attraction

Yanqi Lake Scenic Area - Beijing Tourist Attraction
Yanqi Lake Scenic Area - Beijing Tourist Attraction

Yanqi Lake Scenic Area is located in the north of Huaibei Town, Huairou District, Beijing, about 50 kilometers away from downtown Beijing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 15.5 square kilometers, with the lake surface area reaching 230 hectares. Surrounding the lake area are more than 10 peaks, with altitudes ranging from 300 to 600 meters, forming a natural pattern where mountains embrace the water. The scenic area is dominated by the beauty of lakes and mountains, integrating natural landscapes with humanistic architecture. It gets its name from the fact that a large number of migratory rare birds such as wild geese and cranes inhabit here every spring and autumn. Iconic buildings in the scenic area include Yanqi Lake International Convention Center and Yanqi Tower. Among them, Yanqi Tower is 79 meters high with 9 floors, serving as one of the commanding heights of the scenic area, offering a panoramic view of the entire lake area. In addition, the scenic area is equipped with a 14-kilometer-long lakeside fitness trail, a water sports center, an amusement park and other facilities, integrating functions such as sightseeing, leisure vacation, conferences and exhibitions.

Historical Culture

The area where Yanqi Lake is located has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were traces of human activities, and many Yangshao Culture and Longshan Culture sites have been discovered nearby. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was an important water source for the capital and part of the imperial hunting ground. Due to its rich water plants and gathering birds, it became a place for literati and scholars to go for outings and enjoy the scenery, leaving many poems depicting the beauty of the lake area.

In modern times, the development of Yanqi Lake began in the 1980s, initially built as a tourist attraction based on a reservoir. In 2014, as one of the main venues for the APEC meeting, Yanqi Lake underwent large-scale upgrading and renovation, with new international conference centers, boutique hotels and other facilities built, becoming an important window to showcase China's image. In 2017, it successfully hosted the Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, further enhancing its international reputation and leaving architectural and cultural imprints with the characteristics of the times for the scenic area.

Main Attractions

Yanqi Lake International Convention Center

Yanqi Lake International Convention Center is one of the core buildings in the scenic area, with a total construction area of approximately 79,000 square meters. It adopts traditional Chinese architectural style and incorporates the design concept of "wild geese spreading their wings", with a magnificent yet agile appearance. The convention center has multiple conference halls of different specifications, among which the largest one can accommodate thousands of people and has been an important venue for the APEC meeting and the Belt and Road Forum. Visitors can enter for a visit to learn about the historical background of the conferences and feel the harmonious integration of modern architecture and natural landscapes.

Yanqi Tower

Yanqi Tower is located on a peninsula on the southwest side of Yanqi Lake, 79 meters high with 9 floors, and is a pavilion-style tower with a Tang dynasty style. The tower body is built of reinforced concrete, with traditional bucket arches and overhanging eaves on the exterior, presenting a simple and elegant look. There are elevators and walking stairs inside the tower. Visitors can climb to the top floor for a 360-degree view of the entire Yanqi Lake, surrounding mountains and distant urban landscapes. Especially at sunrise or sunset, the lake and mountain scenery and the tower shadow complement each other, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Yanqi Island

Yanqi Island is a peninsula in Yanqi Lake, with a total area of about 65 hectares. The vegetation coverage rate on the island is as high as over 80%, with various trees such as Chinese pine, ginkgo and crabapple planted. There are 12 boutique villas with different styles and a boutique hotel on the island, all adopting low-density architectural layout, cleverly integrating with the natural environment. During the APEC meeting, leaders of various countries stayed here. There are also garden landscapes and walking paths on the island, with a quiet environment, making it a good place for leisure walks.

Lakeside Fitness Trail

The lakeside fitness trail is about 14 kilometers long, built along the lake, divided into walking paths and bicycle lanes, with flat roads. There are rest stops, viewing platforms and signposts along the way. The trail connects the main attractions of the scenic area, allowing visitors to walk or ride bicycles to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and breathe fresh air. Cherry blossoms, forsythia, crape myrtle and other flowers and trees are planted on both sides of the trail, presenting scenery in all seasons. When cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring, it forms a beautiful "flower road", attracting many visitors to take photos here.

Water Sports Center

The Water Sports Center is located on the east side of Yanqi Lake, covering an area of about 25,000 square meters, with various water entertainment projects such as motorboats, speedboats, cruise ships, kayaks and water bikes. Among them, the speedboat project can let visitors experience the excitement of 50 kilometers per hour, taking about 20 minutes to go around the lake area; while the cruise ship is more leisurely, allowing visitors to ride on ancient painted boats or modern yachts to slowly sail on the lake and enjoy the scenery on both sides. The center is also equipped with professional lifeguards and equipment to ensure the safety of visitors.

Delicacies

Huairou Roasted Rainbow Trout

Huairou Roasted Rainbow Trout is one of the most distinctive delicacies around Yanqi Lake. It uses rainbow trout farmed in local reservoirs, with tender meat, few bones and fresh taste. When roasting, it is done by killing and roasting on the spot, and can be charcoal-roasted or electric-roasted. The surface is coated with secret sauce, and then seasoned with cumin, chili and other spices, roasted until the outer skin is crispy and the inside is juicy. Most farmhouses and restaurants around the scenic area offer this dish, with a price of about 80-120 yuan per fish. It tastes better when paired with pancakes or farm-style side dishes.

Braised Pork with Chestnuts

Huairou District is rich in chestnuts. Braised Pork with Chestnuts is a traditional home-cooked dish in the local area and a must-try for visitors. It uses fresh Huairou oil chestnuts, braised with pork belly. The chestnuts absorb the flavor of the meat, being soft, glutinous and sweet, while the pork belly is fatty but not greasy with a rich soup. This nutritious dish can be tasted in restaurants in the scenic area and nearby farmhouses, with a price of about 50-70 yuan per serving.

Farmhouse Braised Free-range Chicken

Farmhouse Braised Free-range Chicken uses locally raised free-range chickens, with ingredients such as potatoes and vermicelli, slowly braised in a casserole. The meat is firm, the soup is delicious, full of farm flavor. Free-range chickens have a long growth cycle and rich nutritional content, making them a good tonic. This dish is a signature in farmhouses around Yanqi Lake, usually needing to be booked in advance. One serving can be eaten by 3-4 people, with a price of about 80-100 yuan.

Fried Juma River Shrimps

Juma River shrimps are a specialty of rivers around Beijing, small in size but with fresh and tender meat. Fried Juma River Shrimps use fresh river shrimps, coated with a thin layer of batter, fried in hot oil until golden and crispy, and sprinkled with salt and pepper after being taken out of the oil. They taste crispy and are a good dish to go with wine. This dish is quite common in restaurants in Yanqi Lake Scenic Area, with a price of about 30-50 yuan per serving.

Tickets

The ticket price is 45 yuan per person. Some attractions and entertainment projects in the scenic area require separate charges. Please refer to the on-site notice for details.

You can search for the official WeChat public account "北京雁栖湖" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online. As of July 7, 2025, the online ticket purchase entrance of this official WeChat public account is the Micro official website option in the service menu.

Opening Hours

The opening hours are adjusted according to the seasons. From April 1 to October 31 each year (peak season), the opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); from November 1 to March 31 of the following year (off-season), the opening hours are 8:30-17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). It should be noted that Yanqi Island may be closed irregularly due to reception tasks, so please pay attention to the latest news on the public account.

Tour Routes

A recommended one-day classic route: Arrive at the scenic area at 9:00 am, first visit Yanqi Lake International Convention Center to learn about the conference history and architectural features, which takes about 1 hour; then go to Yanqi Tower to climb and overlook the panoramic view of the lake area, taking about 1 hour; have lunch at a restaurant in the scenic area or a nearby farmhouse around 12:00 noon. At 13:30 pm, walk or ride along the lakeside fitness trail to the Water Sports Center to experience 1-2 water projects, such as cruise ships or kayaks, taking about 2 hours; then go to Yanqi Island (if open) to walk in the island's gardens and enjoy the beauty of nature and architecture, taking about 1.5 hours; finish the trip and leave the scenic area around 17:00 pm. If time permits, you can also arrange a two-day tour. Visit the above attractions on the first day, stay at a hotel or farmhouse around the scenic area at night, and go to nearby attractions such as Hongluo Temple and Mutianyu Great Wall for further visits on the second day.

Transportation

  • Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along Jingcheng Expressway to Huairou Toll Station Exit, then drive along Jingjia Road and Yanqi Lake West Road, and follow the scenic area signs to reach the destination. The whole journey is about 50 kilometers, taking 1-1.5 hours. There are multiple parking lots in the scenic area, with a charging standard of 20 yuan/day for small cars and 30 yuan/day for large cars.
  • Bus: Take bus No. 916 Express (towards Huairou Bus Station) at Dongzhimen Bus Hub, get off at Huairou Bus Station, then transfer to bus No. H58 (towards Tanghekou), get off at Yanqi Lake Station, and walk about 500 meters to the scenic area entrance. The whole journey takes about 2 hours, with a fare of about 15 yuan.
  • Tourist special line: Beijing Tourist Distribution Center operates a tourist special line to Yanqi Lake during the peak tourist season (April-October). It departs from Dongzhimen at 8:00 am every day and returns from the scenic area at 16:00 pm. The fare is 80 yuan/person (including round-trip fare and scenic area ticket), and it needs to be booked on the official platform one day in advance.
  • Subway + Bus: Take subway Line 13 or Line 15 to Wangjingxi Station, transfer to bus No. 970 or 980 to Huairou District Government Station, then transfer to bus No. H58 to Yanqi Lake Station. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours.

Must-visit Attractions

  • Yanqi Tower: 79 meters high, a 9-story Tang dynasty style building, which is a landmark attraction of the scenic area, allowing a 360-degree view of the lake area and its surroundings.
  • Lakeside Fitness Trail: 14 kilometers long, suitable for walking or cycling, with beautiful scenery along the way, and the best scenery when cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring.
  • Water Sports Center: Has various water projects, among which the speedboat lake tour experience (20 minutes) and painted boat cruise (40 minutes) are the most popular.
  • Yanqi Lake International Convention Center: With a construction area of 79,000 square meters, it is the venue of the APEC meeting, where visitors can visit the internal buildings and exhibition halls.

Tour Suggestions

  • The best seasons to visit are April-May and September-October. In April-May, flowers are in full bloom and the climate is pleasant; in September-October, the weather is clear and crisp, allowing visitors to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and red leaf landscapes.
  • The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. If planning to ride around the lake, you can rent a bicycle at the scenic area entrance, with a single bicycle costing 30 yuan/hour and a double bicycle 50 yuan/hour.
  • Water projects are greatly affected by the weather. It is recommended to check the weather forecast in advance and choose a sunny and windless day for the experience. Take sun protection measures and bring a change of clothes when visiting in summer.
  • For dining, it is recommended to choose farmhouses around the scenic area, where you can taste authentic Huairou specialties at relatively affordable prices, with an average consumption of about 60-100 yuan per person.
  • If you want to take a panoramic photo of Yanqi Lake, it is recommended to arrive at Yanqi Tower or the east viewing platform of the lakeside trail before sunrise, when the light is soft and the lake reflection is clear, resulting in the best photography effect.

Notes

  • Yanqi Island may be temporarily closed due to undertaking important conference reception tasks. Visitors must confirm the opening status through the scenic area's official website or official WeChat public account before traveling to avoid a wasted trip.
  • Some sections of the lakeside trail are close to the lake. When visiting with children or the elderly, pay attention to safety, do not get close to the edge of the guardrail, and walk carefully on slippery roads on rainy days.
  • It is forbidden to bring pets and drones (without approval) into the scenic area. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas, and littering will be fined.
  • For water projects, strictly abide by safety regulations, wear life jackets, and follow the instructions of the staff. Elderly people over 65 years old, pregnant women and those with diseases such as heart disease are not suitable for participating in high-speed or exciting water projects.
  • There are many visitors in the scenic area during the peak season (especially holidays). It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours, entering the park between 8:00-9:00 am or after 15:00 pm to avoid crowds. Parking may be tight, so public transportation can be considered.
  • Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of the scenic area. It is recommended to agree on a meeting time and place with companions to avoid getting separated. You can download the scenic area map in advance for navigation.