Jindong Gold Panning Valley Scenic Area

Jindong Gold Panning Valley Scenic Area

Jindong Gold Panning Valley Scenic Area is one of the key tourist attractions in Pinggu County. Located in Huangsongyu Township in the northeastern part of the county, it is 23 kilometers from the county seat. The scenic area covers a total area of 10 million square meters, with a built-up area of 6,000 square meters and a total investment of 600,000 yuan.

The mountains behind Jindong Gold Panning Valley are the richest in gold deposits and had the highest number of gold-mining farmers in Pinggu, hence the name "Gold Mountain." Jindong Gold Panning Valley is a highlight of Gold Mountain, where visitors can see authentic scenes of traditional gold mining and panning throughout the valley. The valley features towering cliffs, birdsong, fragrant flowers, and lush greenery. Major attractions in the scenic area include:

1. Ancient Ink on High Cliffs

Three li directly north of Jiawatai in Tawa Village, atop a high cliff, there once stood an ancient temple commonly called the "Small Temple" by locals. Its exact construction date is unknown. Beside the temple was a pagoda, but the ancient bricks from both the temple and pagoda have been removed by people. On the western cliff face behind the temple, within a cliff overhang, there are stone carvings of lotus flowers with stems about two feet long and very beautiful designs—these are more visible when the stone is moistened. Half a li further up, on the right side of the cliff, there are many inscriptions left by pilgrims inside a cliff shelter, also visible only when wet. However, due to the passage of time, they are not easy to make out clearly. This cliff shelter stretches seven or eight zhang from west to east. Although the western part is steep, it is still climbable for viewing. The eastern part has sheer cliffs and deep valleys, with cliff ledges less than a foot wide, making it impossible to climb—visitors can only "sigh at the cliff." This place is called "Ancient Ink on High Cliffs." Most of these pilgrim inscriptions date back to the Yuan Dynasty (Kublai Khan, 1211–1294), and many were written by visitors from Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi. This raises a question: how could such a small mountain temple in the deep mountains attract so many pilgrims from thousands of miles away eight or nine hundred years ago?

2. Happy Farmhouse Holiday Village

Jindong Gold Panning Valley also offers a serene getaway for people from bustling cities: the "Happy Farmhouse Holiday Village," where you can enjoy farm-style meals, stay in rural cottages, and experience the joys of country life. If you stay here for a few days, you’ll truly forget the noise of the big city. The farmhouse can accommodate 200 guests and serve 250 diners simultaneously. There is also a dance hall. If you stay here, at night you’ll see only the stars in the sky and hear the pleasant chirping of birds—a truly peaceful retreat.

Scenic areas adjacent to Jindong Gold Panning Valley include: Feilong Valley, Hudedong, Shilin Gorge, Jindong Grand Canyon, and Jinhai Lake.

Best travel time: Suitable year-round, with summer and autumn being the best. Transportation information: For independent travelers, take Bus 918 from Beijing’s Dongzhimen and get off at the Huzhuang intersection, then transfer to a minibus or medium-sized bus heading to Happy Farmhouse in Jindong Gold Panning Valley. Self-driving: Take the Beijing-Pinggu Highway, drive 13 km east from Pinggu County to Xianghuzhuang Village, turn left at the fork, and follow the signs for 3 km to reach the destination.

Pinggu Pinggu