East Great Canyon

East Great Canyon

The East Great Canyon is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The East Great Canyon Scenic Area is located in Pinggu, Eastern Beijing, and consists of two major sightseeing zones: the Great Canyon and Jingtai Mountain, covering a total area of 20 square kilometers. The Great Canyon is narrow, perilous, and deep, with cliffs that rise thousands of feet high, while Jingtai Mountain is broad and flat like a platform, towering and connecting to the clouds. A couplet praises it: “Explore the canyon to feel its mysterious serenity; climb the peak to take in the vast mountains and valleys.” The Great Canyon extends six Chinese miles and features five wonders: First is the cascading waterfall. There is a waterfall over 30 meters high that plunges down dramatically, leaving visitors in awe, with its thunderous sound echoing ceaselessly through the valley. Second is the towering cliff. The high cliffs inside the valley stand straight as if piercing the blue sky. Walking beneath them, one can’t help but fear they might collapse at any moment, causing palpitations and dread. Third is the string of clear pools. There are five pools in the valley—some clear enough to see fish, some unfathomably deep, some calm as a maiden, others rushing and turbulent—forming a continuous chain that adds endless charm to the Great Canyon. Fourth is the hanging plank walkway. The Great Canyon is narrow, winding, steep, and treacherous, and the sightseeing plank walkway is suspended in mid-air. Walking on it gives one a vivid sense of the canyon’s peril, while also adding boundless thrill. Fifth is the mirror-like lake. Longmen Lake covers 40,000 square meters, with mountain peaks reflected in the water, gulls and ducks resting on the surface, presenting yet another unique scene. Visitors can splash in the water, ride the waves, go boating, or fish, enjoying a feeling of seclusion.

The East Great Canyon Scenic Area offers different scenery in each season: in spring, mountain flowers bloom and birds sing melodiously; in summer, gentle breezes bring cool comfort; in autumn, the mountains turn red and forests are dyed in layers of color; in winter, ice hangs high and the land is draped in silvery white. The sights, sounds, and sensations of each season are distinctly different, each with its own unique charm.

The main attractions in the scenic area include:

I. Five Dragon Pools

These are five naturally formed pools, each uniquely designed and never repetitive. When water levels are high, the sound of the water is continuous; when water levels recede, each pool remains filled with gently flowing water. Each pool is thrilling, and all visitors marvel at them. A poem praises them: “Heaven created the Five Dragon Pools, where the dragon pool waterfalls defy the heavens. Amidst thousands of peaks and valleys where no path seems to exist, the way lies within the murmuring stream.”

II. Tongtian Gorge

Tongtian Gorge resembles a towering mountain peak that was split apart, forming a long, narrow crevice. From a distance, the crevice, hidden among moss, weeds, and shrubs on both sides, appears as if cracked yet connected. Upon closer inspection, the narrowest part of the crevice is still one meter wide. During the war of resistance, this area produced military supplies, and the ruins of a small munitions factory lie right next to it.

III. Plank Walkways

The East Great Canyon is famous for its five pools, but the plank walkways that span four of them are also uniquely innovative and distinct from one another, becoming another wonder of the Great Canyon. The first and second plank walkways are built along the cliffs, resembling dragons lying on the slopes. The plank walkway of the fourth pool is formed by dozens of steel cables connected together, climbing up the cliffs and crossing over the pools, like a rainbow lying atop the cliffs. Walking on it feels shaky and fraught with danger, inevitably bringing to mind the heroic deeds of the Red Army as they bravely crossed the Dadu River and the iron-chain bridge. Visitors who experience it firsthand will find the feeling unforgettable for life.

IV. Longmen Lake

The East Great Canyon not only offers mountain views in all seasons but also water activities. Longmen Lake, covering 70,000 square meters, can hold 700,000 cubic meters of water. There are eight speedboats on the lake for playing in the water or taking ferry rides to explore both shores.

V. Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

This memorial hall covers an area of 800 square meters and can accommodate more than 350 visitors at a time. It began receiving tourists in August 1998. With the Anti-Japanese War in eastern Hebei as its background and the history of the people of Pinggu and surrounding areas during the war as its thread, the museum uses a large number of artifacts and图文 (text and images) to vividly display the struggle of the military and civilians against oppression and invasion in their quest for liberation. It reshapes the heroic images of the wartime era and serves as an excellent educational base.

Address: Yuzishan Village, Shandongzhuang, Pinggu District, Beijing

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 3–4 hours

Phone: 010-60968317

Opening hours:

8:00-17:30

Ticket

Adult ticket: 78 RMB

Child ticket: 39 RMB

Other discounts: Adult ticket 78 RMB, half-price ticket 39 RMB per person. (Students, military personnel, people with disabilities, and seniors enjoy half-price entry with valid ID; journalists enter free with press credentials; tour groups with valid documentation receive a 30% discount; group ticket purchases receive a 20% discount)

Opening hours

8:00–18:30

Best travel time: August, September