Xigouli Natural Scenic Area

Xigouli Natural Scenic Area

Destination Introduction

Xigouli Village is situated in the upper reaches of the Xigou Basin in Sihaixian Town. The village covers a total area of 9,000 mu, including over 300 mu of arable land, with a forest coverage rate of over 95%. It has 40 households and a population of around 150, with an average per capita income of 4,215 yuan. The main sources of income are farming, animal husbandry, dried and fresh fruit production, and migrant work. The distance from Sihaixian Town to Xigouli Village is 5 kilometers, and the area is served by an asphalt road, making transportation very convenient.

The elevation of Xigouli Village is nearly 900 meters. To the west of the village lies vast mountain terrain and dense forests, with a main valley running east-west. The highest peak to the west is Fengtuo Ridge at 1,530 meters, which belongs to an alpine meadow area along its ridge. From the village, a 1-kilometer-long simple vehicle road leads westward, after which a narrow footpath continues all the way to the mountaintop or various spots. This area offers four major highlights for forest tourism.

1. Primeval Secondary Forest: The dense forests on the mountains are quite rare in Beijing. The main tree species include oak, Manchurian walnut, birch, purple birch, mountain poplar, linden, and Chinese pine. The thickest oak has a diameter of 60 cm, and the trees generally stand over 15 meters tall. These tall and lush woods are classified as primeval secondary broadleaf forests, which are truly rare in Beijing. The main shrubs include hazelnut, blueberry, buckthorn, rusty-leaved filipendula, mountain cherry, eleutherococcus, lilac, and ash. Vines such as grapevine, kiwi, kudzu, and schisandra are also present. There are approximately 200 different plant species. Each season brings its own beauty, with flowers blooming three seasons of the year and colorful autumn foliage and wild fruits resembling a painted sky. Being here not only allows you to appreciate the grandeur of the forest but also to experience its rich scents, providing a truly refreshing experience. In addition, the occasional presence of wild boars adds to the sense of harmony between humans and nature.

2. Mountain Springs and Streams: Having forests doesn’t necessarily mean having mountain springs, but when both exist together, it creates a wonderful world. The mountain springs of Xigouli originate at a very high altitude, about 1,400 meters or more, which is also quite rare in Beijing. The spring water flow is abundant, with a daily discharge of over 20 tons. The rushing streams add boundless vitality to the area. Since the springs come from the forest and are located at a high altitude far from pollution, the water quality is excellent—it can be consumed directly, supplied as drinking water for urban and rural residents, or used to raise cold-water fish on-site.

3. Beacon Tower Ruins: The highest peak on the western ridge of Xigouli is Fengtuo Ridge, standing at 1,530 meters. Along the ridge’s watershed divide, the southern side belongs to Huairou District. At each of the highest points along the ridge, there are piles of stones, which are the ruins of ancient beacon towers. One can imagine that these were once stone-built signal towers. If there were beacon towers, there should have been a Great Wall—but no continuous sections of the wall remain here, only the beacon tower ruins, which is quite puzzling.

4. Strange Rock Waterfalls: On the southern slope of Xigouli, there are two rocky slopes— the western one covers 50 mu, while the eastern one covers 30 mu. With a gradient of about 20 degrees, these slopes are entirely composed of large boulders, the biggest being about the size of a room, and the smallest weighing around 100–180 jin (50–90 kg). The rocks are arranged in a scattered yet orderly fashion, forming sizable gaps of varying sizes between them. Some rocks are covered with lichen but no other vegetation. These rocks are stacked one after another down the slope, resembling a “strange rock waterfall,” which is indeed a spectacular sight. This kind of landscape is unique to Beijing. It is certainly not formed by soil erosion, but rather looks as if it was piled up by supernatural beings. What kind of natural geological phenomenon is this? Was it caused by a volcanic eruption or seismic activity? It’s certainly worth studying.

Just these four highlights are highly attractive. They are suitable for tourism and can also serve as bases for teaching and scientific research. Although there are many forest tourism destinations in the city, this is the only one that combines all these features and unique landscapes. The strange rock waterfall alone is worth seeing in person. Contact Information: Phone 010-60187019; Address: Sihaixian Town, Yanqing County

» Yanqing Yanqing

Sihaixian Town: Sihaixian Town is located 46 kilometers east of Yanqing County and directly north of Beijing’s central axis. The town covers a total area of 115.7 square kilometers, bordering Huairou District to the east and south, adjacent to Qianjiadian Town and Zhenzhuquan Township to the northeast, and neighboring Liubinqiubu Township to the northwest. The town has 18 administrative villages, 6 natural villages, a total of 2,490 households, and a population of 6,880, including 6,001 agricultural residents and 2,784 rural laborers. The arable land area is 14,278 mu, and the mountainous area spans 143,000 mu. The town features an extensive network of crisscrossing roads that provide convenient access in all directions, including the Yanliu Road, Ansi Road, and Sibao Road, which are all third-grade highways... More detailed information about Sihaixian Town ++