Beijing Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall (Xishuiyu Tourist Scenic Area)

Beijing Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall (Xishuiyu Tourist Scenic Area)

The Beijing Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall (Xishuiyu Tourist Scenic Area) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, located in Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, Beijing. It earned its name because three sections of the Great Wall dip into the water, making it the only place in Beijing where the Great Wall meets water. The scenic area is 70 kilometers from downtown Beijing and 35 kilometers from Huairou District. It is renowned for its wonder and beauty, and combines verdant mountains, sparkling waters, the Great Wall, and ancient trees into one exceptional leisure destination. It has been praised as “the scenery of the frontier, the charm of the south—all found at the Water Great Wall.” Among its highlights, the “Four Wonders” are especially captivating and breathtaking:

“View the Great Wall Circling the Lake”: Built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1404), the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall is majestic and steep, exuding grandeur as it winds along the mountain ridges and encircles Haoming Lake, presenting a spectacular and beautiful view. This section of the Great Wall not only served as the northern gate defending the capital but also as a crucial protector of the Ming Tombs (the Thirteen Tombs). It represents the finest essence of the Ming Great Wall.

“Watch the Giant Dragon Touched by the Water Bay”: The lake water naturally severs three sections of the Great Wall, creating the unique scene of the Great Wall playing with the water and the ancient walls submerged beneath it. It is also the only “jade in the mountains, Great Wall in the water” experience unique to the suburbs of Beijing. As the poem goes: The city embraces rippling blue waves, the water submerges ancient walls; the city and water echo each other, majesty and serenity naturally arise.

“Admire the Ancient Chestnut Grove Through Time”: The Ming Dynasty chestnut grove spans hundreds of acres, with over 200 ancient trees still standing. Each chestnut tree here is twisted with roots, uniquely shaped. Despite enduring the test of time, this vast ancient chestnut grove remains deeply rooted and lush with leaves—an unparalleled cultural marvel in the suburbs of Beijing. A poem praises it: Ancient chestnuts densely cover the slopes, standing resilient through wind and rain; generously bearing rich fruits, their plump seeds earn fame across the capital.

“Explore the Cliffside Mountain Pools”: Ascend along ancient paths, cross wooden bridges, wade through streams, and step over peculiar rocks to reach Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool). Along the way, you’ll encounter breathtaking natural sights such as Longwei Cave, Purple-Green Peak, Drunken Maiden Mountain, Stone Wave Valley, Lovers’ Peak, and the Three-Pearl Pools, all leaving you spellbound and reluctant to leave.

Ancient city battlements reach into the clouds, a stretch of blue water embraces the walls; ancient chestnut roots run deep with lush foliage, water, city, and mountain form a paradise. The Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Scenic Area presents the finest views to visitors with its rustic charm and unique allure.

The Beijing Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Scenic Area is located in Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, Beijing, 65 kilometers from downtown Beijing and 35 kilometers northwest of the center of Huairou District. It is known for its wonder and beauty, blending mountains, clear waters, and the ancient Great Wall into a premier leisure destination.

Here, flowers bloom in three seasons and scenery unfolds in all four, with picturesque mountains, limpid waters, birdsong, and floral fragrance. Surrounded by peaks and dense green forests, the area offers a vibrant tapestry of plant life year-round. With nine parts landscape and one part farmland, the green mountains and clear waters embrace each other. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful lake and mountain views, admire the graceful beauty of the Great Wall, and be accompanied by green trees and blooming flowers. It provides a wonderful sense of escaping the urban noise and returning to nature. The area’s “Three Unparalleled Sights” are especially captivating and breathtaking.

Huanghua Water Great Wall

“The First Wonder”: The Great Wall built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1404) is majestic, steep, and imposing, winding along the mountain ridges and encircling Haoming Lake, offering a beautiful and spectacular view. This section of the Great Wall not only served as the northern gate defending the capital but also as a crucial protector of the Ming Tombs (the Thirteen Tombs). It represents the finest essence of the Ming Great Wall.

“The Second Wonder”: The lake water naturally severs three sections of the Great Wall, creating the unique sight of the Great Wall playing with the water and the ancient walls submerged beneath it. It is also a unique, close-to-touch “jade in the mountains, Great Wall in the water” experience in the suburbs of Beijing, and such a phenomenon of three sections of the Great Wall meeting water is truly unparalleled in China. As the poem goes: The city embraces rippling blue waves, the water submerges ancient walls; the city and water echo each other, majesty and serenity naturally arise.

“The Third Wonder”: The Ming Dynasty chestnut grove features ancient trees with twisted roots and diverse shapes. Their grand, dragon-like trunks and sky-reaching canopies leave visitors in awe. During the Ming Dynasty, soldiers guarding the wall spent one-third of their time on defense and two-thirds farming. Their hard work cultivated the famed Ming chestnuts. This vast ancient chestnut grove, though weathered by time, remains deeply rooted and lush. It is an unparalleled cultural marvel in the suburbs of Beijing. A poem praises it: Ancient chestnuts densely cover the slopes, standing resilient through wind and rain; generously bearing rich fruits, their plump seeds earn fame across the city.

Cross wooden bridges, wade through streams, step over peculiar rocks, and follow ancient paths to reach Heilongtan. Along the way, natural wonders such as Longwei Cave, Purple-Green Peak, Drunken Maiden Mountain, Stone Wave Valley, Lovers’ Peak, and the Three-Pearl Pools are so captivating they make visitors linger and forget to leave. It is truly “linked to the Bohai Sea’s immortal springs in the east, reflecting the purple hues of Juyong Pass in the west.”

Ancient city battlements reach into the clouds, a stretch of blue water embraces the stone walls; ancient chestnut roots run deep with lush foliage, water, city, and mountain form a paradise. The Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Scenic Area welcomes friends and visitors from all directions with its rustic charm and unique allure.

Suggested Duration

3–4 hours

Transportation

1. Bus: Take bus 916 from Dongzhimen Hub Hall to “Huairou Bus Terminal” (12 RMB via the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway). After getting off, walk 150 meters west, cross the street, and transfer to the “Huairou–Water Great Wall (Xishuiyu)” bus (9 RMB fare).

2. Tourist Shuttle:

Shuttle 1 – Dongzhimen Line: Ticket sales time & location: 7:30–9:00 at the hub information desk; departure time & location: 8:00–9:00 at Dongzhimen Bus Hub Hall on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Shuttle 2 – Xuanwumen Line: Time: 7:30–8:30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays; Location: Northeast corner of Xuanwumen (by the Catholic church, Exit B of Xuanwumen Subway Station).

3. Self-Drive:

Route 1 – Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway: After exiting at Exit 13 (“Beitai Road (Kuan’gou Qiazi)”), you’ll see scenic area signs. Turn left at the fourth traffic light and go straight toward Jiuduhe. Follow the signs to arrive.

Route 2 – Ansi Road: From Lishuiqiao to Xiaotangshan, drive straight north (or exit the Sixth Ring Road at Exit 61 “Ansi Road,” then transfer to Ansi Road), pass through Xingshou, the Jingmi Irrigation Canal, and Xiazhuang toward Jiuduhe. Turn left at the Jiuduhe gas station and follow the signs to the scenic area.

Route 3 – Beijing–Tibet Expressway (formerly Badaling Expressway): Exit at Exit 32 (“Changping Xiguan”) and drive toward the Thirteen Tombs. Turn right at the Changling intersection, drive straight toward Jiuduhe (Heishanzhai), and at the “Y-shaped” intersection, turn left. Reach the Jiuduhe gas station, then turn left again. Follow the signs to the scenic area.

Route 4 – Beijing–Shunyi Road: From the Beijing–Mi Road to Huairou Miaocheng, head west to Shichang Roundabout [or from Huairou District Yingbin Roundabout west to Shichang Roundabout], then drive about 35 kilometers west following signs. Pass through Qiaozi, Qizhuang, Yiduhe, Huangkan, and Jiuduhe to reach the scenic area.

Admission Ticket

Adult ticket: 45 RMB/person; students and seniors with valid ID: half price at 22 RMB/person

Combo Ticket A: Admission + Round-trip Boat Ride: 75 RMB/person

Combo Ticket B: Admission + One-way Boat Ride: 60 RMB/person

Parking Fee: 5 RMB/day for small vehicles, 10 RMB/day for large vehicles

Tour Guide Fee (to Banliyuan): 80 RMB/session; Tour Guide Fee (to Heilongtan): 120 RMB/session

Opening Hours

8:00–16:30 (Low Season)

8:00–17:00 (High Season)

Location

Xishuiyu Village, Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, Beijing

Information Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Jiuduhe Town: Jiuduhe Town is a shallow mountainous town in western Huairou. The town has 18 administrative villages, 6,308 households, including 5,787 farming households, with a total population of 17,811, of which 16,302 are rural residents. It covers an area of 177.7 square kilometers. It is 20 kilometers from the urban area of Huairou and 60 kilometers from central Beijing. It borders Shunyi, Changping, and Yanqing districts. In 2010, the per capita net income of farmers reached 11,459 RMB, fiscal revenue was 37.51 million RMB, and total fixed asset investment in the whole society was 119.69 million RMB.

The town has 100,000 mu of chestnut plantations, … More details about Jiuduhe Town++