Canal Ecological Park

Canal Ecological Park

Tongzhou, as the northern starting point of the Grand Canal, has been world-renowned for thousands of years. To further explore the charm and profound connotation of canal culture and to revive the cultural splendor of the canal, the Tongzhou District Committee and District Government proposed to take water as the soul, greenery as the foundation, and development as the main thread. In conjunction with the construction of Beijing’s Second Green Belt Isolation Zone, they built the Canal Ecological Park to recreate the natural, rustic tourism environment along the Grand Canal.

Canal Ecological Park is located at the intersection of the North Canal and the Sixth Ring Road in Lucheng Town. It stretches west from the Beijing-Qinhuangdao Railway, crosses the Sixth Ring Road to Fengzi Gully in the east, reaches the left embankment of the canal in the north, and extends to the right bank of the canal in the south. It echoes the Canal Culture Square and the Olympic Sports Park, covering an area of 3,000 mu. The entire park centers around the theme of “green.” It is divided into eight scenic areas based on different landscape types: Azure Waves Recreation, Willow Bank Fishing, Vegetable and Fruit Picking, Deep Forest Summer Retreat, Science Education Demonstration, Corridor and Stele Forest, Tea House Leisure, and Floral Stone Appreciation. Each of the eight scenic areas has its own unique features, led by ecological principles and distinguished by their extraordinary beauty.

To ensure the successful development of the Canal Ecological Park, the Tongzhou District Forestry Bureau and the District Greening Office began planning and design in the second half of 2002. They worked closely with Yangtuo Village and Haojiapu Village in Lucheng Town, and construction commenced in February 2003. After several months of effort, the project transformed acres of river beach into a vast expanse of ecological parkland, adding new vitality to the ancient Grand Canal. It also played a significant role in improving the urban ecological and investment environment, enhancing environmental quality, and perfecting urban functions. At the same time, it provides an excellent destination for tourism, leisure, sightseeing, and learning about canal culture.