Tianhuang Mountain

Tianhuang Mountain

The Tianhuang Mountain Natural Scenic Area, also known as the Wudao Hu Grottoes Tourist Zone, is located in the northeastern part of Huailai County, Hebei Province. It lies one kilometer east of the Ancient Cliff Dwellings in Yanqing County, Beijing, and about 30 kilometers southeast of the Badaling Great Wall. Covering a total area of five square kilometers, the area is famed for its grotto residence clusters, stone carvings, and ecological environment. The mountain is surrounded by peaks, rugged rocks, lush vegetation, and features numerous pools, streams, and waterfalls with year-round flowing water. At the summit are several Northern Wei Dynasty grottoes that are truly breathtaking. At the foot of the mountain lies Fangjiachong, a national-level science-and-education-driven village demonstration site, where thousands of acres of orchards are nourished by mountain springs and benefit from scientific cultivation, filling the air with fragrant blossoms in spring and abundant fruit in summer and autumn.

The Tianhuang Mountain Scenic Area boasts numerous natural landscapes. From the parking lot, a winding mountain path leads upwards, with clouds and mist overhead and the sound of a babbling brook beneath your feet. Huge boulders block the stream, creating waterfalls and pools — there are five in total, which ancient people referred to as the “Five Gourd Pools.” The Huailai County Annals · Mountains and Rivers section once recorded the origin of this stream: “The spring emerges from a basin, never overflowing nor drying up, sufficient to quench the thirst of a hundred people.” Today, geologists have confirmed that this spring formed 400 to 500 million years ago, and the water is of exceptionally high-quality mineral water. In winter, the pools and waterfalls turn into ice formations, their mesmerizing beauty—both still and flowing—and the majestic spectacle of what looks like a Milky Way cascading down leave all who see it in awe. At the end of the Five Gourd Pools trail, you will find a stone dwelling built atop a cliff. According to experts, it was originally carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty as the seat of the Xianbei Khan State’s government, later converted into a temple. All facilities within the temple were hewn from stone, featuring elaborately carved beams and painted pillars that run through its upper and lower levels. The structure is vast in scale, imposing in presence, and exudes an ancient, mysterious charm. Following the winding mountain path, you can successively admire dozens of natural attractions including the Misty Cloud Cave, Merit Stele, revolving Buddha Stone, ancient pine and elm trees, the Turtle and Snake Worship formation, the Flying Rock, the Thunder-split Rock, the Narrow Heaven Crevice, ancient millstones, coin-making furnaces, the Heavenly Star Waterfall, and the Fairyland Steps. At the foot of the mountain lies a 5,000-acre ecological sightseeing garden. Visiting Tianhuang Mountain allows you to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, experience the depth and richness of China’s ancient cultural heritage, and even stay with local farming families or visit the ecological garden to admire flowers and pick fruit.

For many years, it lay hidden deep in the valley, only now emerging from its forgotten corner to meet the world. These grottoes were initially used for dwelling and later converted into temples. No matter when they were carved, their age is undoubtedly ancient. Today, people come by vehicle from afar to admire the mountains, grottoes, clear springs, and flowing waters here. And in doing so, it has rediscovered itself and attained new value.

Address: Fangjiachong Village, Beixinpu Town, Huailai County

Driving Route: Take the exit for Shacheng on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Expressway, then turn right onto National Highway 110. Drive straight for 24 kilometers, then turn left and continue for 2 kilometers to reach the Beixinpu Town highway intersection. Turn left again and drive straight for 2 kilometers to enter Fangjiachong Village.