Yanshan Grand Canyon

Yanshan Grand Canyon

Yanshan Grand Canyon is located in the southwest of Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City, Hebei Province, about 190 kilometers from Beijing. Stretching from Dengzhazi in the northwest to Hongtang Temple in the southeast, it spans Tanghe Town and Wudao Ying Township, covering a total length of over 30 kilometers. It is a natural landscape that combines mountains, rivers, forests, unique peaks, strange rocks, hot springs, and canyons. The main features of the canyon are: mountains, rocks, trees, and water—these four elements blend together in various forms within a single canyon.

The mountains here stand tall on both sides of the canyon, with typical peak forest landforms at the summits. Below the mountaintops, the vegetation coverage is extremely high, presenting a deep green hue when viewed from afar. The rocks are oddly shaped, with many resembling humans, beasts, pagodas, or pillars. Around Yunwu Goumen, massive cliffs rise from the ground and seem to touch the sky, making the valley, which is less than a hundred meters wide, appear even more profound. The trees include the largest area of white elm forests in North China, located in the valley. White elms are a rare tree species, tall and straight, with leaves that appear slightly white from a distance, offering an attractive and scenic view. In addition to white elms, the valley boasts vast woodland areas, including the large Dapinglin Forest region spanning tens of thousands of acres. The forest is dense, and there are ancient lilac trees over 300 years old, making it a great spot for visitors.

The water here comes in three forms: first, rivers—the Yanshan Grand Canyon is originally a valley of the Tang River, with the Tang River flowing through it. The river water is clear and flows year-round. It is home to the rare birch fish, unique to the Tang River, which is small, scaleless, and has delicious meat. Second, pools—in the valley, the river water accumulates in low-lying areas to form pools of various sizes. The water is deep blue, mirror-like, with reflections of old trees and floating green algae, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene. Third, hot springs—there is the famous Hongtang Temple Hot Spring, with water temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius and a daily outflow of 1,000 tons. It contains various minerals such as zinc, strontium, cadmium, and sulfur, and is believed to have therapeutic effects for improving health after bathing.