Dushikou is a key pass between the northern and southern sections of the Outer Great Wall, featuring a strategically important and precipitous terrain. It gets its name from a lone rock standing on flat ground to the south, atop which rests a solitary stone. In the early Ming Dynasty, a fortress was built here, making it one of the formidable frontier strongholds defending against northern invasions. Today, the city walls are largely well-preserved. Constructed from brick and stone, they are extremely solid. The wall forms a square shape, with each side measuring 500 meters in length. The ramparts...
Longtan Waterfall is located on the eastern side of Haituo Mountain. With its serene, flowing blue waters, it exudes a unique charm. In summer, the area is blessed with cool, gentle breezes, making it particularly refreshing. The waterfall cascades down dramatically, its streams thin as silk ribbons, splashing beads of water and jade-like droplets as it plunges into the pool below — a truly spectacular sight. Within the scenic area, there is an inscription that reads: “Majestic cloud-topped peaks, a divine paradise, a waterfall thousands of feet high, resounding like a great bell.”
Leap of Faith Cliff, historically known as Longmen Gorge or Dugu Gate, is renowned for its steep cliffs and cliffside inscriptions. It was extensively documented in the "Commentary on the Water Classic" by Li Daoyuan. When Emperor Kangxi passed through this area during his military campaign against Galdan, he was struck by its majestic grandeur and composed a poem in praise: "When were these sheer cliffs hewn by the five laborers? Twin gates cleave the towering cliffs like a grand screen." Over 20 cliff inscriptions remain at Leap of Faith Cliff...
Also known as Guan Mountain, this resort boasts stunning natural scenery, year-round unfrozen springs, abundant flora and fauna, and numerous stone inscriptions and historical relics. The Golden Pavilion Mountain Forest Resort has an average daytime temperature of 20.9°C and a nighttime temperature of 12.6°C in summer, making it an ideal summer retreat. Visiting here allows you to fully enjoy returning to…
The Chaoyangguan Scenic Area boasts numerous attractions, among which the most famous is the Dripping Water Cliff, also known as the “First Peak of Youyan.” This towering cliff is a massive 600-meter-high monolith, featuring crimson cliffs and emerald-colored summits, steep as if cut by a knife. At the top of the cliff is a cave called Biluo Cave, where a jade-like spring continuously drips water year-round, never freezing even in the depths of winter — hence the name Dripping Water Cliff...
Heilongshan Forest Park is located in the Heilongshan Forest Farm, Chicheng County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. The park covers a total area of 7,034.4 hectares. It includes three scenic areas: the Heihe River Source Scenic Area (2,688.3 hectares), the Donghouding Scenic Area (1,432.0 hectares), and the Xiangshui Valley Scenic Area (2,914.1 hectares). Geographic coordinates…
Located 7.5 kilometers west of Chicheng County, the hot springs are known for their excellent water quality. Records of the springs date back to the Han Dynasty, and over time numerous temples and pavilions were built nearby. Notable ones include Ruiyun Chan Temple, Jellyfish Temple, Yonggui Pavilion, and Bixia Shrine. The area also boasts many stone tablets inscribed with phrases such as "The First Spring Beyond the Pass," "Purify the Heart," "Wonderful Bath," and "Wash Away Shame"...
Chongguang Tower is located on the site of the Huayan Temple from the Tang Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the 40th year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1449) and renamed Pujì Temple. After the famous Ming Dynasty general Yang Hong reclaimed the northern frontier, the tower was renovated and renamed Chongguang Tower, symbolizing the restoration of light. The tower is an octagonal, five-story brick pagoda with a total height of 33.67 meters and covers an area of 126 square meters. The base is...
Bingshanliang, historically known as Kongtong Mountain, is located 5 kilometers southeast of Dushikou Village, on the eastern side of the Chibao Highway, at an altitude of 2,211 meters—1,000 meters higher than the ground level of Dushikou. In June, snow still remains on the mountain, and even during the hottest month of July, the average temperature on the mountain is only 18.8 degrees Celsius, bringing a refreshing chill. Coolness is one of the defining features of Bingshan...
Yunzhou Reservoir is located in the Sheshenya Mountain Gorge, about 20 kilometers north of Chicheng County in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. It is a large (Class II) comprehensive water conservancy hub project on the upper reaches of the Bai River, a major tributary of the Haihe River Basin's Bai River. The reservoir controls a catchment area of 1,170 square kilometers and has a total storage capacity of 102 million cubic meters. Construction began in 1969...
Yang Hong’s Tomb is located to the west of Yangjiafen Village, Yangtian Township, Chicheng County. It served as the family cemetery of Yang Hong, the Marquis of Changping during the Ming Dynasty. The tomb complex stretches 250 meters from north to south and 80 meters from east to west, covering an area of 20,000 square meters. With a spacious and spiritually enriching layout, this site is considered a uniquely auspicious geomantic treasure. In July 1993, it was designated as a...
Dushikou is located in the north of Chicheng County, Hebei Province, and was an important pass on the Xuanfu Town section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. It is known as the "Throat of Shanggu and the Right Arm of the Capital." The pass got its name from a solitary rock that rises abruptly at the site. On this prominent rock in front of the pass are carved two large inscriptions: “Lofty and Unique Beauty” and “A Rock Flown from Afar.”…
Shenghai Temple is located at the northern foot of Haituo Mountain, within Changchun Valley. Changchun Valley is divided into two gullies: South Changchun and North Changchun. Before the road was built, the area was rarely visited, and aside from some local elders who knew there were temples and ancient pagodas in the mountains, few people were aware of them. North Changchun is home to Baoshan Temple, while South Changchun has Shenghai Temple, the two being just about 1 kilometer apart. Both were first built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, and…
Huguo Temple is located at the eastern foot of Sheshen Cliff near Yunzhou Reservoir, 15 kilometers from Chicheng County. An inscription on a stone tablet reads: “The temple is hidden in cliffside caves, accessible via a major road, guarding against northern tribes, and shielding the imperial capital,” hence the name Huguo Temple (Temple of Protecting the Nation). According to the inscriptions, the temple’s earliest traceable history dates back only to the 12th year of the Jiajing reign (1532), and prior to that it is noted: “The year of its initial construction is impossible to verify.”…
Chicheng Hot Spring is located in the secluded valley of Cangshan Mountain, 7.5 kilometers southwest of the county town, at an altitude of 942 meters. With a maximum temperature of 20.1°C and a minimum of -12.6°C, it serves as a green barrier for the capital, Beijing. The area features lush mountains, gurgling springs, and picturesque scenery. The hot spring is a highly therapeutic mineral spring, formed in stable rock layers 25 kilometers beneath the surface...
Haituo Mountain is located in the southwest of Chicheng County, Hebei Province. It borders Chengde to the east, connects to Zhangjiakou to the west, lies adjacent to Bashang Grassland to the north, and faces Beijing to the south. Covering a total area of 11,224.9 hectares, its main peak, Haituo Mountain, stands at an elevation of 2,241 meters, making it the highest peak north of Beijing. Haituo Mountain is also known as Greater and Lesser He Shan. Two thousand years ago, Wang Cizhong transformed seal script into clerical script, and the story of him refusing the noble title offered three times by Emperor Qin Shi Huang took place here.
The Dripping Water Cliff Grottoes are located north of Houcheng Village in Chicheng County. The Chaoyangguan Grottoes are built beneath the majestic Dripping Water Cliff, where 15 grottoes hang from the precipitous cliffs that look as if they were carved with a knife or axe. Each grotto is about 5–6 meters wide and deep, and 2.5 meters high. Their distinctive feature is the practice of carving the grottoes to accommodate the statues, creating an interconnection between the statues and the caves. Structures include the Mahavira Hall, Mount Tai Hall, Three Palaces Hall,...
Chaoyang Cave Pagoda is located in Aijiagou Village, Dia’e Township, Chicheng County. Chaoyang Cave consists of three vast and deep natural caves. The cliffs tower above the ground, with grotesque rocks jutting out. Palaces built inside the caves present unique features. Both inside and outside the caves stand ancient structures such as the Jade Emperor Hall, Guanyin Hall, Three Palaces Shrine, Dragon King Temple, and Mountain God Temple, arranged in an engaging layout with magnificent appearances. Today, most of these ancient buildings...
The Chicheng Drum Tower was built in the fourth year of the Zhengde era during the Ming Dynasty. It has a brick-and-wood structure and was renovated during the Qing Dynasty and in 1985. The base is longer from east to west and slightly shorter from north to south. In the middle is a tall arched gateway running from north to south, with the inscription “?? Ming” on the front lintel and “Control and Govern” on the rear lintel. On either side of the rear of the base, there is an arched passageway. There is a stone plaque inscribed with ?? on the southeast corner. Last year, funds were allocated to reinforce and repair the damaged parts. The building features a hip-and-gable roof adorned with traditional upturned eaves, giving it a classical yet modern feel. The overall design differs somewhat from typical ancient architecture of the period. The drum tower stands at the intersection of four streets, and colorful neon lights around the eaves make it a striking landmark for night-time strolls. It is hoped that this cultural relic can be better preserved and restored.
The Changchungou Pagoda Group is located in Dahaituo Township, Chicheng County, and currently consists of six ancient pagodas. Pagoda No. 1 is built on a solitary peak in front of Changchun Temple (formerly known as Shenghai Temple, originally constructed during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty). A tall Sumeru pedestal supports a large inverted-bowl structure, with a square base measuring 1.08 meters on each side. The Sumeru pedestal is 1.26 meters high, …