The scenic area includes recreation area, a land of peach and blossoms, and scenic spots with viewing areas. Tourists can swim, fish, boat in the graceful Taoyuan Lake and ride a bicycle to enjoy the scenery. Taoyuan Pavilion is an ideal place for a short rest and commands a fine view of the whole scenic area. The land of peach and blossoms is an earthly paradise surrounded by mountains and waters. A section of the Great Wall winds nearby, providing a lovely place for watching the magnificent sunrise. The Taoyuan Fairy Waterfall cascades from a high cliff, forming a large deep pool. Besides, this is a marvelous waterfall, which changes from time to time, prompting one to linger for a long time.

Situated at the foot of Yunmengshan National Forest Park, the Taoyuan Fairy Valley Scenic Area (Tao Yuan Xian Gu) is located in Shicheng Town, Miyun County, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Beijing. The scenic area features various landscapes: grand mountains, strange and unique peaks, graceful lake, straight waterfalls, deep pools, and beautiful flowers and lush trees. This area is a haven and a popular holiday retreat for people who are fed up with the bustles of modern metropolis.

The scenic area has a strong appeal to visitors throughout the year. In spring, the whole area is covered by peach blossoms and many other wild flowers in full bloom, so tourists have a chance to feast their eyes on them. In summer, the refreshing breezes make it a pleasant summer resort. In autumn, it is abundant in many kinds of fruit while in winter it presents a wonderland with grand icy waterfalls and snows, which are peculiar to the scenic area.

The best time to come to Longmen Gully is from May to November. The vacation villages in the gully provide barbecues, some other delicious local foods and various activities.

Admission Fee:
Longmen Gully:
CNY 35
Ghost Valley:
CNY 25
Midair Temple:
CNY 15
Opening Hours:
08:00-17:00
Bus Route:
929 Zhi (929 支) from the west of Pingguoyuan Subway Station (地铁苹果园西) to Qingshuizhen Zhengfu (清水镇政府), then take a small bus to the Longmen Gully (龙门涧).

Longmen Gully contains the Grand Canyon, the Ghost Valley, and the Midair Temple in West Beijing. Each of them has their distinguishing features. The Grand Canyon has steep and towering cliffs. With countless twists and turns through the range of hills, the canyon resembles a dragon with imposing magnificence, forming a most marvelous spectacle. The Ghost Valley is mystical with many unexplainable phenomena. As for the Midair Temple in West Beijing, it was built in 1621. Being surrounded by green and luxuriant cypress, the temple stands above the cliffs, providing a panoramic view of the scenic area.

The gully has very pleasant climate. Throughout the year, the air is clean and fresh and considered as 'sweet and enjoyable, gladdening to the heart and refreshing to the mind'. The relaxing sound of the ceaseless running of the spring water is said to relieve the tiredness of a long journey. The spring water, rich in natural minerals, is of good quality and is suitable for drinking. In spring, everything is full of vigor and vitality. In summer, the temperature here is much lower than that in the urban district, naturally, it is an ideal summer resort away from the intense heat. The autumn arrives with clear sky and crisp air; while in winter, the icy streams, the frozen waterfall, along with the silvery world, form a charming picture.

Longmen Gully is located in Qingshui Town, Mentougou District, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Beijing. It is characterized by natural beauty, historical relics, and religious culture.

A wide variety of natural beauty can be seen here: the imposing gully itself, the graceful hills, the elegant spring, and the sheer waterfall. The scenic area is rich in flora and fauna, with more than 700 species of wild life, ranging from pheasants to flying squirrels, and about 840 varieties of plants, some of which are sources for traditional Chinese medicines. A fantastic Karst landscape, which is rare in Northern China, can also be seen here. Precisely because of its omniform canyons, various gullies and grand stone forests, it referred to as 'Northern China's geological museum'.

Admission Fee:
CNY 40 for entrance ticket; CNY100 for cruise
combo ticket: CNY140 (the fare of entrance ticket, Baihua Cave and cruise are included)
Opening Hours:
07:30-16:30
January 15th - end of February
April 10 - November 15
Bus Route:
1. Take bus no. 919 at Deshengmen to Yanqing County. Then transfer to bus no. 875 to the gorge.
2. Take a train at Beijing North Railway Station to Yanqing Railway Station. Walk to the North Station of Yanqing Railway Station bus stop to take bus no. 875 to the gorge.
3. A direct tourist bus to Longqing Gorge is scheduled at 08:30 between mid April and mid Oct. by Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch. Get on the bus in the northeast corner of Xuanwumen Lukou (near exit B of Xuanwumen subway station of line 2 and line 4). The bus fare is CNY60 per person.

Every year, the Ice and Snow Festival, held from January to February in the gorge, displays many beautiful ice lanterns. During the festival, the marvelous ice waterfall together with the lanterns attracts many visitors. Except for the Ice and Snow Festival, Longqing Gorge only opens to visitors from April 10 to November 15.

Longqing Gorge is an ideal place to do extreme sports such as bungee-jumping (CNY 150 per person), rock-climbing or abseiling (CNY 50 per person). Taking a slideway costs CNY 20 per person. Tickets for the cruise, the Baihua Cave, the Shenxianyuan Temple and the Jingang Temple cost CNY10 per person respectively. If you prefer to take cable car onto Shenxianyuan Temple, the entrance ticket and the round trip cable car cost CNY50 in total.

Visitors can experience the four seasons, from the heat of the tropics to the heart of the northeastern China, thanks to the colorful lights and elaborately crafted flowers in Baihua Cave. In the Shenxianyuan Temple area, several huge stones halfway up the cliff resemble chessboards. It's said that rubbing on the trunk of the tree near the edge of cliff can cure illnesses, but no one dares get close because of the extreme danger. The Yuhuang Peak is the highest in the area, and the teahouse at the peak offers a wonderful position from which to appreciate the scenery. In the Jingang Temple area, a hill looking like a pen gently dips into the water as if it were clearest ink. A karst cave nearby, Minting Coins Stove, is the place where two brothers made fake money to save the poor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

North of the Badaling Great Wall and 80 kilometers (50 miles) from downtown Beijing, you can discover Longqing Gorge, in northeast Yanqing County. The gorge, reputed to be the 'Little Three Gorges', features clear waters, wooded mountains, curious stones and wonderful karst caves. The gorge's main attractions are the Longqing Gorge Cruise, Baihua (hundred Flowers) Cave, and the Shenxianyuan (Immortal) and Jingang temples.

Near the entrance, a grand waterfall plummets down 50 meters (164 feet) from the dam above. A long, dragon-shaped escalator carries visitors to the dam, where the cruise begins. On both sides, eerie mountains and strange formations inspire visitors' imaginations as they have for centuries. You can marvel at the huge, natural Buddha stone and a hill rising from the water like a great bell. Another hill, named Fengguan (Phoenix Coronet) Isle, is considered the symbol of the gorge. Fengguan is surrounded on three sides by water and closed off by high mountains on the fourth.