Name: Golden Sea Lake

Star Rating: 4 star

Admission: 28 RMB; Students and seniors (over 60 years old) pay half ticket;

Journalists (both active and retired) enter for free.

Phone: +86-10-69993943; +86-10-69991356

Opening Hours: 07: 00 - 16: 30

Address: Jinhaihu Township, Pinggu District, Beijing

Description:

Located on the north of Haizi Village and on the eastern side of Pinggu District, Jinhai Lake is about 85 kilometers away from the city center of Beijing, sitting of the tip of a triangle that connects Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan and surrounded by mountain on three sides (east, west and north). Also known asGolden Sea Lake, it borrows this name from the nearby Grand Gold Hill, which is well-known for being a rich gold resource.

Jinhai Lake site includes Haizi Reservoir and a 27 square kilometer surrounding area. Haizi Reservoir covers a surface of 6.6 square kilometers and is the 3rd largest reservoir in Beijing with a capacity of 120 million liters of water. Initially erected in 1959, it was rebuilt in 1968 and expanded in 1974. Jinhai Lake site first opened to the public in 1985 and has become quite a popular destination since then.

Featured Attractions:

Camel Peak is one of the most famous spots in Jinhai Lake. Legend has it that a camel convoy was passing by this spot in the 17th century. Suddenly earth cracked underneath their feet and all camels but one fell in a huge hole that was formed. The very one that escaped the hole fell on the top of the hill and its legs got stuck between the rocks of the hill. That is how Camel Peak was formed. Sunset is the best time to view Camel Peak and you can take gorgeous pictures of the peak in a pink and orange background.

Placed on the top of Lanyu Hill, Huguang Tower is another popular site of Jinhai Lake. More than 30 meters high, this seven-storey tower is built in an octagon structure. It bears 56 bells –one placed on each corner of the tower- which rings in the wind and it consists of 168 decorative animal heads made out of clay.

Heng Hill holdsthe placeof the most impressive site around the area. Furnished with pines and cypresses, its shape resembles a dragon diving into the lake. Various caves and fascinating rock formations make hiking on this hill an amazing experience. There are two huge giant footsteps according to a legend that the Immortal Erlang stepped on the hill. But that’s not the only story that comes with this place. It is also believed that this was the very place where two Taoists, Dong and Ge, fashioned pills of immortality in ancient times by capturing vital energy from the hill.

Best Time to Travel: All seasons

Transportation: take Bus 918 from Dongzhimen to Pinggu, and from there take Minibus 9 to Jinhaihu.

Nearby Accommodation:

Pinggu Jiujiujia Farmhouse, Beijing (北京平谷久久嘉农家院)

Address: Haizi Folk Culture Village, Pinggu District, Beijing (北京市平谷区海子民俗村)

Huainan Villa Hotel, Beijing (北京南华山庄酒店)

Address: No. 150 South of Fuba of Golden Sea Lake, Beijing (金海湖副坝南侧150号)

Beijing Yuxinyuan Hotel (北京育新苑宾馆)

Address: Hanzhuang Village, Golden Sea Lake Town, Pinggu District, Beijing (北京市平谷区金海湖镇韩庄北街3号)