In the blink of an eye, we welcome the beginning of winter. The colors of autumn seem to have not faded yet. Every plant and every scene soothes the heart. Come to the city sub-center to enjoy the weekend. Standing on both sides of the canal and looking up, the blue sky and clear water offer a beautiful view. Below are some recommended weekend check-in spots in the city sub-center. Invite two or three friends to visit and have a great time.

The Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area in Tongzhou District is divided into three parts: the north, middle, and south areas. With "one river, two banks, six gardens, and eighteen scenic spots," there are many popular check-in spots stretching over 12 kilometers from north to south, making it hard to leave. In the north area, you can visit the Randalin Tower, explore the surrounding ancient buildings, and experience the charm of historical culture. In the middle area, you can visit the Canal Park, which combines leisure, entertainment, education, sports, fitness, and water amusement. The Grand Canal Forest Park in the south area is also a good place to enjoy the scenery and take a walk with children on weekends. There are six major attractions, including Moon Island, Silver Maple Autumn, and Mingjing Yizhou. Stroll along the riverside path on both sides of the Grand Canal, take photos at the viewing platform, bask in the warm winter sun, and enjoy the beauty.

01 Randalin Tower and surrounding ancient buildings

The Randalin Tower and surrounding ancient buildings are an important carrier of the Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Belt and an important part of the Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area. Here, there is the Randalin Buddhist Relic Pagoda from the Northern Zhou Dynasty, as well as a group of ancient buildings composed of the Yousheng Temple from the Northern Qi Dynasty, the Wenmiao Temple from the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ziqing Palace from the Ming Dynasty. When the lights come on at night, it becomes one of the must-visit places for viewing the night scenery in the city sub-center.

02 Xihai Lake Park

Xihai Lake Park under the Randalin Tower carries the memories of several generations of Tongzhou people. The park was built in the 1930s and has a deep cultural heritage. It is one of the oldest parks in Tongzhou and a shining pearl in the urban area. The park is themed around "Northern Royal Gardens" and consists of "one tower, two lakes, and four areas." Invite two or three friends to take a walk in the park, check-in with the beautiful early winter scenery, and have fun.

03 Daguang Tower

Daguang Tower, built in the seventh year of the Ming Dynasty, is known as the "number one observation tower of the Luh River." This magnificent building with multiple eaves and carved beams and painted rafters stands tall on the west bank of the Beiyun Canal North Gate Diversion Hub. Standing on the canal walkway opposite Daguang Tower, it is the best shooting point for check-ins.

04 Qianhe Xielu Bridge

As one of the popular check-in spots in the city's sub-center, Qianhezha Lu Bridge is becoming more and more well-known. The bridge was built in 2012 with "lotus" as the design theme, interpreting the cultural charm of the canal for thousands of years with the fusion of lotus and dew. The beautiful white curves on both sides of the bridge create a lotus leaf shape, naturally dividing the three-level landscape platform with ups and downs, integrating the pedestrian walkway, bicycle lane, and bridge body. You can enjoy a sunset on the bridge or take some beautiful winter photos under the bridge. Both are good choices!

05 Canal Culture Square

Canal Culture Square is located on the north side of Dongguan Bridge, on the east bank of the Grand Canal. It is a central urban square that combines leisure, entertainment, and fitness. Here, you can check-in at the sailboat sculpture, the millennium canal trail, and other landscapes. The square is planted with a large number of colorful tree species such as ginkgo, maple, and red maple. Come to the Grand Canal and feel the colorful Canal Culture Square, and experience the beauty of the blend of modernity and nature among the high-rise buildings.

06 Yue Island Viewing Platform

Yue Island Viewing Platform is located at the highest point of Yue Island in the Grand Canal Forest Park. You can see different scenery every time you climb up a level. Come to Yue Island Viewing Platform and take a picture of the winter scenery of the Grand Canal! With the warm sun, feel the colorful charm of the sub-center among the colorful trees.

07 Cao Yun Wharf

Cao Yun Wharf incorporates many elements of canal transportation, such as the Grand Canal flagpole. The antique lighthouse in the scenic area seems to be telling the story of the canal transportation in the past. This was also the filming location for the TV series "Cao Yun Wharf". The upgraded antique street also presents a unified style and a highly distinctive overall effect.

08 Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Academy

From the west third gate of the south area of the Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Area, you can walk for three to five minutes and discover a very quiet Song-style ancient building. This is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Academy. The plaque of the academy was personally written by the famous writer and scholar Yu Qiuyu, adding some cultural charm. The entire academy is elegant and magnificent. Looking at the main entrance of the academy from afar, the white walls, black tiles, and wooden colors are symmetrical and ancient. The interior of the academy covers nearly 1,000 square meters, with more than 30,000 books covering canal culture, literature, art, poetry, history, and traditional Chinese culture. It also regularly holds various themed reading salons and exhibitions.

09 Infini Town

On the west bank of the southern section of the Grand Canal Cultural and Tourism Scenic Area, there is a camping site called Infini Town. Infini Town can be a place for individuals to let loose, a place for families to relax, or a place for groups to have fun. The town covers an area of over 10,000 square meters and consists of three irregular wooden buildings that blend perfectly into the surrounding forest. Come and get up close and personal with the Grand Canal and enjoy a moment of tranquility.