The Xiangshui Lake Great Wall Scenic Area is located in Bohai Town, Huairou, covering an area of 18 square kilometers. It is a 3A national-level scenic spot, combining the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, the original ancient Great Wall, a traditional Chinese medicine health valley, the Great Wall Revolutionary Education Center, and the Great Wall Plum Garden. The area offers three seasons of flower viewing and four seasons of scenic beauty, and it is a key site for education, including being a base for patriotic education, traditional Chinese medicine demonstration, and a social education center. The scenic area is home to the Xiangshui Villa, a 2-star, antique-style guesthouse that can accommodate 110 people overnight and serve 400 guests simultaneously in its restaurant. The villa also features conference rooms for 110 and 50 people. The restaurant specializes in rainbow trout, wild game barbecue, mountain vegetables, local snacks, and home-style meals, making it an ideal destination for conferences, training sessions, leisure holidays, and red education activities.
The area boasts a vegetation coverage rate of over 95%. The traditional Chinese medicine health valley is rich in water resources, with dense secondary forests and an abundance of wildflowers, grasses, and medicinal herbs. The region contains more than 20 waterfalls and has a high negative oxygen ion concentration of 9300 particles per cm³—over 100 times higher than in downtown Beijing. The 1-kilometer-long health valley is known as the "Cool Valley at the Edge of the Great Wall." The valley features steep cliffs, rushing springs, and stunning waterfalls, while the ancient Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty provides a striking backdrop. The valley is home to more than 200 types of rare wild herbs and stone inscriptions of 51 famous ancient physicians and classic herbal prescriptions, adding an educational and cultural dimension to the scenic experience. In autumn, over 1,000 acres of fruit orchards and more than 100,000 kilograms of environmental mountain fruits welcome visitors.
I. The unique charm of the health and wellness landscape
The Xiangshui Lake Health Valley boasts the combination of the awe-inspiring Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, rich and clear water sources, abundant flora, and clean air.
1. Admire the scenic wonders and relish the tranquil atmosphere: Unlike other Great Wall sites, the Great Wall at Xiangshui Lake stands out with its unique characteristics. The "majesty" of the Great Wall at Badaling, the "elegance" of the Mutianyu Great Wall, the "peril" of the Simatai Great Wall, but here, the Great Wall of the Xiangshui Lake is particularly "extraordinary." The Moshikou Pass is located near the strategic "Beijing Junction" of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, a crucial border pass. The Great Wall on both sides appears as two giant dragons soaring through the clouds, or like a great roc spreading its wings. The Great Wall at Lv’anling resembles a giant dragon moving gracefully atop the sheer cliffs. Here, the Great Wall combines majesty, peril, and beauty, making it truly a "wonder of the Great Wall of China."
2. Drink sweet spring water to replenish magnesium and calcium: The dragon spring at Xiangshui Lake offers water that is not only delicious but also health-enhancing. The spring’s total hardness (calcium carbonate content) is 235 mg/L, with a calcium content of 35.7 mg/L and magnesium content of 15.4 mg/L. It also contains zinc, copper, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and arsenic, all of which are beneficial to human health. Long-term consumption of this spring water is known to have a positive effect on conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis.
3. Breathe fresh air and absorb essential vitamins: The area has exceptional air quality, far exceeding standard air purification levels. With a high concentration of negative oxygen ions, the Xiangshui Lake Scenic Area is renowned as a "Vitamin in the Air" sanctuary. These ions positively affect the human body by stimulating the nervous system and improving circulation, which promotes metabolism, prevents flu, and enhances the body’s resistance to diseases.
II. A rich heritage of health and wellness culture
Xiangshui Lake Health Valley is blessed with abundant natural resources, which have fostered a vibrant culture of wellness tourism that extends to dining, accommodation, and recreational activities.
1. The restaurant and guestrooms are nestled in a peaceful environment, encircled by the Moshikou Pass Great Wall. Clear spring waters flow through various-shaped pools, creating a picturesque setting where guests can experience the beauty of nature while enjoying delicious meals. The restaurant can accommodate up to 450 people and specializes in health-conscious farm-to-table meals, featuring Chinese herbal medicine, wild vegetables, and locally grown organic produce. The guesthouses can host 260 people, with elegant, traditional courtyard-style rooms offering a view of the Great Wall, allowing guests to relax and "watch the Great Wall from their bed and listen to the sound of flowing water."
2. Wellness knowledge promoted throughout the scenic area: The scenic area is adorned with numerous informative posters about traditional Chinese medicine and wellness practices. Large signs detailing health information are placed at strategic points throughout the park to educate visitors about the cultural and health benefits of traditional medicine, further enhancing the overall wellness experience.
III. The cultural Great Wall and the Plum Great Wall
Through years of dedicated effort and perseverance, the Xiangshui Lake Great Wall has successfully cultivated thousands of outdoor plum trees at the foot of the Great Wall, thanks to the introduction of southern plum varieties moving northward and outdoor acclimatization. Every year, from February onwards, a Plum Blossom Exhibition is held, and since 2019, it has been upgraded to a Plum Blossom Festival. By late March, the outdoor plum trees will be in full bloom. Inside, a nearly 1,000-square-meter independent exhibition hall showcases various miniature landscapes, including Jiangnan-style small bridges and flowing water, complemented by exquisite potted plum blossom bonsais, promising to deliver an overwhelming visual impact. Outdoors, the grafted plum trees that have flourished both inside and outside the Great Wall will bloom vigorously along the ancient Great Wall path. The Xiangshui Lake plum blossoms boast a wide variety of species, covering all types of plums, including Gongfen, Red Plum, Zhaoshui Plum, Green Calyx, Dahong, and YudieSaijin, among others. Among them, the Gongfen is the most common, with its dense and vivid pink blossoms. The Yudie type produces purple and white flowers, while the Green Calyx type has white flowers and an intensely fragrant aroma. During the festival, you will be able to enjoy the unique scene of plum blossoms accompanying the Great Wall.
IV. Revolutionary Education Base: The Great Wall Revolutionary Education Center
Utilizing local resources, the Xiangshui Lake Party Branch established the Great Wall Revolution Experience Base in July 2018. Through visiting the Base, participants can learn about revolutionary history through exhibitions, storytelling, singing revolutionary songs, taking special Party lessons, experiencing revolution-themed tours, and renewing their Party vows. Each exhibit tells a powerful, moving, and heroic story. Visitors can experience the difficult survival conditions on the "Grain Carrying Path" of Jinggangshan Mountain during the revolutionary era, feel the harshness of underground work during wartime, passionately sing revolutionary songs, and relive the grand scenes of "Victory Convergence." The Great Wall Revolutionary Education Center aims to pass down red genes and promote red culture, providing a learning platform for Party members, enterprise employees, and young people. It offers an opportunity to look back on history, stay true to the original mission, and inherit red genes, ensuring that the red spirit is passed down through generations. It serves as an educational practice space for patriotism, revolutionary tradition, political integrity, and party spirit, helping Party members and cadres gather strength, strengthen their ideals and beliefs, and cultivate correct values and behavior.
The scenic area is equipped with comprehensive facilities. At the foot of the Great Wall, the Xiangshui Villa, an antique-style guesthouse, is beautifully nestled by the mountains and waters. The villa offers 120 rooms, including standard rooms and suites, all equipped with air conditioning, showers, and cable TV. The conference facilities include a large conference room that accommodates 110 people and a smaller one for 50 people. The villa can also provide lodging for up to 260 people and serve 450 people simultaneously in its restaurant. The restaurant specializes in health-oriented meals made from organic and natural ingredients, including farm-style dishes, rainbow trout, wild game barbecue, mountain vegetables, and local snacks. This makes it an ideal place for holding meetings, professional training sessions, and leisure holidays.
For those who have spent too long in the bustling city, the villa offers an opportunity to escape the noise of urban life and the steel-and-concrete jungle. Forget about work and worries, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area, and enjoy the extraordinary pleasure of returning to a simpler, more tranquil life.
