Huairou District 怀柔区

Setting and landscape

Huairou has Miyun (密云) to the east, Shunyi (顺义) to the south, and Changping (昌平) and Yanqing (延庆) to the west. To the north it borders three Hebei counties: Fengning (丰宁), Luanping (滦平) and Chicheng (赤城). The Capital Airport is 32 kilometres away.

History

The name comes from the phrase "huairou baishen" (怀柔百神, to summon and soothe the gods) in the Book of Songs (诗经), and has been used for the place for more than 1,300 years, since the Tang. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods the area was a strategic point of the state of Yan (燕) within Yuyang Commandery (渔阳郡), whose seat was at today's Liyuanzhuang village (梨园庄村) in Beifang town (北房镇). Huairou County was set up by the Ming in 1368 with roughly its present boundaries, and became a district on 30 December 2001.

What to see

Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城) was built in 1368 by the Ming general Xu Da (徐达) on the remains of a Northern Qi wall. Its open section is 3,000 metres long, with walls crenellated on both sides and closely spaced watchtowers; it is a 5A scenic area and part of the Great Wall World Heritage listing of 1987.

At Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall (黄花城水长城) in Jiuduhe town (九渡河镇), three stretches of wall run into the water; the district government calls it the only place in Beijing where the Great Wall meets water. Qinglong Gorge (青龙峡) in Huaibei town (怀北镇) lies at the Dashuiyu Pass (大水峪关), a Ming Yongle-era pass known as the first pass of Huairou; this stretch of wall is a national key protected site. The generals Ji Hongchang (吉鸿昌) and Fang Zhenwu (方振武) led troops through it in 1933 against the Japanese.

Yanqi Lake (雁栖湖), at the foot of the Yan Mountains (燕山) by the Great Wall, is named after the wild geese that rest there in spring and autumn. It opened to visitors in 1987 and hosted the APEC leaders' meeting in 2014.

Food and local products

The Lianqiao Fan (敛巧饭) feast, a national intangible heritage item that goes back more than 200 years, is held by all the villagers of Yangshudixia (杨树底下村) in Liulimiao town (琉璃庙镇) on the 16th day of the first lunar month. Liulimiao's farm products include wood-ear fungus, honey and apricot stones.

Highlights

• Mutianyu Great Wall 慕田峪长城: Built in 1368 by Xu Da on Northern Qi foundations; 3,000 m open.
• Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall 黄花城水长城: Three stretches of wall run into the water in Jiuduhe town.
• Yanqi Lake 雁栖湖: Named for the wild geese that rest there; site of the 2014 APEC leaders' meeting.
• Qinglong Gorge 青龙峡: At the Ming Dashuiyu Pass, known as the first pass of Huairou.
• Lianqiao Fan 敛巧饭: Village feast of the 16th day of the first lunar month, a national intangible heritage item.