Yesanpo 野三坡

About Yesanpo

Its Haitangyu, Xiezigou and Shixuanxia ravines cut between steep walls, making the changing width, shade and height of the gorge part of the experience. Other Yesanpo areas include the Juma River, forested Baicaopan and Longmen Tianguan; these are separate outings, so choose a specific scenic area before arranging transport.

Yesanpo lies in Laishui County, Baoding, and covers 520 square kilometers along both banks of the Juma River (拒马河). Its terrain is mainly karst, with a primeval forest reserve, and it has a humid continental climate (Köppen classification Dwa), with a windy spring, rainy summer, cool autumn and a dry, largely snowless winter. Its ecoregion is described as the Central China loess plateau mixed forests.

Beyond the Bailixia, Juma River and Baicaopan areas already noted, the scenic area is organized into seven zones in total, including a cave-and-spring zone at Fodongta (佛洞塔), a Great Wall relics zone at Longmen Gorge (龙门峡), and recreation zones on Jinhua Mountain (金华山) and Sanhuang Mountain (三皇山), each with its own designated function. Average summer temperature is about 22 degrees Celsius, and the scenic area remains open to visitors throughout all four seasons.

In 2006, Yesanpo was designated jointly with Beijing's Shidu Scenic Area (十渡风景区) and Baishishan Scenic Area (白石山风景区) as the Fangshan World Geopark (房山世界地质公园), and it is rated a national AAAAA tourist attraction (国家AAAAA级旅游景区). In late July and early August 2023, the scenic area suffered severe damage during the 2023 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei rainstorm disaster.

What to look for

• Bailixia's Haitangyu and Shixuanxia ravines, where narrow passages open between high rock faces.
• The contrasting river, forest and gorge landscapes represented by the Juma River, Baicaopan and Longmen Tianguan.

The surrounding area

A provincial city base for the former Zhili administrative quarter and substantial local food traditions.

Location & getting there

Getting to Yesanpo

For the canyon visit, arrange arrival at Bailixia in Yesanpo, Laishui County, the location listed by the scenic-area operator.

• Confirm the open Bailixia circuit at the entrance; a booking for another Yesanpo area does not establish access to this gorge.