Things to do in Huailai

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Zhangjiakou

Jimingyi Ancient City

Jiming Post is near Jimingyi Village in Jimingyi Town, Huailai County, Hebei Province. It is a complete ancient town dating from the Ming Dynasty. There are spectacular ancient walls that encircle the outer ring of the town. In the town, there are many ancient buildings dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, among which are the old houses where the Empress Dowager Cixi and the Emperor Guangxu lived when they were in hiding. Their portraits hang inside the house. It is open to visitors. Also, it doubles as a film set, with many movies having been filmed there.

No. 9 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Zhangjiakou

Jiming Mountain Scenic Area

Jiming Mountain is located in Zhangjiakou's Xiahuayuan District, on the north side of Jimingyi. Jiming Mountain is relatively high for the area, being surrounded by open plains. It stands aloof, offering a unique perspective. It's referred to as the "pillar of heaven." Jiming Mountain contains temples and other cultural buildings. The mountain itself is elegant and awe inspiring. Many tourists that visit Zhangjiakou would also tour this mountain. The side of the mountain contains a mountain spirit shrine and Camel Peak on the way up, with views of a temple built on a cliff near the peak as well as a panoramic view of the surrounding plains and distant Jimingyi, a truly majestic scene.

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Badaling Great Wall

The Badaling Great Wall is a highly representative section of the Ming Great Wall, located in Yanqing, Beijing, north of Juyong Pass. Since ancient times, it has been a strategic military location guarding the northwestern passage to the capital. The pass city is trapezoidal in shape, narrow in the east and wide in the west, with two gates, east and west. The east gate bears the inscription "Juyong Outer Town," and the west gate bears the inscription "Key to the North Gate." Both inscriptions remain clearly legible to this day. Extending north from the pass is the North Wall, along which more than ten watchtowers are distributed; to the south is the South Wall, which has fewer watchtowers. North Tower 8 is the highest point of the entire section, at over 1,000 meters above sea level, and from its top you can overlook the magnificent sweep of the wall winding along the mountain ridges. The North Wall has higher terrain and steeper slopes with open views, and is the main route for most visitors; the South Wall is relatively gentle and less crowded, making it suitable for visitors who want to take photos at a relaxed pace and avoid the crowds. If time permits, walking the South Wall first and then the North Wall is a more leisurely arrangement. Badaling Great Wall is also one of the earlier sections of the wall opened to the public. The top surface of the wall is paved with square bricks, and the widest parts can accommodate five horses walking side by side. Defensive structures such as battlements and arrow holes are well preserved, and walking along it gives a direct sense of the construction standards of Ming Dynasty border defense works. In fall, layers of red leaves on the mountains contrast beautifully with the gray brick wall, making it a season that many photography enthusiasts travel specifically to capture. ▲Travel through 600 years of gilded splendor and encounter the visual shock of crimson red leaves blanketing the mountains ▲nightAs night falls, it winds through the mountains like a brilliant golden dragon, and the ancient city wall illuminated by lights tells of the glory and mystery of a thousand years of history ▲ In winter, the Badaling Great Wall, covered in pristine white snow, winds through the mountains like a silver dragon. The golden light of dawn spills across the wall, painting a tranquil and magnificent picture.

Guanting Reservoir

Guanting Reservoir is located in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province and Yanqing County, Beijing. It is the first large-scale reservoir built after the founding of New China. The main water flow of Guanting Reservoir is the Yongding River in Huailai, Hebei Province, which has played a huge role in flood control, irrigation and power generation. . Guanting Reservoir used to be one of Beijing's main water sources. In the late 1980s, the water in the reservoir area was seriously polluted, and the water quality continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. In 1997, the reservoir was forced to withdraw from the urban drinking water system. Gardens have been built along the Guanting Reservoir, which is a scenic spot near Beijing. Guanting Lake is connected to many surrounding tourist attractions. It is only more than 70 kilometers away from Beijing Deshengmen in the south, 7 kilometers away from the famous Badaling of the Great Wall at home and abroad, and 8 kilometers away from Longqing Gorge in Yanqing in the east. Guanting Reservoir is comparable in size to Miyun Reservoir. It is sandwiched between two mountains. The water quality is good and the water surface is open. On the south bank side, there are steep rocky shores and delicate sandy beaches. In addition, various fruits with high sugar content are abundant on the nearby sandy land, as well as convenient transportation. For Beijingers, it is really a good place for leisure and vacation around.

No. 1 of Activities in Beijing

Great Wall Scenery Viewing in Beijing

The Great Wall around Beijing presents diverse experiences, from fully restored sections to wild, rugged trails. Each segment tells a unique story and offers distinct scenery. Badaling Great Wall: The most iconic and accessible section, Badaling features impressive fortifications and sweeping views. Ideal for first-time visitors, it offers cable car access and well-preserved watchtowers, though it can be crowded during peak seasons. Mutianyu Great Wall: Known for its beautiful scenery and fewer crowds, Mutianyu combines restored walls with forested surroundings. Visitors can take a cable car up and slide down via toboggan, adding fun to the cultural experience. Juyongguan Great Wall: This strategically significant pass served as a vital military stronghold. Its steep steps and circular route provide a challenging climb with rewarding panoramic views of surrounding mountains. Simatai Great Wall: For adventure seekers, Simatai retains its original Ming Dynasty character with steep, uneven steps. The only section open for night tours, it offers breathtaking illuminated views and a rugged, less-commercialized experience.

No. 1 of Hot Springs Attractions in Zhangjiakou

Huailai Diman Hot Spring Resort

Zhangjiakou Huailai Diman Hot Spring Resort is located in the 110,000-acre vineyard of Huailai County, the hometown of grapes in China. It faces the beautiful Guanting Lake and is backed by the famous Taoist holy land Laojun Mountain. It has a very unique geographical environment and is a comprehensive resort integrating conferences, accommodation, Dining, entertainment and professional hot spring bathing. The air here is pleasant and the environment is beautiful. There are more than 200 rooms including standard double rooms, outdoor bathing rooms, European and Japanese villas and waterscape bathing villas, equipped with reception facilities such as restaurants and conference rooms. Zhangjiakou Huailai Diman Hot Spring Resort Restaurant mainly serves farm dishes, Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine and whole fish banquets, providing tourists with a healthy feast. The rural leisure style hall can meet the needs of private Dining, group banquets or conference dining.

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The Palace Museum

The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the symbol of ancient China. When you are in the majestic and orderly high walls and deep courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. ▲The long history has left behind large-scale precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which have also become the main attraction of visiting the Forbidden City today. ▲Classic attractions: The Forbidden City Corner Tower is a polygonal building with a convex plane on all four sides. It is located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The roof has three layers. The upper layer is a hip roof with vertical and horizontal intersections. It is composed of a gable roof with flowing water on two slopes and a hip roof with four slopes. Because there are nine main ridges on this roof, it is called the Nine-ridge Hall. ▲Sundials are divided into two types according to their installation principle: equatorial and horizontal. The sundial installed using the equatorial principle is called an equatorial sundial. The key points of its production are that it must have a time plate, a latitude arc and a gnomon. When operating, the time plate must be parallel to the equatorial plane of the earth, the gnomon must be in the same direction as the earth's axis, and the shadow cast by the gnomon on the gnomon is the desired time. ▲The Treasure House is located in the Ningshou Palace area. It has a rich collection of treasures, including Buddhist supplies, ornaments, daily utensils, and treasures for appreciation. Among them, the red coral lion about 14 cm high, the Dongzhu court beads about 130 cm long, and the gold "Fengtianzhibao" seal are all rare treasures. ▲The Clock and Watch Museum is located in the Fengxian Hall in the palace. Most of the clocks on display are British products, but there are also clocks from other countries such as France and Switzerland. In addition to the timing function, these clocks are decorated with figures, birds, beasts, flowers, etc., which can also make various different movements. They are very delicately made. Among them, the copper-plated gilded writing clock, the copper-plated gilded enamel gourd-top fishing and woodcutting farming clock, and the copper-plated gilded rotating flower running man rhinoceros carrying clock are very rare.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Beijing Resort

Beijing Universal Studios is a highly anticipated theme park destination, including Universal Theme Park, Beijing Universal CityWalk, and two resort hotels. It features brand new selected Attraction and includes popular entertainment facilities and attractions from Universal Theme Parks around the world. ▲Universal Studios Beijing: Blending Chinese cultural elements to create a unique experience, it has seven theme Attraction, 37 rides and entertainment facilities and landmark attractions, 24 performances, 80 Dining and 30 retail stores.  ▲Minion Land: It is a colorful world full of joy! At this moment, these naughty Minions are walking around the streets, ports and city centers, having fun all over the world without restraint! At the same time, Gru is also recruiting soldiers for the Minions Army, so hurry up and sign up at Gru's house! ▲The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™: Here you can leave the ordinary world behind and experience the wonderful rides and endless magical adventures, which will lead you step by step into a thrilling and interesting magical world! ▲Transformers Metrobase: This is a Cybertron-style base, which is transformed by Transformers the size of a city. If you are ready to become an agent, then accept Optimus Prime's recruitment, join the Beijing Nest Force, fight side by side with the Autobots, and fight against the Decepticons to protect the earth! ▲Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness: This is an ancient place like a paradise, and also a legendary place that combines the beauty of nature and craftsmanship. Come here to explore your own Kung Fu! There's also Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood, and Waterworld waiting for you to explore! ▲The Universal Studios Grand Hotel The Universal Studios Grand Hotel is located at the entrance of Universal Studios Beijing and offers Hollywood-themed accommodation and the privilege of Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance; NUO Resort Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the entrance. Guests can enjoy a well-equipped fitness center, indoor swimming pool, and spa center (NUO SPA). Guests can also enjoy Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance. Both hotels combine themed features with high-end facilities to create an immersive vacation experience.

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National Museum of China

The National Museum of China is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and was formed by merging the former Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. The building is one of the ten great structures built for the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959. The museum holds over 1.4 million items, covering categories such as ancient artifacts, modern and contemporary artifacts, rare books and ancient texts, and artworks, among which the number of Grade One cultural relics is substantial. The three permanent exhibitions are the core of any visit. The "Ancient China" exhibition, located in the basement-level galleries, follows the succession of dynasties and is divided into eight sections from remote antiquity to the Ming and Qing dynasties, displaying heavyweight artifacts such as the painted pottery basin with human-face and fish design, the four-ram zun vessel, the Houmuwu ding, the drum-beating storyteller figurine, and the jade burial suit sewn with gold thread, several of which are listed as cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad; this exhibition is also the most artifact-dense area in the museum and is worth spending time examining closely. The "Road to Rejuvenation" and "Road to Rejuvenation: New Era" exhibitions, located in the northern galleries, review the Chinese nation's journey of rejuvenation since the Opium War of 1840, with exhibits including the oil painting The Founding Ceremony of the Nation and the Shenzhou 5 return capsule, among other landmark artifacts. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts thematic exhibitions on ancient Chinese Buddhist statues, coins, porcelain, and painting and calligraphy, and periodically presents special exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions covering history and culture, archaeological discoveries, and classic fine art. With numerous galleries spread across multiple floors, visitors are advised to plan their route in advance and allow ample time.