Passing through Yaoqiaoyu Reservoir on the way, Jiang Zemin wrote an inscription: "Enjoy a panoramic view of lakes and mountains."

On the back of the stone is a poem written by Emperor Qianlong in Miyun Palace

Scenery of Yaoqiaoyu Reservoir

Admission to Yunxiu Valley is 40 yuan, and the vehicle is 10 yuan. You can drive it to the door. Yunxiu Valley is 2116 meters above sea level, with a vegetation coverage rate of 95%. There are many strange peaks, strange rocks, caves, canyons, rivers, ponds and waterfalls, flowers, forests, wild animals. The Great Wall, lakes, Yingcheng, reservoirs and other cultural resources are rich. The natural conditions with a fresh environment and a cool climate constitute a unique tourist destination.

Unfortunately, Yunxiu Villa is no longer managed and is in decline

A view of Yunxiu Mountain Villa

Yunxiumen

Ming Great Wall Site Protection Monument

overlooking the beacon tower

overlooking the beacon tower

Glacial boulder

Glacial boulder

Yunxiugu impression

Yunxiu Waterfall

colorful triple

colorful triple

Yunxiugu impression

Yunxiugu impression

Yunxiugu impression

Xiugu impression

two dragons playing with beads

flying down

Flying straight down stone carvings

The path is quiet

Glacier boulders can be seen everywhere

Because it was late to enter the valley, I didn't reach the end of the scenic spot, so I turned back to eat Chinese food. I had Chinese food at the entrance of Yaoqiao Castle and visited Yaoqiao Castle.

Yaoqiao Castle is the only well-preserved Ming Dynasty castle around Beijing City. At present, the castle is home to descendants of the soldiers stationed at the border. There are about 60 villagers, most of whom are folk tourist reception households. In the past, when a city was built, two gates were called a city. There was only one gate here, so it was called a castle. It turned out that there was a tower on the gate in the middle of the south, and there were corner towers for sentry duty at the four corners. The corner towers and towers no longer exist, but the entire city wall is relatively well preserved. Yaoqiao Castle was built in the 26th year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty. The city is 123 meters long from east to west, 102 meters wide from north to south, 7 meters high with walls and 4 meters wide with top. Yaoqiao Castle is carefully designed, equipped with complete facilities, and its geographical location suits strategic requirements. It uses Yunxiu Valley Goat Jinglou as its ears and ears, echoing the Great Wall enemy buildings from east of Simatai to Caojia Road. When the Great Wall encountered an enemy situation, the sentries on duty on the Goat Spirit Building immediately lit up smoke and transmitted alarm signals on the Great Wall to the city. The city immediately gathered troops to quickly reinforce the Great Wall west of Caojia Road. In ordinary times, due to the hidden terrain, even enemy spies find it difficult. Therefore, it had very important strategic value at the time.

Yaoqiao Castle Gate

Yaoqiao Castle Stone Monument

Chronicles of Harubashi Castle

Panorama of Yaqiao Castle

They are basically folk receptionists

The battlements are basically gone, only the two sides of the city gate are still left.

Border guard small building

Border guard small building

Castle Inn

Castle Inn

Bazongfu

Castle Wall

Although the castle was basically full of inns, we still could not book a room, so we had to return to Miyun County to stay.

I got up the next morning and went to Shangyu Ancient Castle. If you were to navigate, you had to guide Shangyu, but never to guide Shangyu Village. The two places were 20 kilometers apart. Shangyu Ancient Castle is more than 40 kilometers away from Miyun County. The castle was originally built during the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty. Fengjiayu Pass is one of the routes for northern nomadic peoples to enter the capital. Shangyu is very close to Fengjiayu Pass, about two miles northwest. The castle is used to guard the pass and should be built at the same time as the pass. It is close to the pass, so it is called "up". About three miles southeast of Poxia is "Xiayu". Later, I felt that "Xiayu" was not nice to hear and changed it to Fengjiayu. Shangyu is named after the Fengjiayu Pass. It is the abbreviation or common name of "Shangfengjiayu Castle". It forms a defense system with "Xiayu" to guard this channel. The city is not in the right direction. It is built along the mountains and rivers, leaning against the hills and facing the river. Water is a tributary of the Baima Guan River, like a moat, flowing from the east to the south. Such a good shape, the builder must have inspected it before selecting the site. Local people have a legend that there was a black locust first and then a city. The locust tree by the river and the walnut tree next to it must enter the builder's vision. Due to the terrain, the castle kept a distance from the river. There were originally a walnut tree and a locust tree in front of the gate. Due to age, the walnut tree is no longer there, and only the ancient locust tree still stands tall in front of the gate. According to the famous brand on the tree, this ancient locust tree has been around for more than 1000 years and has witnessed the changes of the castle.

Shangyu Ancient Castle

Shangyu Ancient Castle

Shangyu Ancient Castle City Wall

The ancient locust tree in front of the castle is more than 1000 years old

Guhuai impression

Modern architecture in the castle

The only remaining old houses in the castle

Ancient Castle Impression

A new temple has been built outside the castle. Unfortunately, the door is locked. I don't know what temple it is.

Temple Main Gate

Castle Wall

Because the castle is not big, the tour took about half an hour to complete. Seeing that it was still early, I decided to go to Baima Pass, 20 kilometers away. According to legend, Baima Pass Castle was built in the Qin Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, when the Jin soldiers invaded the Central Plains, patriotic soldiers led by the Yang family fought bravely against the Jin Dynasty. There is a local legend that Yang Liulang controlled the three passes alone. Yang Liulang was brave and good at fighting and spread throughout the Central Plains, causing the Jin soldiers to flee after hearing the news. When the Jin soldiers invaded the Yanshan area, Yang Liulang stuck his gun at the Qiangzi Road Pass, guarded the Gubeikou Pass himself, and tied his white horse to the gate of Baima Pass. Jin soldiers spies discovered this situation. Fleeing in confusion and not daring to pass, Baima Pass was named after it.

Baima Pass Castle is rectangular and has a circumference of more than 400 meters. There is a south gate. The "Baima Pass Castle" stone plaque above the gate is 2 meters long and 1 meter wide still eye-catching. The city wall is made of large rocks, the gate holes are made of bricks, and the gate bars are made of bricks. It is very strong. There is a pavilion, the gatekeeper tower, built on the gate wall, which has now been destroyed.

White Horse Sculpture

The gate of Baima Pass has been destroyed.

Baima Guancheng Gate

Baima Guanfu

Baimaguan Impression

Baimaguan Impression

Baimaguan Impression

Baimaguan Impression

Baimaguan Impression

After visiting Baima Pass, it was nearly noon. For fear of congestion on the road, I embarked on a return journey. After lunch, it took 3 hours to get home safely after the 150-kilometer journey.