Guyaju Travel Notes

I like to travel, like to be close to nature, and like to savor cultural monuments carefully. First choice is a niche attraction that you have never been to and is famous. The Guyaju Scenic Area jumps into your eyes. First, it is a national key cultural relic protection unit. Second, the UNESCO World Geopark.

Guyaju is located in the canyon north of Dongmenying Village, Zhangshanying Township, Yanqing District, Beijing City. It is a 3A-level scenic spot. The entire scenic area is not very large, and you can basically visit it in two hours. If you want to see it in detail, you can visit the entire visited area in more than three hours. You must make an appointment in advance to enter the scenic spot (free for people over 60 years old). However, the epidemic situation is improving, so it is okay to register on-site at the entrance of the scenic spot as an appointment.

The preferred self-driving method to get to the Guyaju Scenic Area. Public transportation is also very convenient. Take the No. 919 Express from Deshengmen Bus Terminal directly to Yanqing District Bus Terminal, and then take the No. Y40 Bus to Guyaju Station and get off. I chose a combination of high-speed trains and public transportation, which saves time, is convenient and fast, and doesn't feel tired.

High-speed rail train timetable

At Beijing North Railway Station (bus. Take the subway Xizhimen Station exit), take the G8883 train, depart at 08:51, and arrive at Yanqing North Station at 09:37. The journey is 48 minutes. At the North Square of Yanqing Railway Station, take the Y40 bus that leaves at 10:00 and get off at Guyaju Station. You will find the scenic spot. The journey is about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Return: At 14:20 pm, take bus Y40 to Yanqing Railway Station, then take train G8888 at 17:18 and arrive at Beijing North Railway Station at 18:09.

I booked a window-based train ticket in advance on the 12306 website. Being a maverick, I began my journey to the Ancient Cliff Residence.

Departure from Beijing North Railway Station

The air in the carriage is fresh, clean and tidy, Wi-Fi and charging. Hot water is available. Second-class seat is very comfortable (35 yuan)

Arrive at Yanqing Railway Station at 9:37

Take the Y40 bus leaving at 10:00

Y40 bus departure timetable

Railway Station-Dongmenying Village 6:00. 8:00。10:00。13:00。15:00。18:00。

Dongmenying Village--Railway Station 7:20. 9:20。11:20。14:20。16:20。19:20。

Arrive at the entrance of Guyaju Scenic Area at 11:20

Gate of Guyaju Scenic Area

A guide map shared by the World Park and Guyaju.

Guide map of Guyaju.

Entering the scenic area, along both sides of the mountain road, there are caves of large and small. The larger ones are used as teahouses or rooms for Buddha worship. The quality of the mountain rock here is relatively loose, so it is easier to dig. The material of the rock is very special. You can pick off some small broken stones with your hands.

A place to worship Buddha.

This paper introduces the geological weathering phenomenon of the rocks in Chaoyang Cave.

A teahouse for tasting tea and resting.

There is also a stone nest on the wall of the cave for candlesticks

Ancient wells are also scattered along the mountain road. The mountain spring and the unearthed stone mills, Gujing Mountain Spring has long dried up.

Ancient Cliff Residence is divided into Qianshan Scenic Area and Houshan Scenic Area

Houshan Scenic Area is one of the best places to enjoy the full view of the ancient cliff house. On the cliffs of spherical granite hills, five-story "cave buildings" have been densely dug against the mountains. It is so shocking. There are one-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom apartments. The hole is not deep, only about 2- 4 meters, and the height of the door is only about 1.6 meters. It seems that the ancient people were not tall. The caves are relatively independent from one another, and there are no ladders connected to them. I don't know how the ancients climbed up and down the rock wall. This is also the filming base for many film and television dramas, including "The Secret History of Taizu","Invincible Braves" and "Iron Pear Blossom".

The steps on the cliff lead to the cave above. Due to the severe weathering, climbing is now prohibited in order to protect cultural relics.

It turns out that there are upward steps here that lead to the back mountain. For safety, it is now blocked by the "No Climbing". For safety, many caves have been supported and reinforced.

This is a multi-bedroom cave with a manger.

Full view of Qianshan Scenic Area

This is a suite, commonly known as a three-bedroom room, with a stone kang, a stone stove and a stone niche for sacrifice.

Xi Wang Mansion is located between the Qianshan Scenic Area and the Houshan Scenic Area. This is the most worthy place to visit in Guyaju. It is said that Guyaju was a mountain fortress belonging to the ancient Xi people, so it was called Xi Wangfu.

The kang and stove in the Xi Palace

Guyaju is not only a cultural monument, but also a world address park. There are many explanatory boards introducing geological features and phenomena.

Next to the explanation board are the characteristics of geological phenomena, which are very intuitive and easy to understand.

Primary joints of granite

The commentary board introduced geological characteristics such as wind erosion niche weathering, biological weathering, and other phenomena. It was easy to understand, as if it allowed people to see the geological changes hundreds of millions of years ago and benefited people a lot.

The mountain road entering the scenic area has been renovated. The slope is gentle and wide, the steps are of moderate height, and you don't feel tired when walking. The railings and handrails are also very standard with a low difficulty coefficient, making it very suitable for the elderly and families to travel.

This is the old way

The environment of the Guyaju Scenic Area is clean and tidy, and the air is fresh. I played for nearly three hours. Who dug the ancient cliff dwelling? In what year and generation was it dug? For what purpose? There is no way to verify it. It is called "the mystery of the ages, the mystery of the ages."