Longqing Gorge 龙庆峡Lóngqìngxiá

Why go to Longqing Gorge

In Yanqing district, about 85 km north-west of central Beijing, Longqing Gorge is a 7 km canyon flooded by a reservoir, its cliffs rising straight out of the water. Take the boat up the gorge past its named rock formations and ride the cable car up a peak for the view, or come in winter for the Ice Lantern Festival in the frozen valley.

The story

The gorge became a lake when the Gucheng Reservoir was built from 1973, held back by a dam about 70 metres high across the river mouth. Its winter Ice Lantern Festival reached its 40th edition in January 2026.

What to see at Longqing Gorge

• Gorge boat ride 龙庆峡游船: An open-top boat glides for about 15 minutes along the base of the canyon, between cliffs that have earned it the nicknames 'Little Three Gorges' and 'mini Li River'.
• Yuhuang Peak and the hilltop temples 玉皇顶: A cable car carries visitors up to the ridge above the reservoir, where small temples, including a Jingang (Diamond) temple said to date from 1065 and a Taoist hall, stand with views along the gorge.
• Ice Lantern Festival 冰灯艺术节: In winter the gorge fills with lit ice sculptures; the festival, which began in 1987 and reached its 40th edition in January 2026, is the main reason to come between January and February.

How to visit Longqing Gorge

Most visitors start with the boat ride up the gorge, then take the cable car to the hilltop for the view back down over the reservoir. In summer that makes a comfortable half day, and the gorge pairs well with the tofu dishes of nearby Liugou village. At festival time, plan the afternoon around the ice sculptures by daylight and the lights after dark.

How to get to Longqing Gorge

Take a high-speed train from Qinghe or Beijing North to Yanqing station (about 25–40 minutes), then bus Y43 or a taxi to the gorge; by car allow 1.5–2 hours from central Beijing.

Where to stay

Yanqing town is the practical base, with a high-speed rail station and a choice of hotels; many visitors also return to Beijing for the night. In winter, staying in Yanqing makes it easier to catch the ice festival after dark.

What to eat

• Liugou fire-pot tofu feast (Liǔgōu huǒpénguō dòufuyàn) 柳沟火盆锅豆腐宴: A village-style spread in Liugou, Yanqing, built around a charcoal-heated pot of firm, brine-set tofu stewed with pork belly, cabbage and noodles.
• Fried oil cake (zhá yóubǐng) 炸油饼: A golden fried dough cake served alongside the tofu feast in Yanqing's country restaurants.

Tips for visiting Longqing Gorge

• Boats run in the warmer months; in deep winter the reservoir freezes and the gorge is given over to the ice festival.
• At festival time, arrive in the afternoon to see the ice sculptures by daylight and stay for the lights after dark.
• Avoid New Year's Day and the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holiday, when the ice festival is at its busiest.

Nearby

• Badaling Great Wall 八达岭长城 20 km
  Ming ramparts climbing both ways from a fortified pass, a short fast train from Beijing
• Ming Tombs 明十三陵 30 km
  Stone guardians on the Sacred Way and an emperor's underground palace to walk through
• Great Wall at Mutianyu 慕田峪长城 50 km
  Restored Ming watchtowers riding a wooded ridge, with a toboggan run back down
• Fragrant Hills Park 香山公园 60 km
  Wooded former imperial hills that turn red with smoke-tree leaves each autumn
• Old Summer Palace 圆明园 60 km
  Broken marble arches of Qing European-style palaces beside lakes of summer lotus
• Summer Palace 颐和园 60 km
  An imperial lakeside garden of painted corridors, temple-topped hills and a marble boat

Also within 30 km: Beijing Horticultural Expo Park 北京世园公园 (10 km), Yeya Lake National Wetland Park 野鸭湖国家湿地公园 (20 km), Qinglongqiao Station, Jingzhang Railway 京张铁路青龙桥站 (20 km), Guyaju Caves 古崖居 (20 km), Shuiguan Great Wall (Badaling) 水关长城 (20 km), Juyong Pass 居庸关 (30 km).

On the map

Open Longqing Gorge on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)