Maybe you have been to the Badaling and Juyongguan Pass, but the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is also well worth visiting. It was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), located at Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District, 65 kilometers (40.39 miles) from Beijing City. This section of the Great Wall at 10,800 meters (about 6711 miles) long is a resort with mountains, lakes and the ancient Great Wall.

When summer comes, the entire village under the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is immersed in a sea of yellow wild flowers ('Yellow flower' is 'huanghua' in Chinese). Consequently, this village got the name Hunghuacheng, and this section of the Great Wall is called Huanghuacheng Great Wall.

On a cliff by the Great Wall are two big Chinese characters 'jin tang' which means being very firm and strong. In fact, there is a legend about the origin of these characters. In the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor ordered a general named Cai Kai to build the Great wall here. But it took many years to accomplish the construction. So the emperor became very angry while at the same time some traitorous ministers scolded that Cai Kai had spent too much money in building it. As a result, Cai Kai was beheaded. Later, the emperor asked ministers to check the construction. They found that the Great Wall was strongly fortified. The emperor realized that he had treated Cai Kai unjustly. Then he ordered craftsman to carve these two Chinese characters. So the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is also called the Jintang Great Wall; the lake under it is Jintang Lake.

Going to Huanghuacheng Great Wall, you have four things to do at least. First, you should take photos. Since the lake breaks this section of the Great Wall into three segments naturally, its uniqueness might surprise you. And the Huanghuacheng Reservoir lies here, shaped like a curved moon. Second, go to visit the chestnut garden under the Great Wall, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The ancient chestnut trees still grow very well. Third, climb up the steepest section of the Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Shibadeng. It is like a dragon, ready to fly into the blue sky. Fourth, look at Yaoziyu Castle. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, still well-preserved. In the castle, there is an ancient Chinese scholar tree. It is said that touching it could bring you a blessing.

Admission Fee:	CNY 25
Opening Hours:	08:00-17:00 (on weekdays) 07:30-17:30 (at weekends and Chinese Golden Week)

 Huanghuacheng Travel Tips

Huanghuacheng Great Wall Transportation
a. Take Bus No.916 at Dongzhimen and get off at Huairou Dishui (Huairou Local Tax Bureau) (The air-conditioned Bus No.916 costs about CNY11, and the regular bus costs CNY 6), go forward about 50 meters (55 yards) and take the bus which runs between Huairou and Shuichangcheng (Xishuiyu) (the bus ticket costs CNY 3).

b. Take the special route bus "Changping - Jiuduhe" at Changping Long-distance bus station or at the crossing of Changling Lu in Changping District, and get off at Jiuduhe gas station (the bus ticket costs CNY 5), and take the bus which runs between Huairou and Shuichangcheng (Xishuiyu) and get off at the terminal station.

Huanghuacheng Dining & Accommodation
Located in Jiuduhe Town near Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Minsu (Folk Culture) Village is an ideal place to experience the authentic "peasant life". A large number of farmhouses in the village provide visitors with good food and accommodation.

 Wenxin Farmhouse
Chinese name: 温馨农家院 (Wēn Xīn Nóng Jiā Yuàn)
Location: Minsu (Folk Culture) Village, Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District
Specialty: edible wild vegetables, dumplings with wild vegetable stuffings
Entertainment: Great Wall climbing, Karaoke, Chesses & Cards, fireworks & crackers, picking, boating, fishing, swimming, riding horse, bonfire and mountain climbing
Surrounding scenic spots: Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Linlong Mountain and Xiaoxi Lake

 Shunxinyuan Farmhouse
Chinese name: 顺心园农家院 (Shùn Xīn Yuán Nóng Jiā Yuàn)
Location: Minsu (Folk Culture) Village, Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District
Dining: barbecues, edible wild vegetables, free range eggs, cornmeal dumpling with vegetable stuffing, millet gruel, trout and donkey meat
Accommodation: Eleven guest rooms to accommodate 40 guests; Deluxe room: CNY 80 (Monday to Thursday) and CNY 120 (Friday to Sunday and other holidays), establishment in the room: TV, air conditioner, electric water heater, toilet and sofa; Standard multishare room: CNY 60 (Monday to Thursday) and CNY 80 (Friday to Sunday and other holidays), establishment in the room: TV, electric fan

Prices of dining and accommodation for ten or the above persons (less than ten persons to be arranged separately)
Standard: CNY 50/person/day (accommodation for one day; breakfast, lunch and supper; peasant dishes, excluding chicken and fish)
Deluxe: CNY 80/person/day (accommodation for one day; breakfast, lunch and supper; peasant dishes; lunch includes stewed chick with mushrooms, and supper includes stewed fish)
Super deluxe: CNY 100/person/day (accommodation for one day; breakfast, lunch and supper; peasant dishes; lunch includes stewed chick with mushrooms, and supper includes grilled trout and roast whole sheep)
Entertainment: houseboat, motorboat, fishing, riding horse, boating, swimming, Great Wall climbing, Karaoke, Chesses & Cards, fireworks & crackers

How to get to Minsu Village: 
 By bus: Take bus No.916 at Dongzhimen and get off at Huairou conference center, and pick up the blue mini bus "Huairou - Xishuiyu" and you will find it.

 Drive travel: Take Jingchang (Beijing - Changping) Expressway – Exit from Xiguan Exit – Changling Mausoleum – Heishanzhai – Jiudu River – Huanghua Town – Huanghuacheng Great Wall – Xishuiyu Village (The signs along the road will guide you to find the way)