Longqing Gorge

Dragon Gorge (also called Longqing Canyon) has crystal clear waters and beautiful mountain scenery. The Dragon Gorge is located 85 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing and 20 kilometers north of the Badaling Great Wall. The gorge is a seven-kilometer karst-type canyon through which the Gucheng River flows. This place represents the grandeur and typical view of North China with a gentle touch of views of South China. "Longqing" is the name of the valley in Chinese. The history of the name goes back to the Yuan Dynasty. Emperor Renzong of the Yuan Dynasty was born in the village of Xiangshuiyuan (Fragrant Garden - Xiangshuiyuan) near the gorge. After his ascension to the throne, Jinshan County, where the village was located, was proclaimed Longqing District. In 1980, the Gucheng River was dammed, resulting in the Gucheng Reservoir. Now tourists can climb this dam on an escalator 258 meters long. The height of the dam is 72 meters - it is one of the highest in Northern China. Construction of the escalator began in October 1994 and ended in April 1996. It was a joint investment of 35 million yuan from China and Hong Kong. The escalator itself is made in the form of a dragon, from which it received the name Soaring Dragon. At one time, he even got into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest dragon in Asia. After climbing to the top of the dam, you can arrange a tour of the reservoir on a boat. The length of the excursion route is about four kilometers. At the same time, the width of the river in different segments ranges from 10 to 50 meters. The mountains on both sides are not very high, but they are incredibly beautiful and artificially ennobled. #longqinggorge #china