Beijing Bike Tour

Duration: Two days

Huanghuacheng Great Wall, located at Jiuduhe Town Huairou District Beijing, is also one of the most famous sections of China Great Wall. When summer comes, the Great Wall is surrounded by the beautiful yellow wild flowers. Consequently, it got the name Huanghuacheng Great Wall. This section of Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty, it is also called Jintang Great Wall meaning very firm and strong. It was said that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty ordered Cai Kai to build the Great Wall. Cai Kai was very earnest and conscientious, and he used the millet congee to fortify the Great Wall, which took a long time for the accomplishment. Some traitorous ministers brought a false charge against Cai Kai that he spent too much money for the construction, so the emperor believed the slander and then Cai Kai was beheaded. Subsequently, they found the Great Wall was very firmly built and Cai kai received posthumous award. Meanwhile, the emperor ordered the craftsmen to carve two Chinese characters ‘Jing Tang’ on a cliff of the Great Wall, which is the legend for the origin of the name Jintang Great Wall. Besides, Since the Haoming Lake breaks Huanghuacheng Great Wall into three segments naturally and part of the wall is under the water, it is also called Water Great Wall, which is the uniqueness of this Great Wall section.
 

Riding a bicycle to explore Huanghuacheng Great Wall, you will have a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the local lifestyle in the villages along the way, and the spectacularity of Huanghuacheng Great Wall. The tour starts from Kuliushu Bridge. You can take your own bicycle, transfer to Kuliushu Huandao (take Bus No. 915, 916, 923 from Dongzhimen and get off at Kuliushu Huandao; get on Subway Line 13 from Dongzhimen Station, then connect to Subway Line 15 at Wangjing West and get off at Houshayu Station.) and stay for one night in the nearby hotel like Tianlong Hotel (3-star, address: Kuliushu Huandao, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District; Tel: 86-10-80494540) which is around 5 km from Beijing Capital Airport and 29 km from Railway Station. 
 

Starting from Kuliushu Bridge in the early morning, riding northeastward for about 630 meters and turning left to Shunyu Road, you are on the way to Huanghuacheng Great Wall. There is no special site along this road, so you could ride faster in the morning. After riding around 2 km, turn right to the Huosi Road. At the end of Huosi Road (around 14 km), change to the provincial highway S307, and then turn left to Huaichang Road also named S308 after around 5 km. You will pass the Qiaozi Town after 2 km. You could have lunch in the local small restaurant if you like.
 

Heading along Huaichang Road, you could slow down to enjoy the fresh country air and the cool breeze, trees on both sides of the road could block the glare of the sun. Riding northwest for about 20 km, you will be on Ansi Road S213. Passing the Huanghuacheng Great Wall after 30 km, you will reach Sihai which is the end of the trip in northern part. The famous Nine Eyes Tower, located in Sihai Town, is considered the first tower of the Great Wall. It is said that it will be possible to have a view of the city on sunny day when you stand on the tower, and consequently it is also named Wangjing Tower. If time is enough, you may hike to visit the Nine Eyes Tower on the Flame Mountain in Sihai. 
 

As the defense of ancient capital and the important guard of Ming Emperor's Mausoleum, Huanghuacheng Great Wall was very spectacularly built and part of the Great Wall was under water, which may surprise you. You could also visit the chestnut garden under the Great Wall when you ride back from Sihai to Jiuduhe.
 

Getting back to Jiuduhe and stay in the local farmyard, there are many farmyards available along the Ansi Road close to the Jiudu mountain villa (Add: Huangkan Huairou District; Tel: 010-61652828), like Jin Feng Po Farmyard (Tel: 010-61652188), Ma Ji Farmyard and Ju Xiang Yuan Farmyard. You could explore the Jiuduhe ancient town in the late afternoon or the next morning.
 

The Huanghuacheng Great Wall Bike Tour almost ends on the second day. Riding from North to South directly along the Ansi Road S213, you will pass Cibeiyu and reach Xingshou Town after 32km. When you get to Lishui Bridge, please change to the Anli Road on the right side and head for the Anzhen Bridge straightly. It might be a little tired on the first day since it is almost the uphill path especially from Huanghuacheng to Sihai. However, from Sihai to Anzhen Bridge, it is almost downhill, which will be a very easy journey.