Things to do in Yu County
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Top 10 attractions in Yu County
Nuanquan Ancient Town
Originally built during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), Nuanquan Ancient Town holds many ancient-style structures that are perfect for photographing. Compared to certain other ancient towns that have become popular via the Internet, Nuanquan appears simpler and more tranquil, and many locals reside within the town. The town is not particularly large but has an ancient west wall (an ancient gate tower) and several large courtyard complexes open to visitors. The “Make Treeflower Fungus” show is a famous event here. The show is a unique traditional festival light show with over 300 years of history. It involves villagers heating iron to 1500˚°C to become molten iron and then splashing it against the city wall to create a majestic scene of “fire trees and silver flowers” that is truly stunning.Yu County · 13.7km from downtown
Weizhou Ancient City
Weizhou Ancient City is located on a platform on the south bank of Huliu River. At present, the south and east walls of Weizhou Ancient City have been completely demolished. The remaining well-preserved are the north wall and the northern section of the west wall, which is about 1,600 meters long. The east and west gates have been destroyed, and only the south gate remains. Wanshan Tower and Wenchang Pavilion in the city were restored and rebuilt in 1998. The east, west and south sides of the moat basically exist, and the stone bridge outside the three gates still exists. According to the Records of Weizhou, the ancient city of Weizhou is seven li and thirteen steps in circumference, with a wall three feet and five feet high, three city gate towers, and four corner towers. The tower is Jingyang Tower, the south gate is Jingxian Gate, the tower is Wanshan Tower, the west gate is Qingyuan Gate, and the tower is Guangyun Tower. There are tall and majestic urn cities outside the three gates. The moat is connected to the inner city by a suspension bridge. Outside the city is a moat more than three feet deep and seven feet wide. The Weizhou city is irregular in shape, wide in the south and narrow in the north, with many bends on the east and west sides. There is only the east, west, and south gates in the city, but no north gate, and the Jade Emperor Pavilion is built on the north city wall. The four main streets in the city are east, west, south, and north, forming an architectural pattern with Wenchang Pavilion (Drum Tower) and the south gate (Wanshan Tower) symmetrical, and the north-south streets as the central axis. Due to historical reasons, the ancient city of Weizhou suffered some damage, but the style of the ancient city has remained basically unchanged. In addition, there are many government offices, temples, pavilions and houses in the ancient city, and the legacy of the ancient cities of Ming and Qing dynasties is still there. In the history of Weizhou, Han culture was the mainstream. However, the ancient city's form was contrary to the strict "ritual system" of the traditional Han nationality: it was square and dignified, with clear longitude and latitude, and symmetrical planning along the central axis, which is the characteristic of Weizhou ancient city.Yu County · 1.6km from downtown
Xiaowutai Jinhe Scenic Area
Xiaowutai Jinhe Attraction was rated as an AAAA-level tourist scenic area by the National Tourism Administration in 2005. Xiaowutai is not only majestic, with undulating peaks and cliffs, but also has strange peaks and rocks, clear springs and streams, and pine trees in the Attraction. It has eight characteristics: ancient, wild, secluded, elegant, strange, majestic, dangerous, and beautiful. Xiaowutai Mountain is a natural treasure house with rich animal and plant resources. The rare brown pheasant is a national treasured protected animal. Flowing springs and waterfalls, hall stone valleys, virgin forests and beautiful legends make Xiaowutai Mountain full of romance, mystery and magic.Yu County · 36.9km from downtown
Yuhuang Pavilion
Yuhuang Pavilion in Yu County was first built in the 10th year of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty (1377). Facing south with a northward orientation, it covers an area of 2,022.30 square meters and consists of front and rear courtyards aligned along a central axis. The front courtyard includes an archway, Dragon and Tiger Hall, and east-west meditation rooms, while the rear courtyard features bell and drum towers at its southeast and southwest corners, with the main hall of Yuhuang Pavilion towering at the northern end. It has undergone renovations throughout history, each documented by commemorative stone tablets. The existing Yuhuang Pavilion faces south, covering a total area of approximately 2,000 square meters. It consists of upper and lower courtyards, with eighteen stone steps leading through a small gate to the upper courtyard. Flanking the small gate are a bell tower on the left andDrum TowerThe architectural style features double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs with gray tiles. The front courtyard houses the main hall of Yuhuang Pavilion, measuring five bays wide and three bays deep, crowned with a triple-eaved hip-and-gable roof glazed with yellow tiles. The main ridge of the hall is adorned with colorful glazed floral patterns, flanked by coiled dragon ornaments at both ends and topped with the Eight Immortals in glazed porcelain. The side ridges are decorated with running beast motifs, while the four corner ridges feature animal-head finials with hanging iron bells that chime melodiously in the breeze, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. The entire wooden structure is painted with elaborate decorations, primarily featuring "He Xi" and "Suzhou-style" patterns. Yuhuang Pavilion's main hall appears to have three stories but actually has two. The second floor features an extended eave with a surrounding corridor. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy panoramic views: the winding Huliu River to the north, the mist-veiled Cuiping Mountain to the south, picturesque landscapes to the west, and scattered villages with crisscrossing fields stretching to the eastern horizon. Inside the main hall of Yuhuang Pavilion, a statue of the Jade Emperor stands facing north, with a large-scale mural titled "The Canonization of the Gods" adorning the walls. On either side of the Jade Emperor's statue, the Five Supreme Emperors are depicted. The eastern and western walls feature vivid paintings of the "Thirty-Six Thunder Gods." The scene is grand and vibrant—the emperors exude majesty, the thunder gods appear fierce, and the attendants possess delicate features, with all figures rendered in strikingly lifelike detail. Eight stone steles stand in the front corridor of the main hall, including seven from the Ming and Qing dynasties recording renovations. The high frequency of these restorations demonstrates both the importance placed on this pavilion and its significant historical value. The remaining stele bears the poem "Tian Xian Zi," highly praised by later generations as a work of great artistic merit. Additionally, the upper loft displays a plaque inscribed in 1983 by Zhang Su with the wordsYuhuang PavilionHorizontal plaque. The lower attic bears one inscribed by Ban Kaiming in 1983.Yuhuang PavilionHorizontal plaque.Yu County · 1.9km from downtown
Feihu Valley · Grassland in the Sky
The Feihu Valley · Grassland in the Sky is a natural scenic spot filled with canyons and alpine meadows. The scenic spot is divided into three areas. Let's begin with Feihu Valley, a canyon leading to the Grassland in the Sky. Tourists can admire scenery when driving along the highway and many photographers take fantastic photos here. After driving through Feihu Valley, people will come to Matiliang, the second part of the scenic area, offering a very broad view. A dozen kilometers farther on, tourists will arrive at the open and flat Grassland in the Sky, the third part of the scenic area, where people can enjoy stunning scenery, take photos and ride. You will feel pleasant when cool breezes blow over cool hills.Yu County · 27.2km from downtown
Weizhoulingyan Temple
Weizhou Ancient City is located on a platform on the south bank of Huliu River. At present, the south and east walls of Weizhou Ancient City have been completely demolished. The remaining well-preserved ones are the north wall and the northern section of the west wall, which is about 1,600 meters long. The east and west gates have been destroyed, and only the south gate remains. Wanshan Tower and Wenchang Pavilion in the city were restored and rebuilt in 1998. The east, west and south sides of the moat basically exist, and the stone bridge outside the three gates still exists. Introduction to Lingyan Temple: Lingyan Temple is one of the scenic spots in Weizhou Ancient City. It is commonly known as the front temple and is located on Gulou West Street in Weizhou Ancient City. According to relevant historical records: Lingyan Temple was first built in the Jin Dynasty, destroyed in the late Yuan Dynasty, and rebuilt in the sixth year of the Zhengtong Period of the Ming Dynasty (1441). Lingyan Temple faces south and covers an area of 6,682 square meters. There are three halls from south to north, namely the Passing Hall and the Main Hall, and the Sutra Pavilion is built behind. Recommended attractions: The Main Hall of Lingyan Temple has a hip roof, a beam structure, and a painted caisson, which is a typical official style of the Ming Dynasty. The temple was built by Emperor Yingzong at the request of Wang Zhen, a Weizhou native, during the Zhengtong Period of the Ming Dynasty. The Weixian Grain Culture Museum is located in the temple.Yu County · 1.8km from downtown
Pagoda of Nan'an Temple
Nan'an Temple Pagoda is located in the southwest of the ancient city of Weizhou. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty and rebuilt in the first year of Tianqing in the Liao Dynasty (1111). It is an octagonal 13-story solid brick pagoda with dense eaves, 32.1 meters high, consisting of a pagoda base, a pagoda seat, a pagoda body, and a pagoda top. Under the pagoda is the pagoda courtyard, which was rebuilt in the 45th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1706). In 2011, 109 precious cultural relics were unearthed from the underground palace of the ancient pagoda, which are now on display in the Weizhou Museum. Recommended highlights: Nan'an Temple was once a famous temple in Yanyun with a long history. On the west side of the tower under the courtyard is a stele corridor, which contains three steles with inscriptions of reconstruction in the Qing Dynasty. The courtyard is now a place for exhibition and exchange of Weizhou cultural relics.Yu County · 1.6km from downtown
Xiaotianshan Scenic Area
Shitang·Xiaotianshan is located in Caogoubao Township, Yu County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Covering approximately 26 square kilometers, it belongs to the Shitang Tourism Resort. With an average altitude of 2,000m, the area features vast alpine meadows and pine forests, offering a serene, cool, and pleasant environment. Boasting excellent air quality year-round, it serves as a natural oxygen bar in western Beijing and a prime destination for non-medical wellness retreats. Shi Ba Tang - Xiao Tian Shan is a comprehensive base, the largest outdoor sports and camping off-road facility in China. It serves as a hub for outdoor equipment display, sales, and performance testing, as well as a mountain all-terrain off-road vehicle testing ground. Additionally, it functions as a showcase, sales, performance testing, and storage base for tech-based accommodation products (space capsules), and also operates as an orienteering sports facility. The annual industry festival of Shibatang·Xiaotianshan, featuring exhibitions and competitions, is held from July to September. The events include: 1. National Outdoor Equipment Exhibition; 2. Technology-based Accommodation Product Exhibition; 3. National Mountain All-Terrain Vehicle Off-Road Competition; 4. National Orienteering Competition. Shitang·Xiaotianshan features planned areas including Sky Peak Market, Sky Peak Flower Sea, Sky Peak Forest, Sky Peak Farmland, Sky Peak Herb Valley, Sky Peak Race Track, Dark Night Sky, and Haizi Tribe. It's an innovative functional product integrating multiple IPs such as sightseeing, hiking, camping, off-road driving, and orienteering.Yu County · 21.6km from downtown
Badaling Great Wall
The Badaling Great Wall is renowned as one of the Nine Strategic Passes under heaven, combining majestic cliffs with picturesque greenery to form the most spectacular section of the Ming Dynasty fortifications. Living up to the Chinese saying "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero," this remains the premier choice for most Chinese visitors to experience the Wall. The fortress gate exhibits a trapezoidal shape, narrower on the east and wider on the west, featuring two gate towers. The eastern arch bears the inscription "Juyong Waizhen" (Frontier Town of Juyong), while the western gate displays "Beimen Suoyue" (Key to the Northern Gate). North of the fortress stretches the 12-tower Northern Wall section, while to the south lies the less crowded Southern Wall with 7 watchtowers. If time permits, we recommend exploring the Southern Wall first before tackling the more popular Northern section. ▲Walk Through Six Centuries of Golden History: A Visual Feast of Vermilion Foliage Blanketing the Great Wall ▲ As night descends, the Badaling Great Wall transforms into a gilded dragon winding through shadowed peaks, its illuminated battlements whispering tales of millennia - where imperial splendor meets enduring mystery beneath constellations of golden light. ▲Cloaked in winter's crystalline mantle, the Badaling Great Wall becomes a silver serpent coiled between snow-draped peaks, its ancient stones gilded by dawn's golden raysChina · Beijing
The Palace Museum
The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the symbol of ancient China. When you are in the majestic and orderly high walls and deep courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. ▲The long history has left behind large-scale precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which have also become the main attraction of visiting the Forbidden City today. ▲Classic attractions: The Forbidden City Corner Tower is a polygonal building with a convex plane on all four sides. It is located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The roof has three layers. The upper layer is a hip roof with vertical and horizontal intersections. It is composed of a gable roof with flowing water on two slopes and a hip roof with four slopes. Because there are nine main ridges on this roof, it is called the Nine-ridge Hall. ▲Sundials are divided into two types according to their installation principle: equatorial and horizontal. The sundial installed using the equatorial principle is called an equatorial sundial. The key points of its production are that it must have a time plate, a latitude arc and a gnomon. When operating, the time plate must be parallel to the equatorial plane of the earth, the gnomon must be in the same direction as the earth's axis, and the shadow cast by the gnomon on the gnomon is the desired time. ▲The Treasure House is located in the Ningshou Palace area. It has a rich collection of treasures, including Buddhist supplies, ornaments, daily utensils, and treasures for appreciation. Among them, the red coral lion about 14 cm high, the Dongzhu court beads about 130 cm long, and the gold "Fengtianzhibao" seal are all rare treasures. ▲The Clock and Watch Museum is located in the Fengxian Hall in the palace. Most of the clocks on display are British products, but there are also clocks from other countries such as France and Switzerland. In addition to the timing function, these clocks are decorated with figures, birds, beasts, flowers, etc., which can also make various different movements. They are very delicately made. Among them, the copper-plated gilded writing clock, the copper-plated gilded enamel gourd-top fishing and woodcutting farming clock, and the copper-plated gilded rotating flower running man rhinoceros carrying clock are very rare.China · Beijing
Experiences you can't miss in Yu County
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Free things to do in Yu County
Nuanquan Ancient Town
Yu County · 13.7km from downtownWeizhou Ancient City
Yu County · 1.6km from downtownXiaowutai Jinhe Scenic Area
Yu County · 36.9km from downtownYuhuang Pavilion
Yu County · 1.9km from downtownFeihu Valley · Grassland in the Sky
Yu County · 27.2km from downtownWeizhoulingyan Temple
Yu County · 1.8km from downtownBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimePagoda of Nan'an Temple
Yu County · 1.6km from downtownBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimeXiaotianshan Scenic Area
Yu County · 21.6km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeBadaling Great Wall
China · BeijingBook now for tomorrowThe Palace Museum
China · Beijing
What travellers say about Yu County
Anonymous user10 August 2026
4.0
I heard it's the birthplace of the "Iron Flower" performance, with over 300 years of history, so I went to see it. Compared to other live performances in scenic areas across the country, the show wasn't particularly exciting. All four sections of the "Iron Flower" performance were the same, lacking variation and originality compared to other attractions. However, if you haven't seen it before, it's still worth checking out.
Nuanquan Ancient Town
水漫三楼3 June 2026
4.0
Weizhou Ancient City, also known as Rabbit City or Iron City, is located in Weixian County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. It was first built in the second year of the Daxiang era of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (580 AD) and rebuilt in the tenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1377 AD), covering an area of 1.6 square kilometers. The ancient city has a circumference of over 3800 meters, with city walls 11.5 meters high. It has three city gates: Anding Gate (Jingyang Tower) to the east, Jingxian Gate (Wanshan Tower) to the south, and Qingyuan Gate (Guangyun Tower) to the west. There are also four corner towers, 24 watchtowers, and over 1100 crenellations. Outside the city gates are barbicans and outer walls, and a moat surrounds the city. The ancient city boasts numerous historical sites and scenic spots, with temples, palaces, altars, halls, government offices, towers, and residences scattered throughout. It possesses nine national key cultural relics protection units (Jade Emperor Pavilion, Nan'an Temple Pagoda, Sakyamuni Temple, Zhenwu Temple, Changping Granary, Lingyan Temple, Guandi Temple, Tianqi Temple, and the ancient city wall), all possessing high historical and cultural value, folklore research value, and architectural art value. Weizhou Ancient City is a national historical and cultural city. The existing Weizhou city was built in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, with earth excavated and city walls constructed on the original site. In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign, the walls were rebuilt with bricks and stones, forming a "magnificent iron city surpassing all others on the border."
Weizhou Ancient City
Anonymous user6 December 2025
5.0
I think this scenic spot is absolutely worth visiting two or three times. I recommended it to many friends after I came back. It is definitely a great place to go for a weekend trip. The mountain scenery, water scenery, and rock scenery are all refreshing. Moreover, there are not many people in the scenic area on holidays, and parking is convenient. A big thumbs up!
Xiaowutai Jinhe Scenic Area
M39***7910 October 2025
5.0
Built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Yuhuang Pavilion in Yuzhou stands atop the northern wall of the ancient city of Yuxian. Once a defensive fortress, it is now a cultural treasure. Over 600 years old, this ancient structure, with its unique architectural style and exquisite carvings, has become a valuable resource for studying Ming Dynasty architecture.
Yuhuang Pavilion
285***4824 July 2024
5.0
The sky is blue and the grass is green. It is flat and open. It is worth a visit because the road leading up to the mountain has been severely damaged by continuous rains. It is bumpy and dusty. Please drive carefully.
Feihu Valley · Grassland in the Sky
M31***8910 October 2025
5.0
Lingyan Temple—an underrated nationally protected ancient structure—was built during the Jin Dynasty. Though destroyed by war, it experienced a resurgence during the Ming Dynasty. Wang Zhen, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, petitioned Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty to construct this imperial ancestral temple.
Weizhoulingyan Temple
Sov191724 February 2025
5.0
The architectural style of the tower is very distinctive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pagoda of Nan'an Temple
虹磨房15 September 2025
4.0
Not bad, but the entrance is narrow and the ticket checking is a bit slow
Xiaotianshan Scenic Area
MinkNara16 October 2026
5.0
จองกับ trip.com สะดวกสบายไม่ต้องพะวงเรื่องการหาซื้อตั๋วว่าอยู่ตรงไหน สามารถไปต่อคิวขึ้นกระเช้าได้เลย คิวรอขึ้นกระเช้าที่นี่ยาวรอนานช่วงเช้า บนกระเช้าใช้เวลาขึ้นไม่นานประหยัดเวลาได้เยอะ ขาลงเดินใกลใช้เวลาพอสมควรแต่ได้ชมวิว ผ่านพิพิธภัณท์ ต้องเผื่อเวลา ถ้าเวลาน้อยแนะนำขึ้นลงกระเช้า
Badaling Great Wall
Low Shusian18 October 2026
5.0
The Palace Museum in Beijing is a breathtaking, sprawling imperial complex that demands precisely one full day to explore thoroughly. Spanning over seventy-two hectares, its sheer scale is an overwhelming physical reality that humbles every visitor.Because the historical site is so extraordinarily vast, it is incredibly easy to get lost within the complex. Once you step off the main central axis into the eastern or western wings, the architecture becomes a dizzying, highly repetitive labyrinth of towering red walls and identical wooden doorways. Without a reliable map, you can easily wander in circles for hours.Adding to this logistical challenge is the relentless reality of the crowds. The place remains absolutely packed with people even though it is a weekday, creating a vibrant yet undeniably chaotic atmosphere at primary tourist bottlenecks.Overall, it a great place to visit.
The Palace Museum
