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Ancient cliff dwellings are dwellings carved out of steep cliffs by ancient people. On both sides of a ravine less than 10 meters wide in the canyon, on the steep granite walls covering nearly 100,000 square meters from the bottom of the valley, there are stone chambers of different sizes carved out by humans.
The natural village formed by the location of the stone chambers excavated in Guyaju can be divided into two areas, the front and the back. There are 91 stone chambers excavated on the south, north and east slopes of the front ditch; there are 26 stone chambers excavated on the east slope of the back ditch; the entrances of these stone chambers are adjacent to each other, and the positions are staggered and orderly. The stone chambers are generally about 1.8 meters high and rectangular or square, and most of them are three suites with one bright and two dark. All the stone chambers are distributed in layers, and there are stone steps, stone ladders and trestle bridges between the layers.
Attraction Location: Yanqing District (延庆区), northwest of Beijing, about 80 kilometers from downtown. The site is near Zhangshanying Town (张山营镇) at the foot of the Yan Mountain range (燕山山脉).
History: Guyaju is an ancient cliff dwelling site believed to date back over 1,000 years. Scholars debate its origin: some suggest it was built by the Tangut people (党项族) during the late Tang or early Liao Dynasty, while others believe it was a military garrison or a hidden refuge. Its exact builders and purpose remain a mystery, adding to its intrigue.
Architecture: The site contains more than 110 stone-carved caves distributed across the cliffs. These caves form multi-room “apartments” with living spaces, kitchens, storage areas, and even meeting halls. The layout resembles an ancient “stone city.” Carved stairways, windows, and doorways connect the chambers, creating a unique vertical community carved into rock.
Cultural Value: Guyaju is considered Beijing’s largest and most complete cliff-dwelling complex. It is both an archaeological wonder and a cultural mystery, representing rare cliff-house traditions in northern China. The site combines elements of military defense, community living, and religious refuge, making it a unique part of China’s cultural heritage.
Other Information: Surrounded by mountains and valleys, Guyaju also offers scenic hiking opportunities. It is a combination of historical site and natural landscape, attracting both history enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:00 (last entry around 16:30; hours may shorten in winter).
Ticket Price:
Adults: ~¥40
Children/Students/Seniors: ~¥20
Children under 1.2m: Free
Best Photo Spots:
– Cliff face showing dense cave openings
– Inside multi-room caves with stone-carved doors/windows
– Viewpoints overlooking the valley and mountains
– Sunrise or sunset shots with caves silhouetted against the sky
Time Reference: Allow 2–3 hours to explore the cave dwellings and hiking paths. A half-day trip is ideal when combined with nearby attractions in Yanqing.
Other Information: Paths can be steep and uneven. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for climbing steps. Some caves are narrow or dark, so bring a flashlight if desired.
It was beyond my expectation. It was really great. It was a nice day in Beijing. There were few people on weekdays. The valley was cool. It took only 1.5 hours to take pictures and walk slowly. Occasionally, I could see cute little squirrels. There were cute little rabbits raised by the staff at the gate. You can also see the Guanting Reservoir in the distance when you reach the top of the mountain.
Guyaju is a site where you can see the houses carved out by the ancients on the mountain.
The panoramic view of Guyaju is still very shocking. There are two bedrooms and three bedrooms in the house.
The whole picture of the Orenda tribe can be seen on the Guyaju Mountain.
The ancient cliff dwelling can be said to be an eternal mystery: there is no exact record of it in historical books; no carvings or writings have been found on the mountain or in the cave dwellings; the unearthed cultural relics so far are not sufficient to prove the age of its excavation and the ethnic group that inhabited it; and no one knows what its purpose was.
The ancient cliff dwelling is a wonder of all ages: first, it is secluded, facing the sun and sheltered from the wind, and has a water source. It makes scientific use of the terrain, topography and natural conditions that are easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is a wonder; second, the excavation of the ancient cliff dwelling is complex, with seven or eight layers stacked up and down. It is different from the current buildings. Each hole in the stone chamber has a different structure. It has both public passages and is relatively independent and fully functional. The large amount of engineering is a wonder in the history of architecture; third, the overall function of the mountain stronghold is reasonably arranged. It can be used to advance to Guichuan, retreat to the mountains to defend the dangerous places, and escape to the deep valleys in case of defeat. This comprehensive and complete military intention is even more amazing. "
Guyaju is located in a quiet canyon in the mountainous area northwest of Yanqing, Beijing. It is said that Guyaju is a rock dwelling cave excavated by ancient ancestors on the steep rock wall, with a total of 117 caves. This is the largest cliff dwelling site discovered in my country. With the arrival of spring, the mountains and forests around Guyaju are covered with new green clothes, the flowers are smiling, the air is fresh, and the scenery is pleasant! The ticket for Guyaju is 35 yuan, which is a good value for money.
Recently I took bus No. Y40 to Guyaju in Yanqing. The scenic spot is very nice and beautiful. The three-bedroom cave is very interesting. The canteen is quite good, and a popsicle costs three yuan. You can see Guanting Reservoir on the mountain. The surrounding environment is also very good.
The bus is a scheduled bus, so be sure to check the schedule before you come. It takes about two hours to play.
I had a chance to visit Yanqing Guyaju. It was my first time here and someone else covered the tickets. It was casual and the overall feeling was good.
[Location] I was driven there, it's in the northwest of Yanqing, it seems to be located on the edge of Hebei. Just treat it as a stopover and go to Hebei (゜▼゜＊)
[Ticket] I didn't buy the ticket this time, but I saw it was sold for 50 yuan on the reviews, which is indeed a bit expensive. The main road of this scenic spot, including climbing and taking pictures, does not exceed 2 hours to complete
[Scenery] Go up the mountain on one road, climb to the top to see the Ancient Cliff Residence and then go back on another road. It takes less than two hours to go down. The mountain road is not difficult to walk and not high, but there are no guardrails in many places, so be careful when taking pictures. The Ancient Cliff Residence is still quite spectacular, a bit like a small grotto. How could the ancient Chinese be so powerful (゜▼゜＊)
I came in late May. Guyaju is located at the junction of Yanqing District and Hebei Province. The basic service facilities in the scenic area (parking lot, toilets, tourist information service center, etc.) have reached the star standard, and the roads inside and outside the scenic area are complete and up to standard. Ancient ruins such as Guyaju are known as the mystery of the ages, the wonder of the ages, very rare, and of great cultural and historical value. The scenic area is not large, it only takes 1 hour to walk the whole way, the environment is quiet, suitable for all kinds of people to visit. The ticket is a bit expensive, 55 yuan/person, and you can use the Beijing Scenic Annual Pass. If you come to Yanqing to play, it is recommended to go there.
The mysterious ancient cliff dwelling is a fun place, not many people ~ Be sure to bring a flashlight, flashlight, flashlight, important things are said three times ~ The light on the phone is not bright enough ~ You can finish the tour in one morning ~
The wisdom of the ancients is admirable! But I really can't praise the current tourism department!!! You dare to charge 50 yuan for a small ancient cliff dwelling ticket. You really haven't done anything to build a stone staircase and install a guardrail. Then this hole was really not dug by you!!! You are too evil!!!
The ticket to Guyaju is not expensive, 25 yuan for students, the ticket office and toilets are very clean. Because the landform here is very unique, and the history and stories of Guyaju are mysteries for thousands of years, the scenic spot introduction signs along the way basically introduce geographical knowledge. From time to time, there are sounds coming from the rocks and pines, some unknown birds and squirrels.
It's a bit far, but it's still worth the trip. First of all, the scenic spots are concentrated, the place is not big, and the mountains are not high, so it's not tiring to visit, suitable for bringing the elderly and children. Secondly, whether it's Guyaju, the surrounding colorful hills, or the Guanting Reservoir in the distance, they are all very beautiful. The parking lot is large, but it's free. The toilets outside the scenic area are also very distinctive. The surrounding scenery is also good.
The filming location of the attack on Tulun City in "The Secret History of Taizu", the filming location of the beauty's fight against the "savages" in "The Invincible Warrior", the filming location of Tiger Mountain in "Iron Pear Flower", and the filming location of the movie version of "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch - Kingdom of the Moon"
I stayed in Yanqing on the first day and took the bus there. It was quite far, but there were buses so I thought it was OK. I didn't have high expectations at first, but I found it quite interesting when I got there. There were not many people. I had to climb a little bit of the mountain. There were many cliff caves inside, which was pretty good.
I drove there by myself. On weekends, there was usually a little traffic jam at Juyongguan Great Wall, but it was no big deal. The scenery is quite unique, the historical sites are very historic, and I admire the wisdom of the Chinese people! There are mountains but no water in the scenery, but the scenery is still good, and it doesn't take too much time to play the whole way
Very special, the ancient cliff dwelling should be a cave dug by the ancients
After visiting Songshan, we went to visit Guyaju next door.
The Guyaju Scenic Area is the largest ancient cave settlement site discovered in Beijing. It is located in a canyon northwest of Xizhangshanying in Yanqing County. There are 117 caves in total, which were carved out of the gravel granite on the cliff wall. They were carved by the "Xi people leaving various tribes" during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods.
Very unique, bigger than expected, but there is no bathroom, which is terrible
A trip that exceeded expectations. Worth seeing in Beijing.
Because of the popularity and publicity issues, not many people came. During the Golden Week, cm was a little different.
A very unique place that is worth thinking about.
It feels just so-so. Not many people go there on weekends. The attraction is to the north of a group of properties under development.
Located in a quiet canyon in the mountainous area northwest of Yanqing, Beijing, it is a cave built on a steep rock wall by an ancient people who have not been recorded in historical records.
The scenery is very unique, with small hills, which do not require much physical strength and can be completed within an hour.
The Guyaju Site is the largest ancient cave settlement site discovered in Beijing. It is located in a canyon northwest of Xizhangshanying in Yanqing County. There are 117 caves in total, which were carved out of the gravel granite on the cliff wall. They were carved by the "Xi people leaving various tribes" during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods.
I was impressed by how the ancients could use the terrain and topography so scientifically and skillfully, and built such wonderful military engineering and home buildings on such steep cliffs. Only then did I truly understand why the ancient cliff dwellings can be called a wonder of the ages.
The area of the ancient cliff dwelling is not large, and there is no definite conclusion on when and by whom it was built and for what purpose. The main thing is that we can intuitively understand some knowledge, such as the different traces of magma after the volcanic eruption, and also know how Yanqing was formed.
Ancient cliff dwellings are caves that were dug on cliffs by ancient humans for living purposes. The largest ancient cliff dwelling site to date has been discovered in Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing County, Beijing, with a total of 117 caves.
It was almost noon when we drove to Guyaju, and it was around two o'clock when we finished strolling around. There were not many people, and it was a small circle. Tickets were available for group purchase online for 30 yuan.
Yanqing Ancient Cliff Dwelling is the largest cliff dwelling site discovered in North China. It is known as the "No. 1 Maze in China". It is a residence built by ancient ancestors on a steep cliff with a total of 117 caves. It is the largest and highest-grade ancient cave settlement site discovered in Beijing. There are still many different opinions about its excavation time and purpose.
Because Guyaju is far away and the scenic area is small, I personally recommend a two-day tour together with Songshan.
Tour of Guyaju
Fees include:
1) Ticket price: 40 yuan/adult; 20 yuan/student
2) Tour guide: 40 yuan
3) Parking fee: 5 yuan/vehicle/time
Guyaju is a cultural relic known as an eternal mystery. Following the guide, we visited the stables and living quarters excavated by the ancients in the mountain, and the Xi Palace where the leader lived is comparable to the current single-family villa. According to archaeological speculation, this should be where the Xi people lived during the Tang and Liao dynasties. The construction industry was quite developed in the Tang Dynasty, but the ancient Xi people did not know how to cut down trees to build houses, but had to hollow out the mountain to build houses. It seems that they should be a very backward tribe.
Ancient Cliff Dwelling was discovered when rocks on the mountain weathered and cracked one year. According to archaeological evidence, it was a cave dug by a Xi tribe that lived here from the end of the Tang Dynasty to the beginning of the Song Dynasty.
Ancient Cliff Dwelling is a cultural relic with a mystery for thousands of years. It is located in a quiet canyon in the mountainous area in the northwest of Yanqing, Beijing. It is a group of ancient ancestors who have not been recorded in historical records and dug caves on the steep rock walls. There are 117 caves in total. This is the largest cliff dwelling site discovered in my country. This site has been rated as a scenic spot in Beijing, a key cultural relic protection unit in Beijing and a national youth education base. On the three sides of the canyon, the steep rock walls are covered with large stone rooms carved by humans, some rectangular, some square, the large ones are more than 20 square meters, and the small ones are only 3-4 square meters; some are single rooms, some are connected with 2-3 rooms; some are parallel suites, some are up and down two floors; and there are typical "three-bedroom houses". Among them, there is a stone cave with two floors up and down, equipped with ear rooms and clear corridors. It may be the place where the cave owner gathered or worshipped. It is spacious and majestic, and the mountain people call it "official hall". All the caves are equipped with doors, windows, kangs, stoves, horse troughs, wall kitchens, flues, etc. Some are round, some are square, and they follow the rules of Chinese aesthetics.
The scenic area is not big, 1 hour is enough. There are two main cliff caves, both of which were places where ancient humans lived thousands of years ago. Some cliff caves close to the ground can be visited. Most of the trails are easy to walk, and there is no problem for the elderly and children, but you must pay attention to safety when visiting the cliff caves.
Guyaju has historical and educational significance, and you can play in the cave. Children will also like it, so it is recommended to visit.
A good place to bring children, which can not only satisfy their curiosity, but also enlighten their social science qualities. You can also take this opportunity to tell the legend of Yanhuang, Nuwa and Chiyou in ancient times. The key is that you can also exercise your physical fitness a little. When we came, there were not many people, and there was hot water for washing hands in the bathroom, which was really touching.