[2025 Tianjin Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuqiao Reservoir (Updated Oct)

1. Core Autumn Viewing Spots: Unlock the Seasonal Limited Chinese Aesthetic (1) The Magnificent Autumn of the North Gubei Water Town in Beijing is an excellent example of Chinese autumn scenery. The ruins of Simatai Great Wall blend with the red leaves covering the mountains, and the gray tiles of mountain courtyards appear faintly among the colorful forests. When climbing the Great Wall, the blue bricks underfoot intertwine with the "red sea" ahead. Lanterns light up at dusk, and the shadows of red leaves fall softly on the bluestone slabs, fully displaying the ancient charm of the "Red Leaf Town at the Foot of the Great Wall." To avoid crowds, take a morning stroll by Worry-free Lake, watch the autumn water reflect the red and yellow intertwined tree crowns, listen to the wind blowing through leaves and flowing water in harmony, and immerse yourself in the "painting-like autumn." Tianjin Huangyaguan Great Wall highlights autumn with its steepness. Along the 42-kilometer wall, maple and persimmon trees splash golden red colors, and the blue bricks and black tiles of Bagua City surrounded by colorful forests resemble an ancient painting. Taking the cable car for an aerial view, the green of coniferous forests and the red and yellow of broadleaf forests form layers. From the mountain top, you can see the shimmering Cuiping Lake and the autumn scenery of the Yanshan Mountains, fully displaying the grandeur of "one man guarding the pass" and the brilliance of autumn. (2) The Graceful Autumn of Jiangnan Tianping Mountain in Suzhou holds the poetic charm of Jiangnan autumn. Over 300 ancient maples, weathered for more than 400 years, turn vividly red in late autumn, forming an ink painting scene with ancient temples, clear springs, and golden ginkgo trees. Wangfeng Terrace is the best viewing spot, where red maples, green bamboo, and blue-tiled flying eaves frame the scene, making every snapshot a "Jiangnan autumn exclusive." Enter the park before 6:30 a.m., and sunlight filters through the branches casting mottled shadows on the bluestone slabs. Wearing a moon-white Hanfu and leaning on the railing, you fully embody the beauty of Chinese-style blank space. The autumn drying scenes in Huizhou villages are known as a "moving palette." After the autumn equinox, chili peppers and persimmons spread red and yellow blocks on drying racks, contrasting with horse-head walls and black tile eaves. When the morning mist lingers, smoke rises gently, and the colors on the racks appear more vivid in the haze. Paired with the gradually reddening Chinese tallow trees by the village, it fully displays the beauty of agricultural civilization and nature. (3) The Secret Plateau Autumn The autumn of Daocheng Yading is like a richly colored oil painting. The meadows of Luorong Pasture turn golden, poplar groves and fiery red shrubs surround the blue Milk Lake, and the snowy peaks of Xianuoduoji Mountain are dotted with white. Hiking from Chonggu Temple to Pearl Lake, the fallen leaves rustle underfoot, and the lake reflects the red leaves and snow-capped mountains, each step a stunning "heaven for the eyes." Staying in Yading Village, you can witness the golden sunlight on the mountains, with morning light casting warmth on the colorful forests, snow mountains, and red leaves. 2. Immersive Experience: Chinese-style Activities and Photography Tips (1) Themed Activities - Ancient Architecture Autumn Hunt: The ginkgo avenue in Beijing’s Old Summer Palace is covered with fallen leaves that rustle underfoot, recreating the "autumn of the ancient capital" described by Yu Dafu; the millennium-old ginkgo trees at Xi’an Ancient Guanyin Zen Temple begin to turn golden, with fallen leaves forming a golden carpet, creating a Zen painting with the temple’s red walls. - Landscape Autumn Appreciation: Kanas’ Fairy Bay is shrouded in morning mist, where the golden birch trees blend with the emerald lake, and smoke curls from the Tuvan wooden houses, like a fairy tale; at Yanqi Lake, take a boat around the island, watch cormorants skim the water, ginkgo forests spread along the shore, distant mountains like ink, and autumn waters misty. - Folk Autumn Knowledge: The autumn in Taierzhuang Ancient City hides the bustling city life. Take a rowboat on the Ai River, see red lanterns reflected in the water on both banks, stand at the bow in Hanfu, with flowing sleeves rippling with the waves, just like the poetic scene of "a river of fishing lights and ten miles of singing." (2) Photography and Outfit Guide Outfits mainly feature the new Chinese style: brown cotton-linen cardigans paired with khaki slip dresses, accessorized with vintage tassel bags and peace buckle necklaces, exuding a cool vibe; or choose moon-white or cyan Hanfu, holding a round fan in front of red walls and ancient maples, with light and shadow filtering through branches onto the sleeves, full of Zen spirit. Photography spots are cleverly chosen: at Gubei Water Town, select the distant view of Simatai Great Wall, letting the red leaves become the Great Wall’s "natural backdrop"; at Tianping Mountain’s Wangfeng Terrace, shoot from a low angle with blue tiles and flying eaves framing the red leaves; at Kanas’ Fish Viewing Platform at sunset, let the sunset gild the lake and colorful forests. 3. Practical Guide: Avoiding Pitfalls and Trip Planning (1) Best Time and Transportation - Northern Region: Mid-October to early November is best. In Beijing, take Metro Line 10 and transfer to the Western Suburb Line to Xiangshan; in Tianjin, Panshan is best reached by car, with colorful forests along the mountain roads. - Jiangnan Region: Late October to mid-November. In Suzhou, take Metro Line 1 and transfer to Bus 662 to Tianping Mountain; in Huizhou villages, renting a car is recommended for convenient stops and sightseeing. - Plateau Region: Late September to early October. For Daocheng Yading, fly to Daocheng Airport then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus; for Kanas, self-driving or joining a pure-play tour is recommended to explore less-visited spots. (2) Pitfalls and Tips Popular red leaf spots require advance reservations; Xiangshan and Tianping Mountain are best visited on weekdays; the plateau has large temperature differences (0-15°C), so bring down jackets and oxygen tanks, and avoid strenuous exercise; Jiangnan is rainy, so carry umbrellas and non-slip shoes. For accommodation, book 1-2 months in advance in Kanas Tuvan Village and Daocheng Yading Village; in Gubei Water Town, choose waterside homestays to enjoy lantern-lit red leaves at night. Autumn is brief and poetic. Whether it’s the grandeur of Great Wall red leaves, the grace of Jiangnan ancient maples, or the brilliance of plateau colorful forests, all vividly interpret Chinese aesthetics. Pack your bags, set off with longing for autumn, and let every fallen leaf and ray of autumn light become a romantic Chinese-style footnote on your journey.

Highway 233 is gently wrapped in mist 🌫️. Although visibility is not as good as on clear days, it unexpectedly unlocks a mysterious filter for this "most beautiful sky road in Tianjin"! The mountains on both sides appear faintly through the fog, and the rainbow lane sparkles on the wet road surface. You can't help but want to capture this poetic moment with your phone 📸. 🔭 The 233 Café at Sanjiadian Service Area (address: inside Sanjiadian Service Area on Highway 233) looks like a fairyland tea room in the clouds ☁️. 💡 Tip: Café opening hours are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. From the viewing platform, you can usually see Yuqiao Reservoir (Cuiping Lake) in the distance, but now it transforms into a hazy ink painting. This blank space is so beautiful it takes your breath away. 💭 The mist dances with the mountains, and nature paints this natural ink scroll. It’s recommended to visit between 6:00 and 8:00 AM to catch the sea of clouds with a very high chance! 🚗 Travel tips: It’s recommended to drive and navigate to "Highway 233." About 1.5 hours’ drive from Tianjin city center. There are multiple viewing platforms along the way where you can park and take photos. But please be very careful driving in foggy weather ⚠️.

A Poetic Road Trip Along Jizhou's Route 233: Coffee Aromas, Cloud-Kissed Highways & Reservoir Serenity The tires hum softly against the asphalt of Jizhou's Route 233, this winding gray-blue ribbon through the Yanshan foothills that filters away urban clamor. Rolling down the window, mountain breezes carry the sweetness of locust blossoms into the car, transforming navigation coordinates into living landscapes. Unlike trendy scenic routes, Route 233 preserves old-school road trip romance—where you might brake abruptly after a bend just to glimpse a kingfisher skimming Yuqiao Reservoir's surface. 1. 233 Café: Waystation for Road Poets Location: Northwest of Route 233 & Maping Highway intersection Signature drink: Mountain Mist Latte (local Jizhou beans + honeycomb sugar) This converted maintenance depot still bears 1990s transport department plaques on its walls. The bell chimes as you enter; the overall-clad owner—a former Qinghai-Tibet trucker—greets you with photos documenting the route's thirty seasons. The latte arrives crowned with wild hawthorn flakes, its Arabica bitterness yielding to tart surprises like the road ahead. Cast-iron chairs frame picture windows where freight trucks and convertibles trace moving lines across the glass. Hand-drawn maps hide in the Lonely Planet guidebook, while a guestbook confesses: "Two idle hours here outshine a frantic city day." 2. Ninefold Cloud Highway: Geometry in the Sky Best vista: Parking area at K187+500 (317m elevation gain) After the 47th marker, the road coils into the "Ninefold Bends"—switchbacks ascending through afternoon clouds that transform tarmac into floating ribbon. From the fourth bend, watch preceding curves emerge from sea of mist like earth's fingerprints. At dusk, guardrails gild into golden threads against indigo mountains. Veterans wait for "double rainbow hour" when reservoir showers meet sunset, while cliffside rhododendrons scatter petals across reflective road markers—a visual symphony. 3. Yuqiao Reservoir: Nature's Adagio Hidden gem: West bank near Yangzhuang (300m trail past "Yangzhuang Farmhouse") While crowds gather at northside platforms, true poetry lives along western wild paths. At dawn, mercury-still waters ripple only with fish leaps startling grebes in the reeds. Foldable chairs on shallows reveal morning ferries fracturing mountain reflections in the water. Old fishermen whisper of "mirror moments"—around 9am on windless days when 45-degree sunlight turns the reservoir into turquoise glass, its dam outflows creating abstract-expressionist white surges against calm. Derelict quarries nearby now bloom with asters and roses, their rusted cliffs bearing 1970s political slogans—perfect backdrops for contemplative photography. 4. Road Trip Essentials - Hidden gem: Fork after K201 leads to WWII underground armory ruins with sweet wild apricots - Photography rule: "Mornings for water, noon for roads, sunsets at 7:30" (summer) - Local flavors: "Old Zhou's Fish House" for reservoir fish-head stew; "Mountain Nook" B&B's stargazing rooms reveal Milky Way - Pro tip: Late September to mid-October paints roadside sumacs scarlet, but watch for morning frost At K225's fork—straight to Eastern Qing Tombs, right toward Huangyaguan Pass—Jizhou whispers its metaphor: every road births new possibilities. In the rearview mirror, Route 233 sheds its map-line sterility, becoming memory's mosaic of coffee aromas, cloud-swirled bends, and light-dappled waters. These curves teach us to slow down, the reservoir bids us linger, and the café's chalkboard wisdom lingers: "Every destination lies along the road—and the road itself is the destination."

✅Chunshanli Community "Aranya" is located at the foot of Panshan Mountain, surrounded by mountains. There are large lawns for children to play, tent camping sites, various small animals at Spring Mountain Farm, and the Laminated Nature Research Institute (various insect specimens). Bonfire night, there are community canteens, cafes, small supermarkets, and children's play facilities ✅ Mars coffee landing plan The Mars Coffee Camp, which was transformed from an abandoned mine, has a volcanic atmosphere. When the sun sets, it has the experience of a golden mountain. It is very photogenic (you can also rent spacesuits on site). ✅Yuqiao Reservoir Known as the "Little Erhai", it is the same type of "Ring-Sea" road in Dali. There are mobile coffee shops, cold noodles, and bowl holders on the roadside. There are chairs provided to sit by the water. The panoramic view of the reservoir and the city in the distance is unobstructed. While drinking coffee, enjoy the view

On the weekend, I originally planned to run the most beautiful road in Tianjin, Jinwei North Second Line, but I didn't want to pass the Ke Huang Line connected to it, and I was attracted by a beautiful glass house. I walked in and found a very stylish cafe. I suddenly didn't want to move on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, so a cup of coffee, a piece of scenery, an afternoon. The Ke Huang Line is the 233 National Highway, a road from Keshiketeng to Huangshan, with a total length of more than 200 kilometers. The Sanjiadian Service Area is located in the Jizhou Section of Tianjin, and it is also the No. 1 viewing platform of the Ke Huang Line. Standing on the viewing platform, on one side is the rainbow road winding through the mountains, and on the other side, you can overlook the Yuqiao Reservoir in Jizhou, with beautiful and eye-catching scenery. The 233 cafe named after the national highway number is a two-story all-glass building with a simple and clear shape. It is particularly eye-catching in the mountains. It is the best resting place for self-driving friends. The oversized floor-to-ceiling windows can see the outside scenery at a glance. 🚗Transportation: It is about ten kilometers from the central area of Jizhou, and it takes 20 minutes to drive. Free parking is available in the service area. 🕑Business hours: 9:00-21:00 🌟Tips: 1. The glass room is divided into two, 233cafe+beer garden, in addition, it can also provide simple meals and fast food. 2. The photos inside and outside the cafe are very beautiful, but there are more people on weekends. 3. There is a section of mountain trail on the side of the parking area, but it is blocked by wooden fences, but you can't see the scenery, it is only suitable for leisure walks.

| Dali-style Cangshan Erhai. Yuqiao Reservoir, also known as Cuiping Lake, is located in Jixian, Tianjin, 1.5 hours' drive from Beijing. It is one of the key national reservoirs. 🩵There are many observation points around Yuqiao Reservoir✨✨ ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, West Mountain North Bridge There is a mobile car cafe by the water here🚘 🪑You can sit by the water Have a coffee Enjoy the beautiful scenery You can see the panoramic view of the reservoir and the city in the distance🏙️ Or find a shady spot under a tree🌳 ⛺Set up a tent and enjoy the breeze There are also vendors selling liangpi and wantu🍜 ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, Waterside Town This place is really, really close to the water You can feel the wind blowing from the water up close Waterside Town is a lakeside campsite🏕️ Suitable for family outings ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, Hongfayuan Suitable for autumn You can enjoy the sky full of red flowers ⛰️There is a small mountain nearby There are many traces left by hikers on the mountain You can basically see the lake view by following the footprints on the path It's beautiful and refreshing ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, Huanxiu Lake You can navigate to "Cuiping Lake Resort Center" Don't turn in before reaching the destination Park on the side of the road where it doesn't obstruct traffic The scenery along the road is beautiful About one or two kilometers from Zhangjiayu Village entrance🏠 There is a dirt road, many people take the dirt road to get a closer look at the water ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, Starry Lake Camping Site You can drive up to this place The scenery is amazing 🌊Watching the lake from the platform feels like looking at Thousand Island Lake ∷ 📍Navigate to Yuqiao Reservoir, South Reservoir Road The observation point on South Reservoir Road offers a wide view 📸You can see the reservoir and Jixian district at eye level 🗺️Transportation 🚗1.5 hours by car from Beijing 🚄1 hour by high-speed train from Beijing

Yuqiao Reservoir is located in the eastern part of Jizhou District, Tianjin City. It is one of the key large-scale reservoirs in China. It is named Cuiping Lake because it is located south of Cuiping Mountain, which adds to its beauty. On a clear spring day, we went for a tour around the lake. The misty waves were vast, the water and sky were of the same color. Seagulls floated up and down on the northern road, while the embankment lay across the southern road. Green trees lined the embankment, and distant mountains were like ink paintings. Cuiping Lake is rich in fish and shrimp, especially famous for its golden carp, and many fish restaurants sell it.