Guanting Reservoir (官厅水库)

Guanting Reservoir is located on the border between Zhangjiakou, Hebei province and Yanqing District, Beijing, and is the first large reservoir after the New China was founded. Guanting Reservoir is located at the entrance of Guanting Valley. It is said that a post had been set up here to guard the water here.

Guanting Reservoir had once been the main source that supplied water for Beijing. Different traditional gardens were built along the water channel and they formed the views for tourists too. The reservoir is sandwiched by the mountains on two of its sides and the water area is vast.

In addition, tourists see views like the huge Chinese ink disc and the largest Buddha hall housing thousands of Buddha statues, Puzhao Temple, Three-Fairy Cave and other views.

Windmills stand on either side of the river banks and they work to generate power and also look like soldiers guarding the river. In winter, the reservoir will be wrapped by a layer of thick ice. If you are brave enough, you might as well pace on it. Locals may often go fishing here during the cold season, and this is fantastic!