Black Dragon Pool

Located in Shicheng Town, Miyun County in the northeast suburb of Beijing, the Black Dragon Pool, Heilongtan in Chinese, is about 62 miles (100 kilometers) from the city center of Beijing. The scenic area extends into the luxuriant Gulu Valley with a length of 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) and a drop of water level reaching 720 feet (220 meters). Featuring wonderful water scenery, it is an amazing summer resort for nature lovers. Three waterfalls and eighteen pools, with unique characteristics, are scattered along the serpentine watercourse, creating changing scenes as visitors progress along the valley.
 

There is a legend which tells us that in ancient times, there were two dragons living in the valley. When they divided up the family property and lived apart, the kind black dragon left their magnificent home, the White Dragon Pool, to his little brother the white dragon. He proceeded to the desolate Gulu Valley alone. The black dragon worked day and night to transform the wild valley. The local mountain god wanted to help the black dragon, so he gave him a colored ribbon and eighteen pearls. The black dragon cast the eighteen pearls into the valley, and there and then they became pools of crystal water.
 

The First Black Dragon Pool is the first pool in sight to greet visitors when entering the scenic area. You will arrive in the First Pool Waterfall beyond First Black Dragon Pool after 3 minutes’ walking. The 98-feet (30-meter) waterfall roars down the cliff, and splashes when it hits a ridge jutting 4 feet (1.3 meters) from the middle of the cliff. The torrent stirs up a cloud of mist as it dashes towards the pool below. It presents a splendid sight to visitors. The pool covers an area of 60 square yards (50 square meters). Above the southern rock stands the Dragon’s Head Rock while the Tiger Stone emerging from the northern rock, so there is the local saying - “the dragon on duty at the gate and the tiger guarding the pass”.
 

Proceed now to the Hanging Pool and Sinking Pool. The Hanging Pool is 16 feet (5 meters) above the Sinking Pool. The Hanging Pool is surrounded by stones. The water in it is deep and the outlet is small - a narrow fissure. The two pools are closely related and present a pleasant spectacle to visitors.

Walk further and you will admire the Celestial Connection Waterfall and Wild Goose Perch Pool. The Celestial Connection Waterfall is over 164 feet (50 meters) in height so it seems that the waterfall is dropping from the sky. The drifting surrounding water fog makes the place like a fairyland. Wild Goose Perch Pool is formed by the sand precipitation from the Celestial Connection Waterfall. The surface of the water occupies over 120 square yards (100 square meters) and the depth is about 10 - 13 feet (3 - 4 meters). The terrain here is flat, so the cobblestones and flourishing plants offer a good habitat for wild geese in early spring and winter. Therefore this pool got the name of Wild Goose Perch Pool.

Passing the Flat Sand Pool, Curving Pool, Dripping Pool and Reed Pool you will reach two attractive scenic spots. The Three Lapped Pool is made up of three small pools strewn at random within 164 feet (50 meters). The Hedgehog Stone is located in southeast of Three Lapped Pool. The stone forms the shape of a vivid hedgehog with high forehead, sharp mouth and four folded legs, and the flowers and plants look like the prickles on the back of the hedgehog.

Going still further you will find the Dragon Playing Pool. It features a splendid waterfall whirling down the cliff, like a silver dragon flying in the sky. After the Dragon Playing Pool are String Pearls Pool and Bottomless Pool.

The last pool is True Black Dragon Pool. The pool, with picturesque scenery, is the most spectacular of all the eighteen pools. The pool hides under a stone and the mouth of the pool is concealed between the cliffs, so it looks like a pearl hidden inside the clamshell. In southern mouth of the pool is an oval stone wall and in northern mouth stands a darkish cliff. In the middle wall of the cliff is a crevice which is 3.3 feet (1 meter) in width and over 33 feet (10 meters) in length. Inside the slit there are two small pools, one called Spring Flower Pool and the other is Autumn Moon Pool.

 The best time to visit this scenic area is from April to October. From March to May it offers a good place for spring outing and a summer resort from July to September. The Chestnut Festival in the fall (from September to October) and Maple Leaf Viewing Festival (from October to November) also attract many visitors.
 Take bus 980 or 980 Express at Dongzhimen Hub Station and get off at Miyun Gulou Station. Then walk to the north for a few minutes to take bus Mi 63 or Mi 67 and get off at Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool) Station.
Note that Mi 63 and Mi 67 have fixed schedule as following.
  Mi 63 (Miyun Theatre - Sihetang): 7:00, 9:00, 10:40, 12:40, 15:10, 17:30 from Miyun Theatre; 6:50, 8:30, 10:30, 12:10, 15:10, 17:30 from Sihetang
  Mi 67 (Miyun Theatre - Pengheyan): 8:30, 11:30, 17:00 from Miyun Theatre; 6:30, 10:00, 14:00 from Pengheyan
Beijing Bus / Subway Search

Admission Fee:	CNY 60. Free for children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters).
Opening Hours:	09:00 - 17:00 (stop entry at 16:00)

 Recommended Nearby Attractions:
  The First Waterfall in Beijing: about 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) from Black Dragon Pool
  Lupiguan Great Wall
  Yunmeng Mountain
 
 Further Reading: Top 10 Things to Do in Beijing in Winter