Thinking of Beijing’s “Northern Gateway?” That’s Huairou District. It sits about 50 kilometers from Beijing’s heart. A drive takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Huairou’s history stretches back. The name surfaced around 1300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. “Huairou” means “Solicit Comfort.” The Ming Dynasty established Huairou County in 1368 AD. The area was largely the same as today’s district.
In 1995, the United Nation’s 4th World’s Women Conference met in Beijing. Civil Society was directed to Huairou District. It was an hour from the main events. Many felt sidelined. Yet, GROOTS International organized a village for grassroots women. Here, the Huairou Commission formed. This NGO ensures grassroots women have a voice at UN conferences.
Film found a home here too. In 1995, Yangsong developed its film industry. China Film Group Corporation built a studio in Huairou in 2005. Also, APEC China 2014, another international conference, occurred here.
Huairou District covers 2,557.3 square kilometers. Mountains dominate 90 percent of the area. Forests cover 69%. It is known as Beijing’s natural “oxygen bar”. Huairou is vital for Beijing’s environmental health.
The district has two subdistricts and 12 towns. Two ethnic townships also exist here. Huairou’s urban section has an estimated area of 11.5 square kilometers. About 90,000 people live there.
Huairou has a humid continental climate. The average temperature is 12.0 °C. Rainfall averages 618.0 mm annually. July is the wettest month. July’s temperatures average 26.2 °C. January sees lows around -4.6 °C.
Chestnuts, walnuts, hawthorns, sweet pears, and apricots grow well here.
The Great Wall winds through Huairou District. Mutianyu is a popular section for tourists. The Lakeside Great Wall sits in Huanghuacheng village. This section is known for its proximity to a man-made reservoir. Parts of the Great Wall are even submerged.
Hong Luo Mountain is another attraction. The Hong Luo Temple sits on this mountain.
Yangsong attracts film buffs. It has the China Film Group studio. Stellar Megamedia studio is also located here. You can also find the Beijing Vintage Car Museum.
Huairou District blends history, nature, and modern development. It’s more than just Beijing’s “Northern Gateway”. It’s a destination.