Beijing B.S.A. Troop 943 Trip DirectionsSHIDU (TEN CROSSINGS) AND THE PU DU MOUNTAIN RESORT
Location: Southwest of Beijing, approximately 2 hours from Downtown Beijing
What it Costs: There is no entry fee to get into the Shidu scenic area but rest assured that everything in Shidu costs money, except the hiking. At the Pu Du Resort (see below) a standard double room (2 single beds) is 380 RMB a night. A spacious suite (queen size bed and separate living room) is 880 RMB a night (spring 2004 prices).
What's There: Every tacky Chinese "scenic" spot tourist activity imaginable, horseback riding, zip lines, bungee jumping, fireworks, ATVs, log river rafts. Lots of restaurants, hotels, souvenirs, snacks and water. The Pu Du resort (see below) has a Chinese restaurant, an indoor pool and a bowling alley.
Although there are tourist spots featuring all of the standard Chinese tourist activities all along the valley, the hub of the Shidu vacation area is the spot approximately 10 miles into the river valley where the bungee jumping towers are located. At and near this spot you will find all manner of attractions.
Hiking/Camping Potential: The Pu Du Resort, about a mile past the main attraction area, offers some excellent hiking and scenery. The Pu Du resort itself is a fairly new (opened in June 2001), modern 2-star hotel at the base of a network of miles of well-maintained, well-marked hiking trails winding far up into the valley, past goat herders sheds, ancient sea stone fossils, beautiful rock formations and several caves. There is a perfect camping spot 15 minutes up the trail at the ruins of a goat herders shed. The area around this shed is flat, open and has enough room for a number of tents. Continue up the main trail for several more miles and you will reach a spot high in the valley with a series of raised plateaus stair-stepping upward. These are perfectly flat, free of brush and would be ideal for camping. There is a water source along the lower part of the trail, none higher up.
How to Get There (there's a quicker way to get there but I don't know it):
1. From 3rd Ring Rd. take the exit for the Jingshi Expressway in the SW corner of the city. This exit is not marked well so you have to look carefully. It seems that you can exit onto the Jingshi Expressway from 5th Ring Rd. also but this wasn't attempted. There does not appear to be an exit onto the Jingshi Expressway coming from the east on 4th Ring Rd.2. Go 10.1 miles on the Jingshi Expressway from the entry toll booth and exit at Fangshan, the next exit after Liang Xiang. Go straight off the exit.
3. After a couple tenths of a mile you will come to a split in the road. Go left over the overpass toward Fangshan and Shidu )signed in Pinyin).
4. Go over the next overpass, following the sign for Zhou Kou Dian.
5. Approximately 10 miles after exiting from the Jingshi Expressway, and after going through a city and out the other side, turn left at the 4th traffic light (several of which may not be working). The sign says Beijing Ankang Hospital and the sign just before the light points to Shidu, 51 KM). Follow the signs for Yun Ju Si.
6. Go approximately 7 miles and turn right at the next light (also may not be working). The sign says Shidu 38 KM in very small print and Yun Ju Si Temple 12 KM in larger print.
7. Go approximately 7 miles and just before you get to Yun Ju Si temple you will come to a light (may not be working). The sign says Yun Ju Si straight ahead and Shidu (in Chinese characters only) and Zhang Fang (in Pinyin) 8 KM to the left. Turn left.
8. Go approximately 5.5 miles and turn right at the Sinopec station. The sign says Shidu 20 KM. 2 KM later you will pass under a big Chinese arch that says Shidu in Chinese characters. The road here follows the river and rises as it winds around. You'll see signs that say Shidu in Chinese characters and give the distance. Continue driving through the valley with stone hills rising up on both sides. Cross the river and continue along the valley. After crossing the river 7 or 8 more times, you'll see the zip lines, bungee jumping and various other attractions on your right.
9. To continue on to the Pu Du Resort, come to a 'T' in the road with a big white hotel-looking building in front of you. Turn left. As soon as you cross the river again the Pu Du Resort is on your left. Go through the entrance and up the long drive. You can park at the hotel or continue up the road toward the Happy Buddha Temple. If you continue past the stairs leading to the Happy Buddha Temple you can park at the dam where the road ends and the trails begin.
April 20, 2004[ Home]
[
[
Troop 943
This domain is administered by Mikel G. Edwards
© Beijing B.S.A. Troop 943
All rights reserved.
