Intelligence Valley
A relaxing stroll that follows a stream through a wooded valley, passing pools and sandy beaches on the way to the end.

Spring Festival Holiday Hike!
The Intelligence Valley hike is one of the easiest ones we’ve got, and it’s a good choice for young children.
It’s a flat hike, and the path takes us alongside a stream and over rocks as we walk down through the valley. We’ve got some walking sticks to bring along - these will assist with balance in slippery spots.
At this time of year all the streams and pools will have frozen over, and we’ll do a bit of walking on ice. Along the way are several swimming holes, and these will all be well frozen. We should be able to walk out on the ice. The biggest of these is near the end of the hike, and is called the Dragon Pool.
After finishing our walk through the valley we will arrive at Shentangyu Park, and walk out to meet our bus. We’ll take a short drive to the guesthouse of one of our farmer friends for a nice big lunch of homestyle Chinese food, and then head home, with an option to take a short climb on a nearby stretch of Great Wall.
What to bring on this hike
- Snacks to eat
- Warm clothes, gloves, and a hat
- Comfortable walking shoes or good hiking boots
- (Click here to read our full What to Bring on a Hike list)
Reasons you might not enjoy this hike
- It’s a short hike, and we take it really slow. Because it’s winter we won’t be taking long breaks, and this hike could feel like it’s over too soon!