Hiking photos - The Highest Tower, Sept. 12 2009
At 1,440m above sea level, the 'Highest Tower' was considerably lower than advertised, and is in competition with the seven towers in the Huangcaoliang area for the title of 'highest tower' in Beijing. The seven towers of Huangcaoliang look to be somewhere in between 1,400m and 1,600m above sea level, and we'll be taking the GPS out there next time we visit to find out for sure.
Setting aside the discrepancy in height, this was still an excellent hike: the trail was easy to follow, and the views were excellent.
Statistics: 4 hours hiking (5.75 hours start to finish) over 14km; start height 880m, highest point 1,440m, lowest point 680m (where we had snacks and drink after the hike). Estimated 1911kCal burned.

The path up to the reservoir at Changyucheng.

Changyucheng Reservoir.

The 'long valley'.

Butterfly on flowers.

The border of Beijing and Hebei Province.

Looking up towards the highest tower.

A view of Guanting Reservoir.

A memorial for soldiers that died fighting the Japanese army.

Highest tower on the ridge.

Clambering up on to the tower.

A view north-east from the top of the tower.

On the way down from the top.

Looking east towards Badaling.
