Plan at a glance
Reach Laozifeng by boat
The main Yishui Lake scenic area lies across the water from the shore, with no land trail to Laozifeng. Visitors must take a boat from a pier. Choose a package that includes admission and the round-trip boat ticket.
Yishui Lake has three piers—Jinpo, Jingui, and Daba—with boat access to Laozifeng. When buying a ticket, confirm the departure pier, return pier, and final boat time for that ticket. Do not assume you can board and leave freely at different piers.
Tickets and the day's schedule
The reference peak-season package price is CNY 140 from April 1 to October 31. Children under 1.2 m are exempt from the scenic-area admission fee, but still need a boat ticket. Visitors over 70 need to buy a boat ticket. Students and visitors aged 60–69 may receive half-price admission; the boat ticket is charged at the full fare.
Yishui Lake usually begins receiving visitors at 8:00 a.m. The last-entry or last-boarding time varies with the season and operating schedule; current public listings commonly show 4:00–4:30 p.m. Check the day's notice before setting out. At the pier, confirm the last time to board for the island and the final return boat. The last-entry time is not the final return-boat time. Do not plan around sunset until you have confirmed the return service.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Choosing among the three piers
The boat ride from Jingui Pier takes about 20 minutes, and queues are usually shorter. Jinpo Pier is the main pier, with more frequent boats, but holiday queues can reach 1–2 hours. The ride from Daba Pier takes about 10 minutes, and the pier is close to Taihang Water Town. Check which piers are operating that day and the queue conditions at the entrance.
Laozifeng's lakeside trail and viewpoints
The lakeside trail on Laozifeng is about 3,100 m long. Zhixutai overlooks the lake; Gushen Cave is a natural cave along the trail; Tianmen Cloud Ladder has about 156 steep lakeside steps; and Bagua Platform looks across the curves of the bay. These stops suit visitors who enjoy landscape photography and light hiking.
Boat and lakeshore views
The boat ride is part of the visit, with views of the hills and shoreline from the water. For a walk or time by the lake with a pet, consider the lakeside road outside the paid scenic area. Parking, access to the shore, and pet rules there are separate from the pier rules.
Build your day
Laozifeng: about 2–2.5 hours
Board at the pier shown on your ticket and follow the island signs. A suggested order is Zhixutai, Gushen Cave, Tianmen Cloud Ladder, and Bagua Platform, then the designated boarding point. After completing the loop, return to the pier specified by your ticket and the day's boat route. Use your wristband or ticket to find the correct waiting area.
Tianmen Cloud Ladder has steep steps. If you have knee or leg problems or are traveling with a young child, check at the entrance whether the climb is suitable. Gushen Cave can be busy; allow for the queue before boarding your return boat. The 2–2.5-hour trail estimate does not include waiting at the pier or the boat rides.
Combining the visit with Taihang Water Town
If your ticket has you board and return at Daba Pier, you can visit nearby Lianxiang Taihang Water Town before or after the island. Allow extra time there for a meal or walk. If your departure or return pier is Jingui or Jinpo, check the road and transport connection to the town rather than assuming you can walk between the piers and the town.
Get there
Driving and parking
From Beijing, drive via the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macao Expressway and Lailai Expressway (涞涞高速) toward Angezhuang Township, Yixian County. The drive takes about 2 hours. All three piers have parking; the reference rate is CNY 10 per vehicle per day. Enter the name of your chosen pier in your navigation app, and check that it matches the departure pier on your ticket.
Public transport
There is no metro near Yishui Lake. Visitors traveling without a car can transfer from Gaobeidian East Railway Station, but the onward trip is inconvenient. Arrange both the trip to the scenic area and your ride away from the lake in advance.
Know before you go
Boat queues and weather
Holiday queues at Jinpo Pier can reach 1–2 hours, and boat times vary by pier. Use the waiting area designated for your ticket and allow extra time at the pier. The trail estimate does not include queues or boat rides.
Rain, strong winds, or changing lake conditions may affect boat service and trail access. Wear shoes with good grip for the steep steps on Tianmen Cloud Ladder. Gushen Cave is dimly lit; follow the path and signs, and keep away from slippery edges.
Food and pets
Taihang Water Town beside Daba Pier has dining options. Yixian County has restaurants serving niurou zhaobing (牛肉罩饼), a local beef-and-flatbread dish, and stewed fish. The Western Qing Tombs can also be combined with Yishui Lake on a driving trip around Yixian County; transport within the tomb complex and its tickets are separate. Dining options and hours inside Yishui Lake are limited, so bring water for a longer visit.
The lakeside road is outside the paid scenic area. Before bringing a pet, ask the relevant pier whether pets are allowed on boats, on the trail, and at Laozifeng. Do not take a pet into the paid scenic area without permission.