Plan at a glance
The three forts and free lanes
Nuanquan Ancient Town is in Yuxian County. Its main areas are West Fort (Xigubao), North Official Fort (Beiguanbao), and Middle and Small Forts (Zhongxiaobao). The town lanes and West Fort are free to visit. If driving, navigate to “西古堡停车场” (West Fort Parking Lot), park, and explore on foot. The lanes are narrow and may be restricted to vehicles on public holidays.
Admission, performance, and hours
There is no admission fee for the town lanes or West Fort. The *Dream Back to Weizhou* show, which includes a dashuhua (molten-iron fireworks) segment, requires a separate ticket; the reference price is CNY 135. Book through official channels in advance on public holidays. The full show commonly starts around 18:30 or 20:00 and lasts about one hour, while the dashuhua segment lasts around three minutes. Check the day’s notice for the performance time, venue, and format.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
West Fort’s historic architecture
West Fort has a double-layer southern and northern barbican, the large nine-courtyard Dong Family Compound, and Qing-dynasty murals at Dizang Temple. Climb the barbican to see the main street and old rooftops. Early morning is quieter and the light is soft, good for photographing the depth of the gate passage and a broad view of the lanes.
North Official Fort and molten-iron fireworks
North Official Fort is known for its rammed-earth walls and old fort layout; some sections retain darkened marks from past molten-iron fireworks. The dashuhua performance is a separately ticketed event, often presented at night as part of *Dream Back to Weizhou*. Confirm the venue on the ticket page and in the day’s notice; it may be in a theatre or another venue.
A slow visit and local history
Nuanquan is named for its spring, which stays around 16°C through the four seasons. The town dates to the Yuan dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors interested in old architecture, murals, and intangible cultural heritage performances can visit West Fort during the day and attend an evening show. People still live in the lanes, so take your time on public streets and within sites open to visitors.
For another historic settlement elsewhere in Zhangjiakou, see Jimingyi Ancient City.
Build your day
A 1–1.5-hour West Fort walk
Walk into West Fort from the parking lot. Follow the main street to the Dong Family Compound, then climb the barbican for views over the rooftops and lanes. Return to the parking lot the way you came. This short route focuses on West Fort and works well if you want to see one fort or are waiting for an evening performance.
A 2–3-hour route through the three forts
Start from the West Fort parking lot and spend about 1.5 hours at West Fort, Dizang Temple’s murals, and the Dong Family Compound. Then walk about 20 minutes to North Official Fort to see the rammed-earth walls and the dark red and black iron traces left on the gate. This is the historic site where molten-iron fireworks were once performed. The historic performance later moved away from North Official Fort to Dashuhua Plaza (打树花广场). Current ticketed performances may use a theatre or another venue, so confirm the location on your ticket and the day’s notice. Continue to Middle and Small Forts if your energy allows. Vehicles are restricted in the old lanes, so plan to walk between the three forts.
Connect to an evening performance
After the daytime walk, have a meal or take a break, then go to the venue listed on your *Dream Back to Weizhou* ticket. Book ahead for public holidays. Shows commonly start around 18:30 or 20:00; arrive about 30 minutes early to exchange your ticket, and allow time to travel from the old town to the venue.
Get there
Driving and parking
Driving from Beijing takes about 2.5–3 hours. Search for “西古堡停车场” (West Fort Parking Lot) to reach the main entrance area; searching only for “暖泉古镇” (Nuanquan Ancient Town) may direct you into narrow lanes. Traffic restrictions or transfers may be introduced around the town on public holidays. Park and walk; use the sightseeing cart only if needed.
Coach from Beijing and county shuttle
A direct coach from Beijing Liuliqiao Bus Station to Yuxian takes about 3.5 hours and costs around CNY 85 as a reference. From Yuxian Bus Station, book a minibus to Nuanquan Ancient Town through the “畅行蔚州” (Changxing Yuzhou) mini program; the reference fare is about CNY 5. Arrange your return according to the minibus timetable or a vehicle you have confirmed in advance.
Know before you go
Nuanquan Academy lunch break and show reservations
Nuanquan Academy closes for lunch from about 12:00 to 14:00. Avoid this period if you want to visit inside. The molten-iron fireworks performance is ticketed separately; book ahead on public holidays. Evening times and prices are references only, so check the day’s show notice for the venue and duration.
Performance venue and warm clothing
Molten-iron fireworks are one part of *Dream Back to Weizhou*. The venue and format depend on the particular performance. If the show includes an outdoor section, Yuxian can be cold at night; bring a warm coat, hat, and gloves.
Snacks, shopping, and nearby places
Try Nuanquan fentu (a local starch dish), five-spice dried tofu, tangmaya (a sweet pastry), buckwheat helao noodles, and huanggao (yellow rice cake). Restaurant choices in the old town are limited; for a full meal, return to Yuxian County. Options include Hehelou, Gucheng Yiguo, and Kangju Small Dining Table. Buy paper cuts from an established workshop or an artisan’s shop. Weizhou Ancient City is about a 25-minute drive away; Xidashengu Fort and Feihuyu Gorge also require separate transport plans.