Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is located in Nanxinfang Village, Tanzhesi Town, Mentougou District, western Beijing. Its shape resembles a "gate," and the stone walls inside the mountain's caves feature inscriptions of the characters "Tianmen Mountain," from which it gets its name. Covering a total area of 669.41 hectares, the park spans vast surroundings with majestic mountain terrain and dense forests. It lies between the two temples of Tanzhe and Jietai, where Buddhist culture flourishes and natural landscapes abound. With beautiful scenery in all four seasons—wildflowers blanketing the mountains in spring, insects and birds thriving in summer, cool breezes and starry skies in autumn, and snow-covered landscapes in winter—its unique geological features and stunning natural beauty offer visitors a rich and varied experience.

The forest within the park is the best-preserved, largest in area, and most diverse in forest landscape types among key ecological barriers in western Beijing. It plays a vital role in protecting the capital’s ecological environment and boasts unique resource and tourism location advantages. In particular, the expansive ancient camphor tree forests are especially rare and precious, unmatched in Beijing and even across North China. The many ancient and notable trees in the park are also highly valuable and worthy of protection, offering considerable comprehensive ornamental value.

The park is home to 137 species of terrestrial wild animals from 45 families and 19 orders, accounting for 29.72% of the total wildlife species in the Beijing area, including 9 species under national key protection. Amphibians include two species from two families, such as the Chinese giant toad. Reptiles are mainly from the orders Squamata and Serpentes, with five families and 16 species, such as the yellow-striped racer and mountain racerunner. Mammals comprise 21 species from 13 families, including the yellow weasel, badger, and wolf. Bird species are particularly abundant, with common ones including magpies, crows, azure-winged magpies, tree warblers, and partridges, while protected species include the Eurasian sparrowhawk and Chinese sparrowhawk.

The park’s cultural landscape resources are characterized by a diversity of landscape types, unique local customs, a long historical heritage, numerous folk legends, and profound cultural accumulation. In particular, it serves as an important hub of Buddhist culture in the park, with influential temples in the Beijing area—such as Tanzhe Temple, Jietai Temple, Guanghui Temple, and Hong'en Temple—all concentrated here. This is the only area in Beijing that hosts such a large cluster of temples, making it a key site for spreading Buddhist culture and pilgrimage. It is also an important leisure and forest resort destination in western Beijing for getting close to nature and enjoying outdoor activities.

Address: Tanzhesi Town, Mentougou District

Transportation: Take the subway to Apple Park Station in the urban area, then transfer to Bus 931 and get off at Nanxinfang Village

Driving route: From Lianhuaqi Road, turn left at the Shimenying Roundabout in Mentougou onto National Highway 108, and continue to Nanxinfang Village in Tanzhesi Town