Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve

Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve

Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national nature reserve.

Located in Mentougou District, Beijing, Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve is about 120 kilometers from the city center and enjoys convenient road access. With a forest coverage rate of 90%, the reserve’s main peak, Baihua Mountain, stands at an elevation of 1,991 meters, while Baimapeng Peak reaches 2,050 meters, making it the third highest peak in Beijing. The area boasts rich flora and fauna resources, often referred to as the "natural botanical and zoological garden of North China," featuring four vegetation types and ten forest communities. There are 110 families and 1,100 species of plants, as well as 170 animal species. Among them are first-class nationally protected animals such as the leopard, brown-eared pheasant, black stork, and golden eagle, and second-class protected animals including the serow and koklass pheasant. There are also over 50 species under municipal protection. Baihua Mountain offers a unique environment and stunning scenery, making it an ideal destination for tourism. With an average annual temperature of 6–7°C and a July average of 22°C, the area has an air negative ion concentration rated at level 5, making it a great summer retreat. Scenic areas within Baihua Mountain can be divided into four major zones with 35 attractions: Baihua Mountain Main Peak Scenic Area, Baihua Mountain Meadow Scenic Area, Wanghaolou Scenic Area, and Baimapeng Scenic Area. The landscape is distinctive and the climate pleasant, surrounded by mountains, continuous peaks, murmuring streams, misty clouds, strong pine forests, rare flowers, and precious wildlife. Famous sites include “Baihua Meadow,” “Baicao Mountain Waterfall,” “Ten Thousand Year Ice Skin,” “Ancient Tree Reaching the Sky,” “Sunrise at Cloud Summit,” “Ancient Stone Sea,” “Soaring Sea of Clouds,” “Evening Glow on Emerald Green,” “Ant Hill,” and “Tree Sending Corridor.” Transportation: From downtown Beijing, drive along National Highway 109 for over 100 kilometers to Mentougou. Alternatively, take subway Line 1 to Pingguoyuan Station, then bus routes 336 or 326 to Hetan, where you can transfer to the Baihua Mountain tour bus or long-distance bus to reach the mountain. You may also take a direct minibus from Pingguoyuan subway station to the scenic area. By car: Take Fushi Road to Shuangyu Roundabout in Mentougou District, turn right to Longquan Hotel, then follow National Highway 109 and signs to the reserve.

Suggested Duration

4–6 hours

Location

Qingshui Town, Mentougou District, Beijing

Public Transport

Take bus 892 from the west side of Pingguoyuan subway station to Baihua Mountain (toward Huangta Zhangjiapu). There are two buses daily, at 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM.

From Fangshan Long-Distance Bus Station, take bus route Fang 20 or Fang 25 to LongmenTai Village. The trip takes around 2 hours. There are limited services, with the last bus at 3:45 PM.

Self-Drive

1. From the Beijing–Shijiazhuang Expressway, exit at Fangshan — Tuoli — National Highway 108 — turn right at the Jiayukou intersection toward Shijiaying direction (ticket: 60 RMB).

2. Take National Highway 109 from the Mentougou direction. The arrival point is Zhangjiapu (ticket: 40 RMB).

3. Take National Highway 108 to Jiayukou but do not turn right. Continue all the way to LongmenTai Village, then head north to Simatai Village. Follow the road to the entrance of the Simatai Village scenic area. This area is also called Baimapeng or Fangshan Global Geopark. After arriving at the gate, take the scenic area sightseeing bus (40 RMB, round trip), which covers about 15 kilometers to the Wuzhifeng peak at the mountaintop. From there, a wooden boardwalk leads to the Big Meadow, taking about 1 hour to walk. This is the easiest way to reach the meadow.

Ticket

Ticket: 40 RMB. Students with valid ID and seniors aged 60–65 enjoy a half-price discount of 20 RMB. Children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 65 enter free.

Opening Hours

The scenic area is open annually from April 28 to October 15. It is closed for the winter season from October 16 to April 27 of the following year. During the open period, it is accessible daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.