Baicao Pan Nature Scenic Area in Xiayunling Forest Park, Beijing

Baicao Pan Nature Scenic Area in Xiayunling Forest Park, Beijing

The full name of the scenic area is: Baicao Pan Nature Scenic Area in Xiayunling Forest Park, Beijing. It includes seven attractions: Baicao Pan, Kunpeng Gorge, Thyme Valley, Pine Forest Round City, Lao Dao Cave, Dragon Bone Stone Hall, and Apricot Grove Garden. Known as the Eight Scenic Spots on the Mountain and the Eight Scenic Spots at the Foot of the Mountain, there are a total of 106 scenic views.

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The Eight Scenic Spots on the Mountain are: Lilac Spring, Pavilion Moon Viewing, Summit Morning Light, Five-Finger Peak Beauty, Sea of Clouds and Mist, Capital City Lights, Thousand-Year Ancient Beats, and Highland Hundred Herbs.

The Eight Scenic Spots at the Foot of the Mountain are: Angry Stones Descending from Heaven, Pine Sea and Forest Waves, Thousand Ant Mounds, Prehistoric Relics, Kunpeng Spreading Wings, Divine Cave and Immortal Path, Pine Forest Round City, and Mother and Son Worshiping the Dragon.

Including the eight scenic spots on the mountain and the eight at the foot, there are 106 named landscapes in total.

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Baicao Pan is the highest peak in southwestern Beijing. Satellite measurements confirm its exact elevation at 2,161 meters. It lies on the same mountain ridge as Baihua Mountain, which is located to its northeast, about 7 kilometers away, with an elevation of 1,990.7 meters—approximately 170 meters lower than Baicao Pan. Due to Baicao Pan’s height, the scenic area exhibits a distinct vertical vegetation zonation from the foot to the summit: from 800–1,200 meters, there are mild broadleaf deciduous forests and shrubland; from 1,200–1,700 meters, cool temperate larch and birch forests; and from 1,700–2,100 meters, cold subalpine shrubland and meadow landscapes.

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Most people are familiar with lilac flowers. In May, lilacs are in full bloom across Beijing, but around Saimatai Village at elevations of 800–1,000 meters, the lilacs have only just begun to form buds, not blooming until early June. As you climb to the mountainside at 1,400–1,500 meters, the lilacs are just sprouting small buds, and by the time you reach the 2,000-meter summit, the lilac trees are still bare, not even having formed buds. By mid-June, the lilacs at the foot of the mountain are already in full bloom, while those halfway up the mountain are fragrant and in splendid blossom, and at the summit, the lilacs are just beginning to show red buds. We welcome you to visit here in late spring and early summer to enjoy the intoxicating fragrance and enchanting blossoms of these unique alpine lilacs—white lilacs, red lilacs, and rugosa lilacs.

The summit of Baicao Pan is over 2,100 meters above the Beijing plain, and even the base of the mountain stands more than 800 meters above Beijing. As a result, the climate here is cool and pleasant in summer, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats. At an altitude of 1,680 meters on the mountainside lies the “Ruida” Alpine Resort, where summer temperatures are 8–9°C lower than in Beijing. At the 2,160-meter summit, there is Beijing’s highest underground resort hotel on Baicao Pan, where summer temperatures are 11–14°C cooler than in the city.

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Entering the Baicao Pan alpine meadow, you’ll immediately feel the fresh, cool air, the sweet scent of fragrant grasses, and a riot of blooming flowers. Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of urban life, you arrive in this vibrant paradise gifted by nature. A green, carpet-like terrain spreads out beneath your feet. Lie down, gaze at the blue sky, count the green mountains, and breathe in the floral aromas—it’s simply delightful. Over 200 species of medicinal herbs have been identified among the plants here, making this an important production site for wild medicinal plants in northern China. Traditional Chinese medicine boasts a long and profound history. Just 100 kilometers west of the meadow lies the ancient “Yellow Emperor City” in Zhuolu County, said to be where the divine agricultural emperor Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs. Baicao Pan will become China’s first park themed around traditional Chinese medicine culture. The vast meadow is not only a sky garden but also a natural treasure trove of TCM heritage.

The Baicao Pan Natural Scenic Area was developed through investment by Baicao Pan Tourism Development Co., Ltd., with its economic entity being Saimatai Village.

Saimatai Village is located in the remote mountainous region of southwestern Beijing. Before 1996, it was still a poor village. Under the leadership of Party branch secretary Comrade Zhang Jinlai, the village’s Party members and residents worked hard for years to lift the village out of poverty. The area has coal resources, and coal mining helped accumulate funds to solve the basic food and clothing needs of the villagers. However, coal is a non-renewable resource—the more you mine, the less remains. In the long term, it was essential to develop according to the characteristics of the mountainous region and leverage local advantages by focusing on forestry and fruit industries. Secretary Zhang proposed the strategy of “using black [coal] to nurture green [forests],” using profits from coal mining to support forestry development. Within three years, the village opened up a 5,000-mu (about 333 hectares) apricot base for edible almonds and planted nearly 3,000 mu of artificial forests, bringing the village’s forest coverage rate to 78.2%. This initiative was a pioneering effort in local forestry, earning recognition from higher authorities. In 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture designated Saimatai Village as a “National Demonstration Village for Sustainable Rural and Agricultural Development,” and awarded Comrade Zhang Jinlai the honorable title of National Model Worker.

In 1996, 1997, and 1998, the village was ranked among the “Top Ten Mountainous Economy Villages” by Fangshan District Government for three consecutive years. It also received the “Beijing Advanced Grassroots Party Organization” award the same year, as well as the “National Advanced Party Branch in Rural Grassroots Organization Construction” from the Central Organization Department. Over the years, the village has won more than 20 awards. Saimatai Village has transformed dramatically. The village invested over 17 million yuan to pave 26.7 kilometers of roads, connecting Saimatai Village with National Highway 108. To develop tourism, it invested over 5 million yuan to build the Tengma Grand Hotel, with roads that allow cars to drive directly up to the 2,100-meter-high mountaintop resort. Additionally, the village invested 2.55 million yuan to drill a well and lay over 8,000 meters of pipelines, bringing mountain spring water from altitudes of over 1,500 meters into the village to supply water for residents and tourists for accommodation and dining. The village invested 450,000 yuan to install satellite receiving equipment and coaxial cables, enabling all households to access cable TV programs. Most households have installed landline telephones, and a mobile signal relay tower has been set up in the deep mountain valley, providing direct phone connections across the country and even internationally. The village has built office buildings and a fully equipped conference hall that can accommodate over 1,000 people. Following its economic development plan—returning farmland to forest and developing tourism—the village’s per capita income now exceeds 10,000 yuan, allowing it to enter a moderately prosperous life ahead of schedule.

Address: Saimatai Village, Xiayunling Township, Fangshan District, Beijing

Type: Forest Mountain

Recommended Visiting Time: About 4 hours

Phone: 010-60369038; 010-80392938; 4001816006

Official Website: http://www.baicaopan.com/

Opening Hours:

The scenic area is generally open from the end of April to the end of October each year. During this period, it is usually open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (it may stay open until around 6:00 PM depending on visitor numbers). From November to the following April, the mountain is closed for the winter season.

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 40.0 RMB

Adult ticket: 40 RMB; sightseeing vehicle ticket within the scenic area: 40 RMB.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Xiayunling Township: 1. Geographic Location: Located at the foot of Baihua Mountain in southwestern Beijing, Xiayunling Township is 89 kilometers from downtown Beijing. The famous National Highway 108 runs through the township for 44 kilometers. It borders Hebei Province, with an average elevation of over 1,000 meters. Transportation is convenient. 2. Ecological Environment: The township covers a total area of 218 square kilometers, comprises 15 administrative villages, and has a population of 10,170. It has 178,000 mu of forested land, 130,000 mu of grassland, and over 400,000 fruit trees, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 60%. The area is rich in mineral resources such as coal and stone, enjoys fresh air, and has a pleasant environment. Natural scenery… More detailed information on Xiayunling Township++