Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest

Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest

Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Destination Introduction

Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest is located 30 kilometers north of Changping District. It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit announced by the State Council and also a major national scenic area under the management of the Thirteen Tombs Special Zone Office. A sacred Buddhist site since the Liao and Jin dynasties, it was one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Yanping" during the Ming and Qing periods. Located in the northern part of Changping District, it was originally called “Iron Wall Silver Mountain,” named for its steep cliffs resembling tall, iron-like walls and its snow-blanketed peaks that turn the mountain silver-white after heavy snowfall. The scenic area features three main peaks—front, middle, and back—with the central peak, “Soaring Above the Clouds,” being the highest at an elevation of 726.81 meters. The area is characterized by its beautiful mountains, lush trees, and numerous pagodas. The mountain’s beauty comes from the vast expanses of pine, cypress, and oak trees, which display varying shades of deep and light green depending on the species. At the southern foot of Silver Mountain, numerous ancient pagodas stand majestically among the valleys, with the most spectacular being the Jin Dynasty pagodas within Huachan Temple.

The scenic area has three main peaks—front, middle, and back—with the central peak, “Soaring Above the Clouds,” being the highest at over 700 meters in elevation. The area is known for its beautiful mountains, lush trees, and numerous pagodas. The mountain's beauty comes from the vast expanses of pine, cypress, and oak trees, which display varying shades of deep and light green depending on the species.

Iron Wall Silver Mountain is not only pleasantly scenic but also renowned for its many ancient pagodas. The cluster of Liao Dynasty pagodas in Silver Mountain is one of China’s most famous scenic areas with the highest concentration of surviving Liao pagodas. Since the Jin and Yuan dynasties, and through the Ming and Qing periods to the present, these pagodas have a history of over 600 years. Built continuously over the centuries, there is a local saying: “The pagodas of Silver Mountain are countless.” The vast array of pagodas ranges from several meters to just a foot in height, scattered at varying levels yet arranged in a neat layout, all sharing a consistent octagonal structure. They are exquisitely shaped, with beautiful relief carvings along their bodies. Despite enduring the test of time, they remain well-preserved, reportedly because the area’s remote, high-altitude location kept it largely undiscovered and thus spared during turbulent times.

Hiking up the mountain path along the pagodas, surrounded by verdant pines and cypresses and embraced by rolling hills, especially during sunset when the mountain glows white under the crimson sky, is nothing short of breathtakingly beautiful. Although not towering into the clouds, Silver Mountain is incredibly steep, with paths mostly consisting of steps that twist or rise straight up and down like stairs. The summit offers limitless views that will completely dispel your fatigue and bring the boundless joy of “reaching the summit and overlooking all the lesser peaks.” Transportation Information

Bus: Take bus routes 314, 357, 376, 345, 345 Branch, 912, or 919 to Changping, then take a taxi.

Bus route 949 from Mudanyuan provides a direct route to Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest Scenic Area.

Self-driving: From Madian Bridge, take the Badaling Expressway to Changping Xiguan Roundabout, then head toward Changling. After crossing Jiudu River, turn right at the border between Huairou and Changping.

Address: Xihu Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District, Beijing

Type: Historic Site / Ancient Pagodas

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Phone: 010-89726426

Opening Hours:

Temporarily closed for maintenance. For specific reopening times, please call for inquiries.

Ticket

25 RMB (Free with Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Scenic Area Annual Pass)

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units