Baicaowa National Forest Park

Baicaowa National Forest Park

Baicaowa National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Baicaowa National Forest Park is located 40 kilometers east of the historic city of Chengde and 170 kilometers west of the capital, Beijing.

The Beijing Tourist Highway and the Beijing Expressway run right beneath it. Nestled between Beijing and Chengde, Baicaowa features undulating mountains, lush vegetation, crystal-clear streams, exotic flowers and plants, and herds of rare animals. It boasts vast primeval forests and natural springs. Like masterpieces painted by nature over millennia, it offers breathtaking landscapes — in spring, walk on fragrant grass among blooming flowers; in summer, rest in the green shade listening to cicadas; in autumn, admire red leaves and taste wild fruits; in winter, let the contrast of white snow and green pines stir your poetic soul.

The environment in Baicaowa is refreshingly clean. The crisp air acts like a cleanser, gently caressing your face, brightening your eyes, and purifying your lungs. That moist, cool, and faintly aromatic air seeps through the car window and into everyone’s nose — so invigorating and comforting that you can’t help but take deep breaths again and again.

The environment in Baicaowa is tranquil, free from any worldly noise or clamor. Stop your car, prick up your ears, and listen carefully, and you’ll hear only two sounds: birds singing melodiously and streams murmuring softly. The birds’ songs drift from the east, then the west, as if right next to your ear. Baicaowa National Forest Park

They also seem far away. Meanwhile, the brook’s gentle whispers come from just behind the bushes or beneath your feet — gurgling and tinkling.

The environment in Baicaowa is vividly colorful. Shades of green — tender, yellowish, dark, and brownish — blend with the pink hues of azaleas, alongside birch and pine trees. Different color blocks appear in dots, lines, and patches, clustering and stretching like a group of fashion models, making every visitor’s eyes sparkle and hearts swell with excitement.

Seeing is believing — Baicaowa is truly stunning. Attractions such as the Divine Pigeon, Boy Worshiping Guanyin, and the Two-Faced Man are strikingly lifelike. To witness the true beauty of Baicaowa, come and explore it yourself. You’re sure to discover the hidden charm of a place “too beautiful to be known.”

Park Introduction

The park has a planned total area of 5,396 hectares, including 1,564 hectares of scenic area. The average elevation within the park is 1,188 meters, with the highest point being the main peak of Baicaowa at 1,768 meters.

The forest vegetation in the park belongs to the temperate mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest zone, predominantly natural secondary forests. It preserves a rich diversity of plant resources, with 126 families and 1,069 species (including varieties). Vegetation is distributed by altitude: secondary meadows, larch needle forests, broad-leaved mixed forests, pine-oak sparse forests, with birch forests covering the largest area.

Scenic Area Overview

Planning

The park is divided into four scenic areas: 1. Shuanglongtan (Twin Dragon Pools) Scenic Area, named after two pools known as Golden Dragon Pool and Silver Dragon Pool. It features uniquely shaped rocks and is particularly known for realistic rock formations such as Mother and Daughter Stone and - Stone scattered throughout the area. 2. Thousand-Mu Birch Forest Scenic Area, covered densely with verdant birch trees, presenting the image of graceful maidens spread out before visitors. 3. Baicaowa Scenic Area, which is also the park’s main area. It is a typical natural secondary forest in North China, with vegetation distribution highly distinct by altitude. It combines the scenery of Bashang Grassland with the beauty of a vast forest. Its large expanse of natural secondary birch forest offers a feeling of returning to nature, making it an ideal destination for leisure and vacation. 4. Zhuan Shan Hu (Mountain-Turning Lake) Scenic Area (under development), where jagged peaks complement still waters — the peaks enhance the beauty of the water, and the water accentuates the ruggedness of the peaks. A perfect harmony of strength and softness embodies the wonders of nature.

. No. 4, Zhanshan Lake Scenic Area (under development), where peculiar peaks and tranquil waters coexist — the peaks gain elegance from the water, and the water gains beauty from the peaks. The interplay of strength and gentleness embodies the wonders of nature.

Si Hai Ecological Park

Baicaowa is also known as the “Four Seas” Ecological Park, referring to - Sea, Grass Sea, Stone Sea, and Cloud Sea. Covering a total area of 54 square kilometers, the scenic area has an average elevation of 1,188 meters, with the highest peak at 1,768 meters. Here, mountains are lush and layered, streams trickle gently, exotic flowers and rare animals abound. You can see nationally rare ancient birch groves, admire the verdant grass on high mountain peaks, view the undulating Stone Sea above 1,700 meters, and gaze at the rolling Cloud Sea in the distance.

Unique Peaks and Rocks

Unique peaks and rocks are found all over the park. Pillars Reaching the Sky, Giant Rock Shelter, and Fox Fairy Cliff are full of mystery, while Five Finger Peak Reaching Heaven, Monkey King’s Parade, Seal Swallowing the Sky, Heavenly Horse Galloping, and Mandarin Ducks Necking are strikingly lifelike. Their extraordinary presence and unique shapes fully display the splendor and artistry of nature, leaving visitors in awe.

Truly breathtaking.

Natural Secondary Forest Zone

Baicaowa National Forest Park is a natural secondary forest zone. Along the roadsides below the mountainside, dense natural secondary forests stretch as far as the eye can see, consisting of pine, oak, poplar, but mostly birch trees. Beneath the woods lie countless shrubs and herbaceous plants of varying heights and densities. Dense hazelnut trees line both sides of the road, laden with fruit ready to be picked — though it's advised to wear canvas gloves to avoid getting pricked by thorns. It is said that this area houses one of the best-preserved natural plant communities in North China, with 126 families and 1,069 species of plants, especially over 2,000 hectares of relatively intact original birch forests.

Within the forest, various exotic flowers and mushrooms thrive in vibrant displays. The vertically stratified forest vegetation divides Baicaowa National Forest Park into layers from top to bottom. Starting in April, the mountains gradually turn green and flowers bloom layer by layer until late May when the entire Baicaowa becomes a world of blossoms. Down the mountain, lilacs, azaleas, weigelas, and honeysuckles bloom competitively in brilliant colors. Higher up, potentilla and globeflowers spread like gold on the ground and jade across the slopes. When autumn arrives, the lower parts remain lush green while the larch trees on the mountaintops turn golden. The mid-slopes, with mountain poplars, oaks, and maple trees, gradually shift through yellow, red, and purple. The overlapping peaks, in varying shades, form a colorful tapestry. The mountain is filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, a pure natural oxygen bar, indicating how ideal the environment is for plant growth.

Due to Baicaowa’s cool and pleasant summer climate, it serves as a breeding base for peonies and tree peonies. It has cultivated over a hundred thousand flowers for the Olympics. This serene and profound Baicaowa has also contributed to the Olympic Games.

Travel Tips

Ticket: 20 RMB

Transportation: Baicaowa is 40 kilometers from downtown Chengde, located in a mountain bay south of the former Beijing-Chengde Highway. The Beijing-Chengde Expressway runs beneath the mountains. You can take a bus and get off at Baicaowa, but driving is more convenient. As the mountain bay is long and the uphill road is winding, hiking would be quite tiring.

Location: Baicaowa National Forest Park is situated in the southeastern part of Luanping County, Chengde City. It is 170 kilometers from Beijing and 40 kilometers from downtown Chengde, making it a must-pass destination along the golden tourism route north of Beijing.