Shangfangshan Temples and Yunshui Cave are located in Shengshuiyu Village, Hancunhe Town, Fangshan District, and are among the third batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Beijing. A Buddhist sacred site since the Sui and Tang dynasties, the area features attractions such as Nine Caves and Twelve Peaks, as well as historic relics including the “Seventy-Two Temples” centered around Doushuai Temple. Yunshui Cave, located eight li west of Doushuai Temple, is a natural limestone karst cave and one of the scenic highlights of Shangfangshan…
Liangxiang Pagoda is located in Liangxiang Town and is among the second batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites designated by Beijing. The five-tiered, hollow pavilion-style pagoda stands tall and majestic, serving as a key historic landmark of Liangxiang. …
The Fangshan Dabaiyutang Quarry Site is located west of Gaozhuang Village, Dashiwuo Town, Fangshan District. Quarrying in Dashiwuo Town had reached a significant scale during the Sui Dynasty, supplying stone materials for the carving of scriptures at Yunju Temple. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the quarries provided stone for imperial palaces and various royal constructions. Dabaiyutang is the largest and oldest among them, also known as Dashiwuo, measuring 120 meters in length, 41…
The Stone Buddha of Baishui Temple is located in Yan Mountain Park, Fangshan District. Originally named Baishui Xinglong Temple, it was so called because a stream called Baishui flows in front of the temple, hence the name Baishui Xinglong Temple. The temple is commonly known as Baishui Temple. Inside the temple stand three massive stone-carved Buddha statues, which also earned it the nickname “Great Buddha Temple.” It is a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit. The Stone Buddha of Baishui Temple is the largest stone Buddha in the Beijing area and serves as an important artifact for the study of Buddhism and Buddhist statuary in the region…
Miaofeng Mountain Scenic Area is located in Mentougou District, western Beijing, over 50 kilometers from the city center, covering an area of 20 square kilometers. The scenic area is renowned for its "ancient temples, peculiar pines, and bizarre rocks." Belonging to the Taihang Mountain Range and composed of igneous rock, the main peak stands at an elevation of 1,291 meters with steep terrain and beautiful flowers and plants. It offers seasonal sights such as sunrises, sunsets, rime frost, and...
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.
Jietan Temple and the nearby Tanzhe Temple are the two major Buddhist temples in western Beijing. The most famous feature of the temple is its well-preserved Ming Dynasty ordination platform, which is the largest and most prestigious of its kind in China. In addition, the temple also features garden architecture such as the Peony Courtyard. It’s a great place to pray, admire ancient pines, enjoy flowers, and take photos. Temple Overview…
With a history of over 1,700 years, Tanzhe Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Beijing. There is a popular saying: “Tanzhe Temple came first, then Beijing.” Towering mountain peaks block the cold winds from the northwest, giving the area a warm and humid climate. The temple boasts ancient trees, numerous pagodas, and majestic halls. The entire temple complex is ingeniously laid out along the contours of the land, featuring…
Introduction: The Xiantai Tourist Area is located by the Yongding River at the foot of Xiantai Mountain. The area features streams that flow gently into the clear and pristine Little Tianchi Lake, creating a harmonious blend of mountain and water scenery. In the early morning, a light mist surrounds the peaks, making the lush forests and vibrant flowers even more striking. The peculiar rock formations are scattered naturally, and the Sleeping Buddha on the mountaintop appears serene and benevolent. The scenic area boasts superior natural conditions and is rich in flora and fauna. There are approximately 500 plant species, including notable ones such as Photinia serratifolia, Rhododendron micranthum, Trollius chinensis, and wild poppies, along with over 300 medicinal plants. The mountain forests yield dozens of nutritious wild vegetables suitable for consumption, such as daylilies, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus. During summer and autumn, various colorful flowers bloom across the mountains and valleys, adorning Xiantai Mountain with exceptional beauty. The area is teeming with life, including dozens of wild animal species and hundreds of bird species, creating a vibrant ecosystem of mountains, water, flowers, trees, birds, beasts, fish, and insects. In front of the scenic area, the Yongding River meanders through the landscape, where visitors can swim, catch fish, or collect shrimp, offering a unique rural experience. Transportation: Take train No. 615, 643, or 815 from Beijing South Railway Station to Yanchi Station, or drive along National Highway 109 following the signs to reach the destination.
Pearl Lake was formed by the construction of the Zhwo Reservoir on the Yongding River. It earned its name due to the abundance and large size of freshwater mussels growing in the lake. The steep mountains on both sides of the lake are covered with moss and blooming wildflowers in vibrant colors during summer and autumn. The crystal-clear lake water is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, towering mountains, and tree shadows resting gently upon it,...
The Exhibition Hall of the Former Site of the Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army's Ji-Re-Cha Advance Column is located in Malan Village, Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit in Beijing, as well as a municipal museum and a youth patriotic education base in the city—making it a great destination for red tourism. In October 1939, the Eighth Route Army's Ji-Re-Cha Advance Column, led by General Xiao Ke...
Destination Introduction: Huangcaogang Natural Scenic Area is located 14 kilometers north of Zhaitang Town in Mentougou District. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 1,773 meters, standing in distant view with Lingshan, Baihuashan, and Miaofengshan mountains, making it one of the high peaks in the southwestern mountainous region of Beijing. Huangcaogang boasts beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, combining both natural and cultural landscapes, making it an ideal destination for tourism, sightseeing...
Lingxi Gorge is located near the Miaofeng Mountain Scenic Area in Mentougou District, Beijing, approximately 35 kilometers from the city center. It is a newly developed natural scenic spot. The area features undulating mountains, with the gorge nestled between two peaks. At the end of the gorge lies a small reservoir, from which a stream flows out, forming a series of pools and waterfalls along the terrain. The mountains on both sides...
Destination Introduction: Shuanglong Gorge is a newly developed scenic area in western Beijing, often referred to as the "Little Jiuzhaigou" or the "Hundred Waterfalls." Its highest peak, Laolongwo, stands at an elevation of 1,646 meters and features two major waterfalls over 29 meters high, along with nearly a hundred smaller ones under a few meters. The area is composed of stunning landscapes including heavenly streams, pools, green valleys, and red cliffs. In spring, the mountains are covered with blooming flowers...
Zhaojiatai Village is located in Tanzhe Temple Town in western Beijing, nestled between Tanzhe Temple and Jietai Temple, 30 kilometers from the city center. The village covers an area of 3 square kilometers and is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Visit Zhaojiatai to experience the culture of the old village and witness the remarkable changes in the new one. The old village of Zhaojiatai boasts a long history and rich culture, often described as “the paper-built capital, the iron-forged Zhaojiatai…”
Baqi Cave is located in Mentougou District, Beijing, just 500 meters from the famous Tanzhe Temple. This ancient cave extends 1,350 meters deep underground and is renowned for its unique folded “8” shape and eight spectacular wonders, earning it the title of “a miraculous natural wonder and a divine cave spectacle.” Historically, there has been a saying that “Tanzhe Temple was built before the city of Youzhou...”
The Longmen Gorge Scenic Area is located in the western part of Mentougou District, adjacent to the Lingshan Scenic Area, the highest peak in Beijing, to the west, the Baihua Mountain Scenic Area to the south, and facing the ancient Ming-Qing residences of Cuandixia and the Pearl Lake—known as the “Pearl of Western Beijing”—to the east. Positioned at the center, Longmen Gorge is a natural landscape area. As the largest barrier valley in Beijing, it boasts rich and unique geological formations, and has been praised by scholars…
Destination Introduction Eighteen Pools in Western Beijing is one of the rare natural scenic areas in northern China. The valley is filled with streams that flow all year round. As the ancients said, "Layer upon layer of Yanshan Mountains, layer upon layer of springs; cascading waters rush thousands of miles down the long river." Located in Anjiazhuang, Wangping District, Mentougou, Eighteen Pools is known for its deep valleys, unique rocks, special waters, and rare flowers. It lies against Qingshuijian Mountain...
Little Dragon Gate Forest Park is a national-level forest park. Located at the foot of Ling Mountain and 114 kilometers from downtown Beijing, it has an average elevation of 1,300 meters. The park covers a total area of 771 hectares. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, with the East and West Ling Mountains standing opposite each other and ancient watchtowers dotting the slopes, Little Dragon Gate Forest Park was established on the basis of the Dagou Forest Area of the Little Dragon Gate Forest Farm...
Ancient dwellings built along the mountain contours, exquisitely carved stone, wood, and brick sculptures, streets paved with bluestone, purple stone, and gray stone, and folk customs that have continued for over 500 years... Stepping into Cuandixia Village in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, feels like entering a complete "Qing Dynasty residential painting." Nestled beside the Western Hills Ancient Road, Cuandixia Village sits at an altitude of 6...