On May 3, the 2nd Cotinus coggygria Flower Festival at Beijing's Fangshan Slope Peak Ridge Scenic Area grandly kicked off, with its over 2,000-acre sea of cotinus flowers bursting into full bloom, drawing crowds of visitors. During the just-passed May Day holiday, our reporter witnessed the vibrant flower-viewing spectacle on-site at the Youlan Mountain Slope Peak Ridge Scenic Area, where clusters upon clusters of cotinus blossoms formed an ocean of color.
Cotinus coggygria is also known as“smoke tree”, with its feathery flower clusters resembling fireworks blooming in the night sky, exuding a hazy charm.
Youlan Mountain Slope Peak Ridge has been recommended by National Geographic as the most spectacular cotinus viewing area in North China, with its breathtaking pink blooms in early summer and fiery autumn foliage each year.
From the sunny and not-yet-hot days of early May until the summer days of June, the entire Slope Peak Ridge will be enveloped in a haze of pink floral mist. The 2nd Cotinus coggygria Flower Festival is held right around this time, waiting for your happiness with the most romantic ambiance.
The mountainsides, covered with cotinus flowers, turn the undulating green hills into a sea of pink. The century-old cotinus trees at the mountaintop are especially resplendent in bloom.
Starting from the foot of the Slope Peak Ridge Scenic Area, you’ll encounter numerous visitors coming to admire the flowers. Hiking up the trails, you’ll weave through the cotinus blossoms.
Walking along the paths of Slope Peak Ridge, clusters of pink cotinus flowers dot the landscape, offering a unique charm whether you look up or down.
The hazy, smoky-red cotinus blossoms are stunningly beautiful and intoxicating.
During the transition from spring to summer, the cotinus blooms at Slope Peak Ridge stretch for miles, attracting a continuous stream of visitors from nearby, including many locals and photography enthusiasts. The entire scenic area presents a spectacular scene where visitors and the floral sea complement each other.
Wandering through the cotinus flower clusters, strolling among them, refreshes the soul and makes one linger, captivated by the wordless beauty that moves the heart.
Hidden among the cotinus flowers is the Cloud Stone House homestay. Standing halfway up the mountain and looking out, it feels as if you’re in a giant colorful ink painting, constantly surrounded by pink, instantly transforming into“a stone house in a sea of flowers”. On cool summer nights in early May, you can sleep amidst the boundless cotinus blooms, dreaming like a princess waiting for her prince’s kiss. It’s said that rooms here are in high demand during peak season, often requiring reservations over a month in advance.
As temperatures gradually rise in late spring, the cotinus viewing spots at Slope Peak Ridge have entered their prime. Why not seize this beautiful weather while spring is still warm and summer hasn’t yet arrived? Head out for a hike, gaze into the distance, and chance upon a pink romantic adventure!
How could such a colorful scenery be complete without delicious food? The Red Back Basket, a restaurant rich with nostalgic charm, is nestled amid the flower sea halfway up the mountain at Slope Peak Ridge. Whether it’s wild vegetable buns or ? grilled noodles, every dish is authentic and flavorful.
There’s also freshly ground soy milk, handmade and sold for just two yuan a cup—an economical and satisfying choice, perfect for replenishing fluids after a hike.
In this season of renewal, fresh organic ingredients are everywhere, and the locals also prepare the tastiest mountain produce of the year. The Mountain Produce Fair during the Cotinus Flower Festival gathers the most authentic and affordable local specialties from Fangshan.
Slope Peak Ridge isn’t just about cotinus flowers—take a short break, and there are more fun experiences waiting for you nearby:In Laishui Village at the foot of Slope Peak Ridge lies the renowned Yaoshi Temple. From the western slope of Slope Peak Ridge, you can gaze into the distance at the cotinus flowers and even visit the ancient temple up close.
And5in the middle to late part of the month, along the mountain paths of Slope Peak Ridge, you can pick seasonal wild mulberries and enjoy homemade mulberry wine from the Red Back Basket.
20182018 Fangshan Slope Peak Ridge 2nd Cotinus Flower Festival:
The Slope Peak Ridge Scenic Area is located at the northern foot of Shangfang Mountain in Fangshan, Beijing,52kmand is one of the most famous leisure and vacation destinations in the suburbs of Beijing. The area is covered with lush secondary forests, predominantly cotinus trees, which are beloved in Beijing for their fiery red autumn leaves. In spring and summer, the cotinus flowers bloom like crimson smoke and clouds, creating another magical spectacle. Following last year’s inaugural Cotinus Flower Festival, the annual celebration returns once again.
Cotinus Flower Festival Dates:20185Early March-6Early April
Event Details:During the Smoketree Flower Festival, there is a rich variety of activities. In addition to hiking and admiring the blooming smoketrees, there are also a senior photography competition, a mountain produce fair, summer camp educational trips, corn-grinding farming experiences, rose pastry making experiences, wild vegetable digging, rose garden viewing, and wild mulberry picking.
Address:Pofengling Scenic Area, Huangshandian Village, Fangshan District, Beijing
Admission:Adults:30RMB/per person (from4March1to-8April31)65Seniors over1.2years old enjoy half-price tickets. Children under1.2meters tall are admitted free of charge; those over
meters pay full price.
Local Transportation:50The main venue of the Youlan Mountain Smoketree Flower Festival, Pofengling Scenic Area, is“kilometers from downtown Beijing. It is connected to Zhoukoudian Town via County Road”—Xinsili Road, Provincial Road“Zhouzhang Road, a distance of about”kilometers. Transportation is very convenient. Use mobile navigation to17Pofengling“or”Huangshandian Village“for accurate directions. There are bus routes such as”Fang“Room32Road”connects to Zhoukoudian—Huangshandian.
Self-driving Tour
A self-driving tour is recommended. Use Baidu Maps on your phone to navigate to“Pofengling Scenic Area”and you’ll arrive easily and conveniently. Calculating from Liuliqiao as the starting point, the distance from downtown Beijing to Pofengling is55kilometers.
Bus
If taking the bus, you can ride Bus32to Huangshandian Village Stop, which will take you directly to the Pofengling Scenic Area.
Bus32is a public transportation line within Fangshan District, Beijing. Its starting point is Zhoukoudian Station, and the terminal is Simagou.
First and last bus times:
Simagou—Zhoukoudian Passenger Transport Station, first and last buses:05:30-19:30;
Zhoukoudian Passenger Transport Station—Simagou, first and last buses:05:30-19:30.
Cloud Stone Houses
The Youlan Mountain area is home to30+ rural homestays, each with its own unique charm. These include the stone cottages known as——Cloud Stone Houses, nestled halfway up the mountain within the Pofengling Scenic Area and praised as a distinctive lodging where you can enjoy the view from bed; as well as other options located2kilometers from the scenic area, such as Grandma’s House tucked away at the foot of Youlan Mountain in Fangshan — a vintage residence from the late Qing Dynasty — the boutique-style Yellow Smear Blossom, and the pastoral Peach Leaf Valley. Each courtyard is renovated from old traditional houses in Huangshandian and offers not only views of the beautiful Youlan Mountain scenery but also the tranquility of a private garden.