Baihua Mountain

Baihua Mountain is located at the junction of the Mentougou and Fangshan districts of Beijing, and Laishui County of Hebei. It is 62 miles (100 kilometers) west of the city center of Beijing. With an area of 7,413 acres (30 square kilometers), it has beautiful natural landscapes and diverse geology. The perennial vegetation coverage (up to 96%) endows the mountain with cool and moist climate. It is popular among the locals and tourists and was designated a national nature reserve in 2008.

Due to its special geographical location, there are several distinctive scenic areas located on Baihua Mountain. Here are the three most popular routes:

 This scenic area, also known as the Baihua Mountain Forest Farm, is a part of the Mentougou District. The entrance is at an altitude of 3,610 feet (1,100 meters). Visitors need to climb more than two hours to reach the main peak (6,532 feet / 1,991 meters). This is an arduous trek.

Admission Fee:	CNY 40; free for children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters)
Opening Time:	8:00 - 17:00 (from April 28th to October 15th)
How to get to Baihua Mountain National Nature Reserve	→Take Subway Line 1 or Line 6 to Pingguoyuan Station →Transfer to Line S1 to Shichang →Walk southwestward for 250 meters (273 yards) to take Bus No. 948 →Transfer to Bus F21 at Nanjiao Lukou stop, get off at Qiulinpu North.  Beijing Bus / Subway Search

  Part of the Fangshan Global Geopark, it can be reached from Simaitai Village in the Fangshan District. The entrance lies at an altitude of 4,265 feet (1, 300 meters). Visitors can take a sightseeing car to arrive at Wuzhi Peak (6,722 feet / 2,049 meters), and then walk down the plank road to reach the Marshy Grassland within one hour. This is the easiest way.

Admission Fee:	CNY 40; free for children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) Sightseeing Car: CNY 40 for a round trip
Opening Time:	Closed at present
How to get to Baicaopan Scenic Area	1. Take Subway Fangshan Line to Yancun Dong, then transfer to Yanfang Line and get off Yanshan Station. Take bus Fang 20, and get off at Simatai Bei Station. Then take a taxi to the entrance. Bus Fang 20 departures at 7:15, 9:30, 14:05 and 15:45 from Fangshan Bus Station. 2. Take Subway Line 1 to Pingguoyuan Station, and then take bus 948 to Nanjiao Lukou Station. Transfer to bus Fang 20, and get off at Simatai Bei. Then take a taxi to the entrance. Bus 948 departs at 7:00, 9:00, 12:30, 14:10 and 16:10 from Pingguoyuan Subway Station.

 This scenic area is also a part of the Fangshan Global Geopark. The peak can be reached directly by private car. There is a State Guarding Temple on top of the mountain. The Marshy Grassland is about 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) from the peak.

Admission Fee:	CNY 60; free for children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters)
Opening Time:	8:00 - 17:00
How to get to Baihua Mountain Scenic Area	Take Subway Line 6 to Pingguoyuan, then walk westward to take Bus No. M11 to Baihuashan stop. Then walk to the Marshy Grassland for about 4km (2.5mi).

Whichever route you choose, you will eventually arrive at the same area on the mountain. This mountain contains four scenic areas (including 35 scenic spots): the Main Peak, the Marshy Grassland, the Sea-view Tower and the Baicaopan Scenic Area. Within these areas, there are 10 views of the mountain that are worth seeing. Each of the 10 views has its own distinguished features. Some of them have cultural relics; others have beautiful natural scenery.

The main peak of Baihua Mountain, at an elevation of 6,722 feet (2,049 meters), is the third highest in Beijing. It is embraced by the rolling ridges of East Ling Mountain (7,555 feet / 2,303 meters; the highest in Beijing) and West Ling Mountain on two sides. An alpine marshy grassland lies on the mountain slope at 6,532 feet (1,991 meters). When one arrives here, he will see the overall view of the mountain. Baihua Mountain and East Ling Mountain face each other across a valley. Looking away from the top of Baihua Mountain, the valley is just like a gemstone inlaid in the mountain's embrace. Some narrow paths wind along steep mountain ridges. It is amazing that this kind of zigzag mountain road can be constructed.

Abundant flowers and plants here cover the terrain of Baihua Mountain. Hence the name is Baihua (literally meaning one hundred types of flowers). From May to August, this mountain is just like an ocean of flowers. Even in June and July, there are also many kinds of rare flowers in full bloom, such as Philadelphus pekinensis and weigelas. Colorful flowers enhance the comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in summer. In autumn, the scenery becomes even more attractive. The Marshy Grassland Scenic Area is covered with chrysanthemums and fruit trees. Visitors can eat sweet fruits while climbing the mountain.

Baihua Mountain has a huge variety of plants, including four vegetation types and ten forest communities. Individual species include 130 families and 485 categories. As for animal resources, more than 170 species of animals live on this mountain, including leopards, brown-eared pheasants, black storks and gorals – the rare first class national protected animals. Therefore, Baihua Mountain is regarded as a natural zoo and arboretum in North China.
 This mountain also has many cultural sites. The National Light Temple records the long history of religious development around Baihua Mountain. It contains four palaces and many other secondary temples. Thousand-Buddha Pavilion is the main building with a height of 50 feet (15 meters). There was once a large copper figure of the Buddha. However, during the war, the figure was melted down in order to produce weapons and bullets. The Goddess Temple, next to the pavilion, enshrines the figures of Avalokitesvara, Manjuist and Samantabhadra. Manjuist flammule (small flame) is a special and rare phenomenon that is considered as a presage of good luck.

 Tip: There is another entrance on the Hebei side inside the Yesanpo Scenic Area. It is also called Baicaopan, and the admission charge is CNY 60 per person.

 Other Attractions in Mentougou, Beijing:
  Mount Miaofeng
  Tanzhe Temple
  Pearl Lake
  Jietai Temple
  Cuandixia Village
  Lingshui Village