Baiwangshan Forest Park

Baiwangshan Forest Park is one of the nearest forest park to downtown Beijing. It is located in Haidian District, 24 km (15 mi) northwest to the downtown and 3 km (2 mi) north to the Summer Palace. Baiwangshan is a mountain with a height of only around 200 m (650 ft) and an area of over 2 sq km (about 1 sq mi). Locals like to climb the mountain to either exercise or for relaxation purposes.

Baiwangshan is also called Wangershan, meaning “watching her son from the mountain”. The name came about from an ancient story. During the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), there was a brave Yang family who was contributive in battles against enemies. Six of the nine men of the family died in the battles. Then the women of the family, especially the mother, took to the fight. Once when a son was fighting with enemies near Baiwangshan Mountain, the mother climb ed to the top of the mountain to cheer and support her son. Hence the name Wangershan.

The roads on the mountain are mostly smooth, making it suitable for both children and the elderly to hike. Several roads lead directly to the mountain top, which overlook the whole city of Beijing. The forest park is also a great place to have a breath of fresh air. The coverage of the trees in the park reaches over 95%, providing abundant oxygen. One can usually spot cute animals like squirrels and mountain chicken while climbing the mountain. During the autumn season, the sea of red autumn leaves will awash a visitor’s eyes with delight.
Baiwangshan Forest Park
Baiwangshan Forest Park

Another attraction one should never miss is the stone steles, a cultural symbol of traditional Chinese calligraphy and art. It is referred to a tall stone engraved with different style of Chinese calligraphy. Collected in the park are over 700 works of Chinese leaders like Mao Zedong, celebrities and renowned artists, with the main content of forest planting and protection. You can find the stone steles in Stele Pavilion, Stele Corridor and Stele Art Wall in the park.
 

How to Get to Baiwangshan:

 By Bus
Take Bus No. 328, No. 394, No. 518, No. 584  and get off at Baiwangshan Forest Park.
Take Bus No. 303, 305, 346, 384, 394 or 932 and get off at Heishanhu Beikou, then walk northward for 200 meters (219 yards) to the east gate.

 By Subway
Take Subway Line 16 to Malianwa Station, take Exit A, walk westward along North Malianwa Rd. for about 700 meters (766 yards) to the east gate.
 

Ticket Price & Opening Hours

Ticket Price Adult: CNY 6
Child under 1.2 m (3.9 ft): Free
Opening Hours 6:00-19:00
Best Time to Visit May to October
Ideal Length of Visit 2 hours
 

Nearby Attractions

The Summer Palace: The most famous royal garden of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in Beijing.
Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden: Around 800 m (2,600 ft) away from the park; one of the major medicinal herb gardens in Asia.
Anheqiao Mosque: Around 3 km (2 mi) away from the park; one of the ancient mosques in Beijing with over 300 years’ history.
- Last updated on Sep. 26, 2024 by Gabby Li -