Lingshan Mountain

Located northwest of Mentougou District in Beijing, Lingshan Mountain is 76 miles (122 kilometers) far from downtown. The summit lies 7,556 feet (2,303 meters) high, and is considered as the highest in Beijing. The mountain is adjacent to Longmen Forest Park in the west and bordered with Lonmenjian Scenic Spot in the east. On account of its high altitude and low temperature, it becomes a summer resort and wins popularity among urban tourists.

Lingshan is characterized by its magnificent peaks, various vegetations, broad alpine meadow, and abundant wildlife resources. Due to its high altitude, Lingshan Mountain is endowed with a wide range of fauna and flora, making the trip more interesting. If conquering the main peak is the objective, the best route to take shall be from the service area of Lingshan to Liulang Mountain and then to the summit. As the road leading to the peak is in good condition, you do not need to worry about your physical strength. You may hike, ride a horse, or take the cable car to appreciate the beautiful scenery along the way. Vegetation of warm temperature zone and Siberian cold zone can be found every now and then, such as rhododendron, lilac, and golden flowers. Watching from afar, the mountains look like a huge green carpet decorated with small flowers, forming a feast for the eyes. The flowering season is from the end of June to end of September. It is a wonderful time for taking photographs and sketches on the spot.

Apart from the lovely flowers and grasses on your path, there are some vigorous "owners" of Lingshan mountain. You may occasionally see little creatures between pinewoods, grasses, or even in crevices, like fairy foxes, brisk rabbits, chickens, wild goats, roe deer, and boars. Yaks, with a nickname of "boats on the plateau", make here as their habitat. If you are lucky enough, you will see herds of them. What is more exciting is that the rare national bird, the brown eared pheasants, is the denizen of this mountain. These wild animals live together harmoniously, bringing vitality and charm to Lingshan Mountain and presenting a natural ecological landscape with primitive features.
Another interesting route to take starts from the service area of Lingshan, passing by the Hanging Garden, and then arriving at the Wujianfang Alpine Meadow, the biggest meadow on Lingshan Mountain. Wujianfang is most famous for its immense birch wood. If you travel across the birch wood after a rainy day, you may come across many cute mushrooms.

As the area lacks human presence, it maintains its very natural landscape. However, the road condition is not so good. Visitors, thus, should take this point into consideration when deciding to venture out using this route.
 1. The best seasons to visit Lingshan Mountain are spring, summer, and autumn.

2. Temperature on the mountain differs greatly so that additional clothing is required. Umbrellas and raincoats are required during summer.

3. Avoid picking and eating wild herbs, fruits, and mushrooms as some are poisonous.
 

Take Subway Line 1 to Pinggguoyuan Station. Go out from Exit A. At the southwest of the station, take bus 892 to Zhaitang Station. Then change to bus M22 and get off at Hongshuikou Station. Then carpool with others to the destination as it is about six miles (10 kilometers) away. The cost for a car is CNY 50.
 

Admission Fee	CNY 50
Cable Car Fee	CNY 120 for round trip. CNY 70/60 for the ascending/descending cable car fee.
Opening Hours	The scenic spot is open all year round, except November to March.

 Note: Currently, the scenic area is under renovation and the cable car is out of service, but visitor can still go there for free.
 Cuandixia Village: an ancient village with rich cultural relics
Double-dragon Valley Scenic Spot: also known as "Small Jiuzhai Valley"
Longmen Forest Park

Further Reading:
15 Wonderful Places to See Snow in Beijing
12 Best Places to Visit near Beijing