Best Places to Go Hiking in Beijing

Speaking of hiking, I believe everyone should know that as an outdoor activity to exercise, there are naturally many participants. So where are the best places to go hiking in Beijing? Today, I’ll recommend a few great hiking spots for you. Hiking enthusiasts, get in action!

1、Phoenix Hill

Phoenix Hill Natural Scenic Area is located in Sujiazhuang Town, Haidian District. The scenic area is full of mountains and hills, with winding paths and lush forests, offering a good ecological environment. Here, the hills rise and fall, strange rocks stand tall, the mountains are steep and the cliffs are sheer, and there are many temples, with Longquan Temple and Shifo Temple being the most famous. Walking along the forest paths, looking up at the towering ancient trees, breathing the fresh air, you can’t help but feel refreshed.

Every year from late March to mid-April is when the flowers bloom on Phoenix Hill. Early and late cherry blossoms bloom in turn, followed by pear blossoms, apricot blossoms, and mountain peach blossoms. Coupled with the undulating terrain and the influence of sunlight, the flowering period can last for about a month. Phoenix Hill can be considered the closest mountain to the city with the best scenery. Before and after the Qingming Festival, pink mountain peaches bloom in large numbers, early cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and apricot blossoms are also in full bloom. From the gate to the north line entrance, the 3 kilometers of slope road is lined with blooming flowers. Along the way, you can also pass through the rural flower sea Xinghuacun, and the steep ladder, the steps are nearly 90 degrees, only supported by a chain, a test of courage. After climbing the ladder, continue to climb the mountain. Several pavilions and viewing platforms are excellent vantage points to enjoy the mountains. With clusters of mountain flowers embellishing them, the view is very spectacular.

2、Eight Great Places Park

Eight Great Places Park is located in the northeast of Shijingshan District, at the junction of Cuiwei Mountain, Pingpo Mountain, and Lushishan, which are the remnants of the Taihang Mountains. The highest peak is 464 meters above sea level, and the climb is not very strenuous. It is called Eight Great Places because there are eight ancient temples in the scenic area: Chang’an Temple, Lingguang Temple, Sanshan Temple, Dabei Temple, Longquan Temple, Xiangjie Temple, Baozhu Cave, and Zhengguo Temple. As a Buddhist temple garden with a long history and rich cultural heritage, it is also known for its natural twelve beautiful scenes, such as “Spring Mountain Apricot Forest, Smoke and Rain Cuckoo Song, Deep Autumn Red Leaves, and Layers of Mountains and Sunny Snow”. It is also the closest modern urban mountain forest to the city center in Beijing.

Eight Great Places Park is full of incense. Lingguang Temple houses a Buddha tooth relic. The ancient and solemn temple garden is very serene. There are also many peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and a huge wishing tree. Every spring, people come here to stroll, enjoy the scenery, and climb the mountain to worship Buddha, in an endless stream. There are both spring colors and human landscapes. As the mountain path winds upwards, you can admire the different temple views one by one, which is truly refreshing. Another characteristic of this place is the slide and cable car. After climbing the mountain, you can choose another way to descend, which is more childlike and fun. The most interesting is the slide, which is very fast and has many turns, making it both fun and exciting.

3、Beijing West Mountain National Forest Park

West Mountain National Forest Park is located between Fragrant Hills and Eight Great Places. A long time ago, it belonged to wild mountains, and there were more hikers. The park is a good choice for exercise and hiking. The path up the mountain is relatively gentle, some require climbing stairs, but overall, it is relatively easy to climb. There are not many human buildings here, after all, it is not a royal garden like Fragrant Hills or Eight Great Places, but it is precisely because of this that there are relatively few tourists, it is quiet, there are birds singing and flowers blooming, and it is as beautiful as a painting in spring.

In early April every year, the West Mountain National Forest Park is covered with mountain peach blossoms, a sea of flowers, as bright as clouds. The best place to admire the view is the Baochun Pavilion in the south of the park. Enter from the east gate, turn left and go up the mountain, in the direction of the plum garden, about 1 kilometer, you can see more than 100 mu of mountain peach and mountain apricot blooming in competition, looking from a distance, it is like snow covering the mountain, as if in a fairy tale world. Hiking enthusiasts can climb to the famous Ghost Laughter Stone, which is located under the White Pagoda at the highest point of the park, with an altitude of 473 meters. The so-called Ghost Laughter Stone is actually a large rock protruding from the mountain. The west side is a spacious platform, and the other directions are surrounded by railings. It is said that when the wind blows over the stone, it makes a whistling sound, similar to the howling of ghosts and wolves, hence the name. Coupled with the fact that there is a Ghost Frightening Stone in the Fragrant Hills Incense Burner Peak, the Ghost Laughter Stone gradually became known. From the Ghost Laughter Stone viewing platform on the top of the mountain, there is also a radar station. From there, you can see the night view of Beijing, overlook the Summer Palace and Yuquan Mountain, and see iconic buildings such as China Zun up close.

4、Qianlingshan Park

The western Beijing climbing high, Qianling is the peak of bliss. Qianlingshan is located in the northwest of Wangzuo Town, Ma’anshan Mountain. The main peak, Jile Peak, has an altitude of 699 meters, making it one of the highest peaks in the suburbs of Beijing. Climbing to the top of Jile Peak, you can see the panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see Cat Ear Mountain to the southwest, Baicao Mountain, Baihuashan, Qingshuijian to the northwest, Yangtai Mountain, Miaofeng Mountain to the north, and Yunmongshan Mountain and other mountains over 1,000 meters in the suburbs to the northeast, making it the best peak in the suburbs of Beijing for distant views. Qianlingshan has a long history of Buddhism and rich cultural heritage. According to historical records, it is speculated that Buddhism was already spread here before the Tang Dynasty. Folk legends say that “there was Jile Peak before Jietai Temple”. From the Tang Dynasty to the present, it has always been under the jurisdiction of Jietai Temple, serving as a place for monks of the temple to practice in seclusion. It has shared the same fate with Jietai Temple, and has played a brilliant history of more than 1,400 years, leaving behind valuable Buddhist cultural resources.

Entering the mountain from the south gate of the park, you can take the cable car or hike on your own. The scenery along the way is stunning, with the Baoyin Zhenqing Temple halls and pavilions, the golden Douluotianyin Buddha statue, and the smiling Buddha Yan are all very impressive, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of ancient and modern times. This large Buddha statue has also always been a landmark of Qianlingshan. Standing on Jile Peak and Qianling Pavilion, you can admire the magical beauty of the natural scenery. Climbing Qianlingshan, you can feel the perfect integration of man and nature.