Fo Guang Shan Scenic Area is located in Baishu Village, Beiye Township, Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It is about 80 kilometers away from downtown Shijiazhuang and about 20 kilometers away from the revolutionary sacred place Xibaipo. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, as well as a national scenic spot, Fo Guang Shan Provincial Forest Park, and a demonstration site for Hebei leisure agriculture and rural tourism.
The scenic area is mainly characterized by "magnificence, danger, strangeness, and elegance", integrating natural scenery with Buddhist culture, and boasting rich landform landscapes and profound cultural heritage. The scenic area covers an area of about 1,500 mu, with a forest coverage rate of over 90%, and the green coverage area exceeds 95% during the growing season, presenting an excellent ecological environment. The main peak is 1,177 meters above sea level. Within the area, there are overlapping mountains, numerous strange peaks, flying waterfalls and cascading springs, and deep valleys, forming magnificent natural landscapes. Meanwhile, it integrates Buddhist cultural relics, creating unique tourism charm.
History and Culture
The history of Fo Guang Shan can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. At that time, there was a Buddhist temple called "Lingquan Temple" here, which was prosperous with incense and an important Buddhist activity site in the region. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, with the periodic decline of Buddhism, the temple gradually fell into disrepair, and relevant relics remained in the mountains.
In 1987, Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan in China, visited Pingshan, promoting the reconstruction and development of Fo Guang Shan. After more than 20 years of planning and construction, it has gradually formed a large-scale park integrating Buddhist cultural experience and natural sightseeing. It not only continues the ancient Buddhist cultural context but also integrates modern tourism functions, becoming a representative cultural tourism scenic area in the western Hebei region.
Main Attractions
Jueshan Temple
Jueshan Temple is one of the core Buddhist sacred places in Fo Guang Shan. It was rebuilt on the site of the Tang Dynasty Lingquan Temple, retaining some ancient architectural components. The buildings in the temple follow the traditional temple layout, simple and elegant, enshrining many Buddhist statues, with a strong incense. Surrounded by green pines and cypresses, the environment is quiet and peaceful, making it an important place for believers to worship and pray, and for tourists to experience Buddhist culture.
Fo Guang Temple
Fo Guang Temple is a landmark building in the scenic area, with a construction area of about 1,200 square meters. It adopts an architectural style combining the Ming and Qing dynasties' style with modern craftsmanship, showing a magnificent momentum. The Buddha statue enshrined in the hall is 5.3 meters high, carved from high-quality white marble, with exquisite craftsmanship and a solemn expression. The corridors in the temple are painted with murals of Buddhist classic stories, with bright colors and rich details, demonstrating profound Buddhist artistic heritage.
Foye Stack
Foye Stack is a group of naturally formed rock niche buildings in the mountains, said to be a place for ancient monks to practice, with a total area of about 800 square meters. There are several Tang Dynasty stone-carved Buddha statues remaining in the rock niches, with simple shapes and high archaeological value. The surrounding stone walls are inscribed with inscriptions by literati of past dynasties, recording the historical changes here, and it is a typical representative of the combination of natural landscapes and cultural relics.
Five Direction Buddhas
The Five Direction Buddhas scenic spot is located on the viewing platform near the main peak, with a platform area of about 300 square meters. It enshrines five Buddha statues symbolizing the five directions of east, south, west, north, and middle. Each Buddha statue is 3.6 meters high, cast in bronze, representing different Buddhist wisdoms. The terrain here is open, allowing a bird's-eye view of the entire mountain scene. At sunrise, the sunlight shines on the Buddha statues, forming a unique "Buddha's light reflecting Buddha" landscape, hence the name "Fo Guang Shan (Buddha's Light Mountain)".
Pusa Cave (Bodhisattva Cave)
Pusa Cave is a natural karst cave with an entrance about 8 meters high and a total area of about 1,500 square meters inside. The stalactites in the cave are in various shapes, forming landscapes such as stalagmites and stone pillars. There are many Guanyin statues enshrined in the cave, and combined with lighting effects, a mysterious and solemn atmosphere is created. The cave is about 300 meters long, with a winding tourist route. There are explanation boards along the way, introducing the geological formation and its connection with Buddhist culture.
Flying Waterfalls and Flowing Springs Group
There are 18 waterfalls of various sizes in the scenic area, among which the "Fo Guang Flying Waterfall" is the most famous, with a drop of 68 meters. The water cascades down from the cliff. When the water volume is abundant in the rainy season, it makes a mighty sound, creating a spectacular scene like "the Milky Way falling from the sky". A pool of about 500 square meters forms at the foot of the waterfall. The water in the pool is so clear that you can see the bottom, and it is surrounded by green trees, making it an ideal place for summer cooling and relaxation.
Delicacies
Pingshan Salted Meat Noodles
Pingshan Salted Meat Noodles is a local specialty and a signature dish in restaurants around the scenic area. It uses locally raised black pork, which is marinated and sliced, then boiled with hand-rolled noodles, potatoes, and beans. The soup is rich, the meat is fragrant but not greasy, and the noodles are chewy. A bowl of salted meat noodles in the restaurant within the scenic area costs about 18-25 yuan, with a sufficient portion, allowing you to fully experience the rural flavor of western Hebei.
Fo Guang Vegetarian Feast
The vegetarian restaurant in the scenic area offers a variety of Buddhist vegetarian dishes, such as Arhat Feast, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and vegetarian buns. The ingredients are mostly taken from pollution-free vegetables around the scenic area, following the cooking concept of being light and low in oil. Among them, "Fo Guang Vegetarian Cakes" are made from local walnuts and sesame seeds, with a crispy taste, sweet but not greasy. Each box (10 pieces) costs about 30 yuan, which is a common souvenir for tourists.
Xibaipo Tofu Dish
The scenic area is close to Xibaipo, and many restaurants around offer Xibaipo Tofu Dish. It uses local bittern tofu as the main ingredient, stewed with Chinese cabbage, vermicelli, and chili. The tofu is tender, and the soup is spicy and delicious. A bowl costs about 12-15 yuan, reflecting the home-cooked flavor of the central Hebei region.
Tickets
The ticket price is 65 yuan per person.
As of August 2, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are slightly adjusted according to the season: from April to October (peak season), it is open from 8:00 to 18:00; from November to March of the next year (off-season), it is open from 8:30 to 17:00. Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. On holidays (such as the Spring Festival, National Day, etc.), the opening hours are the same as the peak season. In case of special weather (such as heavy rain, snowstorm), the scenic area may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to check the official notice of the scenic area before traveling.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area entrance at 8:30 a.m., first visit Foye Stack (about 1 hour) to enjoy the Tang Dynasty stone carvings and rock niche landscapes; then go to Fo Guang Temple (about 1.5 hours) to visit the Buddha statues and murals in the main hall; have lunch at the vegetarian restaurant in the scenic area at 11:30 a.m. At 13:00 p.m., go to Pusa Cave (about 1.5 hours) to explore the cave wonders; then go to the Flying Waterfalls and Flowing Springs Group (about 1 hour) to enjoy the waterfall scenery and rest; at 15:30 p.m., go to the Five Direction Buddhas viewing platform (about 1 hour) to overlook the whole view; finally, visit Jueshan Temple (about 40 minutes), and end the trip at 17:00 p.m. The whole journey is about 8 kilometers on foot, taking about 8 hours, and the pace can be adjusted according to physical strength.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Shijiazhuang, go north along Xibaipo Expressway (S071), get off at Wentang Exit, turn west onto Pingshe Road (S202), pass through Beiye Township to Baishu Village. The whole journey is about 80 kilometers, with a driving time of 1.5-2 hours. The parking fee at the scenic area is 5 yuan per car per day.
- Public transportation: There are tourist buses directly to Fo Guang Shan Scenic Area from Shijiazhuang North Passenger Station, departing at 8:00 a.m. and returning at 16:30 p.m. The ticket price is 35 yuan per person, with a driving time of about 2 hours; you can also take a bus from Shijiazhuang to Pingshan County Town (about one bus every 20 minutes, ticket price 12 yuan), then transfer to a bus from Pingshan to Beiye Township (about one bus every hour, ticket price 8 yuan), and walk 1 kilometer after getting off to reach the scenic area.
- Tourist special line: There are shuttle buses from Xibaipo Scenic Area to Fo Guang Shan. In the peak season (April-October), there is one bus at 10:00 a.m. and 14:00 p.m. every day, with a ticket price of 20 yuan per person and a driving time of about 40 minutes.
Must-visit Attractions
- Fo Guang Temple: The landmark building of the scenic area. The 5.3-meter-high white marble Buddha statue and exquisite murals are the core highlights, showing the essence of Buddhist art. It is recommended to stay for 1.5 hours.
- Five Direction Buddhas Viewing Platform: At an altitude of 1,100 meters, you can watch the "Buddha's light reflecting Buddha" wonder and overlook the landscape pattern of the entire scenic area. It is an excellent location for taking photos. It is recommended to stay for 1 hour.
- Flying Waterfalls and Flowing Springs Group: The 68-meter drop Fo Guang Flying Waterfall is a rare high-drop waterfall in North China. The scenery is particularly spectacular in the rainy season, and you can play in the water and rest nearby. It is recommended to stay for 1-1.5 hours.
- Pusa Cave: A 1,500-square-meter natural cave combined with Buddhist culture. Stalactites and lighting create a unique atmosphere, suitable for parent-child exploration. It is recommended to stay for 1.5 hours.
Travel Suggestions
- There are many mountain roads in the scenic area. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and carry trekking poles (available for rent at the entrance of the scenic area, 10 yuan per pole).
- Ultraviolet rays are strong in summer. It is necessary to take sun protection measures, such as carrying sun hats and sunscreen; there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening in the mountains, so it is recommended to bring a thin coat even in summer.
- It is recommended to solve dining problems within the scenic area, where the price is moderate and the hygiene is guaranteed. If you bring your own food, please pay attention to protecting the environment and do not litter.
- Keep quiet in Buddhist places, respect religious customs, do not wear shorts or short skirts when entering temples, and do not touch Buddha statues.
- The best seasons for visiting are April-May (when mountain flowers are in full bloom) and September-October (when the weather is clear and crisp). Avoid heavy rain in July-August to prevent mountain roads from being slippery.
Matters Needing Attention
- Some sections in the scenic area are steep, with guardrails. When visiting, walk close to the inner side and do not cross the guardrails, especially pay attention to children's safety.
- Smoking or using open flames in the forest area is strictly prohibited. There are many fire warning points in the scenic area, and violators will be fined.
- The ground in the cave is slippery. Please follow the guide's route for visiting, do not deviate from the trail without permission to prevent getting lost or falling.
- Pay attention to the price when buying souvenirs. The shops at the entrance of the scenic area have relatively affordable prices, and you can bargain appropriately.
- The mobile phone signal in the scenic area is good, but there is no signal in some caves. It is recommended to travel with companions and keep in touch.