Yaji Mountain Scenic Area is located in the north of Liujia Dian Town, Pinggu District, Beijing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Centered on Taoist culture, the scenic area integrates natural scenery and cultural landscapes, and is known as "Northern Taishan" and "Jidong Taishan". Yaji Mountain gets its name because the two peaks stand tall and face each other, shaped like the hair buns of an ancient girl. The main peak is 363 meters above sea level, and the total area of the scenic area is about 5 square kilometers. The existing ancient buildings include Bixia Yuanjun Temple, Yuhuang Pavilion, Dongyue Temple, etc., with a total construction area of more than 2,000 square meters. These buildings are built along the mountain, scattered in an orderly manner, and have a strong architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
History and Culture
The history and culture of Yaji Mountain have a long history. As early as the early Tang Dynasty, there were Taoists who built huts here for cultivation, and Taoist culture has taken root in the mountain since then. During the Liao and Jin dynasties, Taoist temples began to be built on the mountain, gradually becoming an important place for Taoist activities.
The Ming and Qing dynasties were the heyday of the development of Taoist culture in Yaji Mountain. During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court carried out large-scale repairs and expansions of Yaji Mountain, and the main buildings such as Bixia Yuanjun Temple were built during this period. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Yaji Mountain many times and left many inscriptions and steles. Among them, the "Golden Summit" plaque inscribed by Emperor Kangxi is still well preserved, which further enhanced the status of Yaji Mountain.
The temple fair of Yaji Mountain has a long history. Since the Ming Dynasty, the temple fair has been held from the first to the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month every year. During the temple fair, pilgrims gather in large numbers, making it a very influential folk activity in the Beijing area, which has been passed down for hundreds of years.
Main Attractions
Bixia Yuanjun Temple
Bixia Yuanjun Temple is one of the core buildings of Yaji Mountain. It was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty and has been repaired many times. The temple enshrines the statue of Bixia Yuanjun, who is a goddess in Taoism in charge of childbirth and protecting women and children, and is deeply revered by the people. The temple covers a construction area of about 300 square meters, adopting a traditional quadrangle architectural layout with gray bricks and tiles, and carved beams and painted buildings, which has typical architectural characteristics of the Ming and Qing dynasties. In front of the temple, there is a memorial archway inscribed with "Imperially Built Bixia Yuanjun Temple", which looks solemn and respectful.
Yuhuang Pavilion
Yuhuang Pavilion is located on the main peak of Yaji Mountain and is the highest point in the scenic area. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty. The pavilion is a three-story pavilion-style building, about 15 meters high, with a construction area of 150 square meters. Climbing the Yuhuang Pavilion, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire Yaji Mountain Scenic Area with a wide view. The pavilion enshrines the statue of the Jade Emperor, who is the supreme ruler of the three realms in Taoism and has a lofty status. The architectural craftsmanship of Yuhuang Pavilion is exquisite, with overhanging eaves and upturned corners, showing a magnificent momentum.
Dongyue Temple
Dongyue Temple was first built during the Liao and Jin dynasties, and the existing building was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the older buildings in Yaji Mountain. The temple enshrines the Dongyue Emperor, who is a god in Taoism in charge of the netherworld and the cycle of life and death. Dongyue Temple covers an area of about 500 square meters, consisting of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. Some murals and sculptures from the Ming and Qing dynasties are preserved in the hall, which have high artistic value.
Huixiang Pavilion
Huixiang Pavilion is located below Bixia Yuanjun Temple, where pilgrims burn incense and pray when they return after worship. The pavilion is hexagonal, with a construction area of about 20 square meters. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and has been repaired many times. There are several stone steles in the pavilion, recording the historical evolution of Yaji Mountain and the grand occasion of the temple fair, which are important physical materials for studying the history and culture of Yaji Mountain.
Delicacies
Pinggu Big Peach
Pinggu Big Peach is one of the most famous delicacies around Yaji Mountain. Pinggu District is a famous peach-producing area in China with a long history of peach cultivation. There are many varieties of Pinggu Big Peach, such as Jiubao Peach and August Crisp. The fruits are large and plump, with an average single fruit weight of 200-300 grams. The flesh is fresh, tender and juicy, with a sweet taste. The ripening period of Pinggu Big Peach is from June to October every year, and fresh Pinggu Big Peaches can be bought from farmers and markets around Yaji Mountain Scenic Area.
Liujia Dian Town Donkey Meat Fire Cake
Donkey Meat Fire Cake in Liujia Dian Town is a local specialty snack, which is more common in restaurants near Yaji Mountain Scenic Area. It uses fresh donkey meat, which is carefully braised and then sliced into thin pieces, and sandwiched in the freshly baked fire cake. The fire cake is crispy outside and tender inside, and the donkey meat is fresh and delicious. With some green peppers or coriander, it has a very unique taste. A donkey meat fire cake weighs about 100 grams, and the price is reasonable, making it a good choice for tourists to replenish energy during their trip.
Pinggu Fried Zanthoxylum Buds
Pinggu Fried Zanthoxylum Buds is a local farm dish. Zanthoxylum buds are the tender buds of the zanthoxylum tree, rich in vitamins and various minerals. When making, fresh zanthoxylum buds are washed, wrapped in a layer of batter, and fried in hot oil until golden and crispy. After being taken out, a little salt is sprinkled on them to eat. This dish tastes crispy with a faint fragrance of zanthoxylum, and can be tasted in farmhouses around Yaji Mountain, which is loved by tourists.
Tickets
The ticket price is 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "丫髻山景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. From April 1st to October 31st every year, the opening hours are 8:00-17:30; from November 1st to March 31st of the next year, the opening hours are 8:30-17:00. The scenic area will stop selling tickets half an hour before closing. Please arrange your visiting time reasonably.
Tour Route
After entering the scenic area, tourists can start from the mountain gate, go up along the hiking trail, and first reach Huixiang Pavilion, where they can stay for a while to enjoy the surrounding scenery and learn about the relevant history. Then continue to walk, and it takes about 15 minutes to reach Bixia Yuanjun Temple, visit the buildings and statues in the temple, and feel the atmosphere of Taoist culture. After leaving Bixia Yuanjun Temple, walk towards the main peak, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach Dongyue Temple to enjoy the murals and sculptures in the temple. After leaving Dongyue Temple, it takes about 25 minutes to climb Yuhuang Pavilion and stand on the top of the pavilion to overlook the whole view. After visiting Yuhuang Pavilion, return down the mountain along the original road. The total visiting time is about 3-4 hours, and the walking distance is about 5 kilometers.
Transportation
- Bus: In downtown Beijing, you can take Metro Line 15 to Fengbo Station, then transfer to Pinggu 23 Road bus, get off at Yaji Mountain Station, and walk about 500 meters to the entrance of the scenic area. The interval of Pinggu 23 Road bus is about 30 minutes, and the whole journey takes about 1.5 hours.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along Jingping Expressway, exit at Misan Road, then drive north along Misan Road. After passing Liujia Dian Town, follow the road signs to reach Yaji Mountain Scenic Area. The whole journey is about 80 kilometers, and the driving time is about 1.5-2 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the charging standard is 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
Must-visit Attractions
- Bixia Yuanjun Temple: The core building of Yaji Mountain, with a construction area of about 300 square meters, enshrining the statue of Bixia Yuanjun. It has a quadrangle architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is a must-visit place to experience Taoist culture and historical heritage.
- Yuhuang Pavilion: Located on the main peak, about 15 meters high, with a construction area of 150 square meters. It is the highest point of the scenic area, from which you can overlook the whole view. It has exquisite architectural craftsmanship and a magnificent momentum.
- Dongyue Temple: With a long history, covering an area of about 500 square meters, it contains murals and sculptures from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with high artistic value, allowing you to have an in-depth understanding of the culture related to the netherworld in Taoism.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit from April to October every year. At this time, the weather is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful, especially during the temple fair in April, you can experience rich folk activities.
- Prepare comfortable sports shoes before climbing, because the walking distance in the scenic area is about 5 kilometers, and some sections are relatively steep.
- Bring an appropriate amount of drinking water and dry food, as there are few catering facilities in the scenic area and the prices are relatively high.
- If you want to avoid the peak crowd, you can choose to go on weekdays, as there are more tourists on weekends and holidays.
- It is recommended to arrange 3-4 hours for the visit to fully tour all the main attractions.
Matters Needing Attention
- Smoking and using open flames are strictly prohibited in the scenic area to protect the safety of the mountains and forests.
- Take good care of cultural relics and historic sites, and do not scribble on buildings, stone steles, etc.
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area, do not enter unopened areas to ensure the safety of the visit.
- Pay attention to safety during climbing. Some sections are slippery, especially on rainy days, so walk carefully.
- Respect local religious beliefs and customs, keep quiet in Taoist temples, and do not touch statues and religious items at will.