Xiangshan Park is located at No. 40 Maimai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, about 20 kilometers from the city center. As a national 4A-level scenic area, it is a royal garden with mountain forest characteristics, renowned nationwide for its autumn red leaf landscape. The scenic area integrates natural landscapes, royal architecture, and historical culture, boasting the largest cotinus coggygria forest in North China. Every autumn, over 100,000 cotinus coggygria trees turn red, creating a wonder of "frosted leaves redder than February flowers". The park covers a total area of 160 hectares, with mountain forests accounting for 98%. The highest point, Incense Burner Peak, stands at an altitude of 575 meters. The scenic area preserves royal buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Qinzheng Hall, Biyun Temple, and Zhaomiao Temple. Among them, Biyun Temple covers an area of more than 40,000 square meters and is one of the best-preserved Ming Dynasty Buddhist architectural complexes in Beijing.
Historical Culture
The history of Xiangshan Park can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. According to records, Xiangshan Temple was built here in the Tang Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,300 years. In the 26th year of Dading in the Jin Dynasty (1186), Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty expanded the palace here, marking the beginning of its status as a royal garden. The expansion continued in the Yuan Dynasty, and Xiangshan Temple reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty, becoming a renowned Buddhist temple in western Beijing. In the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745), Emperor Qianlong carried out large-scale construction, completing 28 scenic spots including the Qinzheng Hall and Yuhuaxiu, and bestowing the name "Jingyi Garden". Together with the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, it was known as the "Three Hills and Five Gardens". In 1860 and 1900, Jingyi Garden was twice burned down by foreign powers, leaving only partial architectural foundations. In 1956, Xiangshan Park was officially opened to the public, and in 2001, it was rated as a national AAAA-level scenic area. The park currently has 2 national key cultural relics protection units (Biyun Temple and Jingyi Garden Ruins) and 5 municipal-level cultural relics protection units, serving as an important venue for studying the history of Beijing's royal gardens and Buddhist culture.
Main Attractions
Qinzheng Hall
The Qinzheng Hall, one of the landmark buildings in Xiangshan Park, is located inside the east gate of the park. It served as the venue where Qing Dynasty emperors handled government affairs in Xiangshan. The construction was first built in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745) and reconstructed on the original site in 2002, covering an area of about 800 square meters. It consists of the main hall, auxiliary halls, and court rooms. The hall displays Qing Dynasty court furniture and cultural relic replicas, showcasing the scene where Emperor Qianlong administered state affairs here.
Xiangshan Temple
Xiangshan Temple, located in the central part of the park, was first built in the Tang Dynasty and originally named "Dayong'an Temple". It is the oldest architectural complex in Xiangshan. The temple is built along the mountain, facing east from the west, covering an area of about 18,000 square meters, consisting of structures such as the mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, and Mahavira Hall. The temple once housed precious cultural relics like the stone pagoda built in the Jin Dynasty and the bronze Buddha in the Ming Dynasty. It was destroyed by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860 and reconstructed in 2017, reappearing landscapes such as "Laiqingxuan" and "Tingfasong" among the "Eight Scenic Spots of Xiangshan Temple".
Incense Burner Peak
Incense Burner Peak is the main peak of Xiangshan, standing at 575 meters above sea level. It gets its name because the mountain top is often shrouded in clouds and mist, resembling an incense burner. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of Beijing, making it a popular destination for tourists to hike and exercise. There are three hiking routes: the southern route with smooth stone paths is relatively gentle, the middle route with steep steps is more challenging, and the northern wild trail is suitable for hiking enthusiasts. The whole journey takes about 1-2 hours, and you can also take a cable car (one-way ticket: 60 yuan, round-trip ticket: 100 yuan) up and down the mountain.
Biyun Temple
Biyun Temple is located on the north side of the park. Built in 1289 (the 26th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), it is the best-preserved Ming Dynasty Buddhist architectural complex in Beijing. Covering an area of over 40,000 square meters, the temple faces east from the west and consists of six courtyards arranged along the central axis, including the mountain gate, Maitreya Hall, and Daxiong Baodian. The most distinctive feature of the temple is the Diamond Throne Pagoda, built in 1748 (the 13th year of the Qianlong era). Standing 34.7 meters tall, the pagoda is carved with Buddhist statues and scriptures, making it one of the most beautifully shaped Diamond Throne Pagodas in China.
Cuisine
Xiangshan Red Leaf Cake
The Xiangshan Red Leaf Cake is a signature delicacy of the scenic area, decorated with chocolate or fondant in the shape of red leaves and paired with a mousse or cream cake base. It features an exquisite design and a delicate taste. Mainly sold in the shops within the scenic area and restaurants near the East Gate, each piece is priced at about 30-50 yuan, making it a popular dessert for tourists to take photos as a keepsake.
Xiangshan Spring Water Tofu
Xiangshan Spring Water Tofu is made from natural spring water from Xiangshan. The tofu is tender and has a rich bean flavor. Restaurants in the vicinity often use it to make dishes such as minced scallions with tofu and tofu pudding. A serving of minced scallions with tofu costs about 20-30 yuan, and tofu pudding is 5-8 yuan per bowl. It is recommended to pair it with sesame salt.
Zhajiangmian (Stir-Fried Noodles with Soy Bean Paste)
Zhajiangmian is a common local delicacy near the scenic area. The noodles are chewy and served with toppings such as cucumbers, bean sprouts, and pickled turnips, topped with a special stir-fried soybean paste. It is recommended to visit the time-honored restaurants on Xiangshan's Maimai Street. A bowl costs about 25-35 yuan. Some restaurants also offer creative "red leaf-shaped" noodles.
Sugar-Fried Chestnuts
Autumn is the peak season for sugar-fried chestnuts in Xiangshan. There are many stalls selling them at the park entrance and on Maimai Street. The chestnuts are selected from high-quality varieties in the Yanshan Mountains, each plump, sweet, and waxy. They are priced at about 15-20 yuan per jin (500 grams) and are an excellent snack to replenish energy during hiking.
Tickets
Admission ticket (excluding Biyun Temple): 10 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "香山公园服务号" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Xiangshan Park is open from 6:00 to 18:30 (last entry at 18:00) during the peak season (April 1 to November 15) and from 6:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) during the off-season (November 16 to March 31 of the following year). Biyun Temple is open from 8:00 to 16:30. The cable car operates from 9:00 to 16:30 (peak season) and 9:00 to 16:00 (off-season). The park is open throughout the year but may be temporarily closed due to extreme weather or major events. Please refer to the daily announcements of the scenic area for specific information.
Recommended Itinerary
One-day tour recommendation:
Morning: Enter through the east gate. First, visit the Qinzheng Hall to learn about the royal culture of the Qing Dynasty (about 30 minutes). Then, walk along the southern route to Xiangshan Temple to visit the reconstructed ancient architectural complex (about 1 hour).
Noon: Have a meal at a restaurant inside the park or on Maimai Street. It is recommended to try spring water tofu and zhajiangmian.
Afternoon: Choose the middle route to hike to Incense Burner Peak, enjoying the mountain scenery along the way (about 1.5 hours to reach the top). Stay for 40 minutes to overlook the city of Beijing. Then, take the cable car down the mountain (or walk along the northern route) and proceed to Biyun Temple on the north side to visit the Ming Dynasty Buddhist architecture and the Diamond Throne Pagoda (about 1 hour).
Evening: Exit through the north gate or return to the east gate. This itinerary covers the main attractions, with a total distance of about 8-10 kilometers and a walking time of about 5-6 hours. Those with limited physical strength can reduce hiking time or take the cable car.
Transportation
- By Bus: Take Bus No. 318, 331, 360, 360 Express, 563, 696, or 698 and get off at "Xiangshan" Station. Take Bus No. 505 or Te 5 and get off at "East Gate of Xiangshan" Station.
- By Subway: Take Subway Line 10 to "Bagou" Station and transfer to the Xijiao Line (tram) to "Xiangshan" Station. The whole journey takes about 40 minutes.
- By Self-Driving: Navigate to "Xiangshan Park." The park has parking lots at the east and north gates. The east parking lot is larger, with about 500 parking spaces, charging 10 yuan per hour. Parking spaces are limited during the Red Leaf Festival, so it is recommended to arrive early or take public transportation.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Xiangshan Temple: It is a reconstructed ancient temple of the Tang Dynasty, covering an area of 18,000 square meters. Built along the mountain, it reproduces the "Eight Scenic Spots of Xiangshan Temple", with exquisite architecture and profound cultural heritage.
- Incense Burner Peak: Standing at 575 meters, the main peak of Xiangshan, offering a panoramic view of Beijing. There are various hiking routes, and the cable car is available. The view is best during the autumn red leaf season.
- Biyun Temple: A 40,000㎡ Ming Dynasty Buddhist architectural complex with a 34.7-meter-high Diamond Throne Pagoda, exquisitely carved. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit with numerous ancient cypresses.
- Qinzheng Hall: Reconstructed Qing Dynasty royal governance venue covering 800㎡, displaying court culture and serving as a starting point to understand the history of Xiangshan.
Travel Tips
- Autumn (mid-October to mid-November) is the best time to visit. During the Red Leaf Festival, the park is crowded. It is recommended to visit on weekdays or enter the park before 7:00 am to avoid the peak.
- Wear non-slip shoes and carry drinking water (prices inside the park are higher) and snacks when hiking. There is a small shop at the top of Incense Burner Peak for supplies.
- During the Red Leaf Festival, the southern route (Qinzheng Hall - Xiangshan Temple - Incense Burner Peak) has the largest number of visitors. The middle route (Jingcui Lake - Incense Burner Peak) is relatively gentle, and the northern route (north gate - Biyun Temple - Incense Burner Peak) has fewer tourists. Choose according to your physical strength.
- Biyun Temple has many ancient trees, making it cool in summer and quiet in winter, suitable for photography. The reconstructed Xiangshan Temple has bright-colored buildings, making it a popular photography spot.
- When visiting with children, focus on the Qinzheng Hall and Xiangshan Temple. Those with limited physical strength can hike only to "Ghost Scared Rock" (the first half of Incense Burner Peak) or take the cable car.
Precautions
- Smoking and open fires are prohibited in the scenic area. Carrying fire sources up the mountain is strictly forbidden. Fire prevention measures are strictly enforced during the Red Leaf Festival, and violators will face penalties.
- Some steps on the hiking routes are steep, especially the "Eighteen Turns" on the middle route. Pay attention to your footing and take care of the elderly and children.
- The park is crowded during the Red Leaf Festival. Keep your belongings safe and avoid crowds. There may be queues for the cable car and restrooms, so it is recommended to use them during off-peak hours.
- Do not pick red leaves or enter restricted areas. Keep the park environment clean and throw garbage into designated bins.
- Respect religious customs when visiting religious sites such as Biyun Temple. Do not touch cultural relics or Buddha statues casually, and turn off the flash when taking photos.
- Mobile phone signals are good in the park, but it is recommended to hike in groups. Plan your route in advance and do not stay on the mountain too late to avoid getting lost.
- In case of severe weather such as heavy rain or strong winds, the scenic area may temporarily close the cable car or some attractions.