Constant 13°C: A Great Summer Escape

📍 Beijing · 👁 2 reads · ❤️ 111 likes

This isn't Aila's first time at Fangshan Stone Flower Cave, and every visit feels like exploring a hidden wonderland. Now, let's follow Aila's footsteps and check out this magical, beautiful cave.

The 'Heaven-Supporting Mandarin Duck Pillar' behind me is a must-see at Stone Flower Cave, and one of its top ten wonders. Located at the junction of the second and third layers, it consists of two evenly thick stone columns formed by connected stalagmites and stalactites, reaching a height of 12.6 meters. It's truly spectacular.

The picture above shows the top ten wonders of Stone Flower Cave: moonmilk, stone curtains, stalactites, stone shields, stone pillars, cloud basins, stalagmites, stone flags, stone waterfalls, and stone flowers. Be sure to spot them all next time you visit.

Each wonder is a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship; you can only truly appreciate their charm when you're there in person.

Stone Flower Cave maintains a constant 13°C all year round, making it suitable for visiting in any season – not cold in winter, and cool in summer. Four levels are open to the public, with some stairs to climb. The upper levels are older and feature larger formations, while the lower levels reveal more delicate details. Walking a full loop takes about 5,000 steps. Going up and down not only lets you soak in the scenery but also gives you a good workout – killing two birds with one stone.

Jade Pool Stone Lotus – Moonmilk

Inverted Torch – Stalactite

White Jade Canopy – Stone Flag

Dragon Palace Harp – Stone Curtain

Heaven-Supporting Mandarin Duck Pillar – Stone Pillar

Stone Flower Cave formed slowly over hundreds of millions of years, so please remember to protect these formations when you visit. Once damaged by human activity, they can never be restored.

Wheelchairs are not recommended, and elderly visitors should not go in alone, as there are many stairs and some sections of the ground can be damp and slippery.

Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers – Stone Flower

Speaking of Stone Flower Cave, one thing you can't miss is its cave-aged liquor. Ever since the imperial days, this cave-aged wine has been prized by nobles and officials. The cave's unique temperature and humidity make it ideal for storing baijiu, so friends who love a good drink are in for a real treat.

Six years have flown by. Coming back to Stone Flower Cave, I can almost still see her adorable face and hear her innocent laughter. She was only two then, and I remember carrying her the whole way, leaving us with so many wonderful memories here.

Back when you were two, you were such a tiny, cute little thing. Time really flies; in the blink of an eye, you're already a third-grader. This May Day, mom will try to bring you here again. Besides the cave itself, the area around Fangshan Stone Flower Cave is also very beautiful.

Legend has it that Stone Flower Cave has ten Buddha images. Whoever finds all ten will be blessed with wealth and treasures. How many Buddhas can you spot on these cliffs?

Visiting time: about 2 hours of leisurely exploration. Plan your time accordingly.

The ground can be slippery; it's best to wear non-slip, comfortable sports shoes.

The entire tour is inside the cave, so it's largely unaffected by weather.

Remember to bring your own water. There are no shops or toilets inside the cave, so prepare before entering.

About Stone Flower Cave Scenic Area:

? Tickets: 70 yuan, half price for students.

? Address: Take the Jingshi Expressway to the Fangshan (Yancun) exit, then pass through Tuoli to reach Stone Flower Cave. Or, exit at the Fangshan Liangxiang Airport exit on the Jingshi Expressway, then go via Qinglong Lake and Beicheying to reach the cave.

? Bus: From Tianqiao, take bus 836 or 835; transfer at Liangxiang Ximen to bus 833 (or Fang 13) to Shihuadong Road Crossing; or take Fang 42 directly to Stone Flower Cave.

? Services: Visitors over 60 should be accompanied. For those with limited mobility, the scenic area offers considerate facilities.

Spend a leisurely morning at Stone Flower Cave marveling at nature's wonders, then take a relaxing stroll in the garden and enjoy the spring scenery. If you get tired, there's also a great spot nearby for a wild vegetable feast.

The variety of wild greens is incredibly rich, mostly seasonal. Examples include shepherd's purse, Chinese toon, Sichuan pepper sprouts, magnolia buds, willow buds, and spring bamboo shoots. There are also tasty flatbreads and kuà dùn fish (a traditional braised fish), all nutritious and healthy green foods.

Moon Mountain Scenic Area is right by the Stone Flower Cave parking lot, not far from the wild vegetable restaurant. It's not very big, but its main feature is a glass skywalk suspended between two small hills. The hills are not high, so if you have time and energy after the cave, it's worth a visit.

Right at the entrance, there's also a small zoo with peacocks, rabbits, foxes, monkeys, and more. Kids will definitely enjoy it if you bring them along.

About Moon Mountain Scenic Area:

? Tickets: 20 yuan, half price for children and seniors.

? Address: Nancheying Village, Hebei Town, Fangshan.

? Parking: 10 yuan.

After a full day of fun, check into 'Xiude Valley' Traditional Culture Experience Base in Fangshan for the night. Far from the city's hustle and bustle, it's a perfect place to cultivate body and mind. The guesthouse blends rustic charm with a scholarly atmosphere; staying here awhile almost makes you feel like you're ascending to a higher plane.

Since you're here, make yourself at home. Spend your days meditating with a master, enjoying vegetarian meals, listening to guqin music, and soaking in the hermit-like tranquility of the mountains.

Their vegetarian cuisine comes highly recommended. Even though it's all plant-based, the texture and flavor are so convincing you'd never guess it was vegetarian unless told. Aila especially loved the black pepper beef – it tasted superb!

And for those who enjoy a drink, don't miss ordering a bottle of Stone Flower Cave's cave-aged liquor – a perfect finish to the meal.

After dinner, spend time at Mingde Hall learning to make knotted crafts or sachets with a teacher. Each little handicraft is a great way to calm the mind; this kind of slow living is simply blissful.

You can also enjoy an intimate encounter with the guqin, playing it in the sunlight – the elegance is beyond words.

Days at Xiude Valley are truly a time of complete relaxation for body and soul. Professional teachers lead a 'mountain herb walk' where you can carry a basket and gather wild greens and medicinal herbs, breathe fresh air, and get to know the mountain flora. Life here is simple and pure.

These are my harvest – lots of dandelions!

Xiude Valley Traditional Culture Experience Base:

? Accommodation: Jixiang Jingshe Inn

? Food: All vegetarian, with most ingredients sourced from the valley's own farm.

? Activities: Mountain herb walks, parent-child farming, tea ceremony, guqin, needlework, classical poetry, Hanfu dress-up, tie-dye, bamboo weaving, and many more traditional cultural experiences.

? Address: Xiude Valley, Beibanbidian, Hebei Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.

If you haven't made plans for the May Day holiday yet, come to Fangshan without leaving Beijing – beautiful mountains, lovely waters, and total relaxation.

Travelogue Contents: 1. Fangshan Stone Flower Cave Section 2. Moon Mountain Section 3. Xiude Valley Traditional Culture Experience Base