Baishishan in West Beijing: Admire Lilac Blooms and Embrace a Cool 21°C Summer Wonderland
The last time I visited Baishishan was a few years ago for a trail running event. I've always vividly remembered the magnificent natural scenery. Recently, my friends wanted to find a cool getaway near Beijing to escape the heat, and this place immediately came to mind. So I decided to join them on the trip.
In mid-summer June, Baishishan, known as the 'Head of the Taihang Mountains,' is blanketed with blooming lilacs. They quietly adorn the mountainsides, their fragrance filling the entire summer. Every year from June to August is the best time to admire lilacs. Walking among the peaks and clouds, you encounter a beautiful rendezvous between nature and flowers, embracing a refreshing 21°C summer.
Baishishan Scenic Area is located in Laiyuan County, Baoding City, Hebei Province. It brings together a wealth of natural wonders including peak forests, cliffside walkways, gorges, forests, seas of clouds, Buddha's light, and ancient Great Wall sections. With its cool, comfortable summer temperatures and delightful scenery, it's often called the backyard garden of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region—an ideal summer escape and leisure destination.
The area features unique marble peak forest landforms, with a peak elevation of 2,099 meters and a main ridge stretching over 7,000 meters. It perfectly showcases the strange, majestic, perilous, ethereal, and graceful aspects of mountain scenery. Standing on the summit and looking down, the intricately arranged peaks rise in grandeur, taking your breath away.
When we arrived, a rain shower had just passed. Taking the cable car to the top, we were lucky enough to witness the spectacular rising sea of clouds after the rain. The clouds wove through the peaks like a giant ink-wash landscape painting come to life, making us feel as if we had stepped into a fairyland. Visitors eagerly pulled out their phones and cameras to capture these precious, fleeting moments.
Recommended Scenic Spots
Located at an altitude of 1,600 meters in Baishishan, the café has four floors and two viewing platforms with superb vistas. Sitting by the glass windows, you can savor a fragrant cup of coffee while taking in the breathtaking mountain views, quietly collecting all the little joys of summer.
Perched on the Shuangxiong Stone Viewing Platform at 1,900 meters, this is one of visitors' favorite photo spots. The sky and mountains are reflected on the mirror-like surface, creating a dreamy, ethereal scene.
'Eternal Love, A Billion-Year Kiss,' also known as Three Caves Heaven or Kissing Stone, this peculiar rock formation took hundreds of millions of years to form. From a distance, it's truly eye-catching.
Perfect to visit with your loved one, this heart-shaped viewing platform sits atop a solitary peak at 1,900 meters, symbolizing vows of eternal love and unity.
Foguang Summit
At 2,099 meters, this is the highest peak of Baishishan. From the top, you can admire the stunning views of the Taihang Mountains and Langya Mountain. It's also the best spot in the area to watch the sunrise.
The scenic area has four cable car lines: Xiangyunmen Cable Car, Jiucaiyuan Cable Car, Feiyunkou Cable Car, and Cuipingfeng Cable Car.
Recommended Routes
Route 1: Family and Educational Tour (suitable for children and seniors)
Feiyunkou - Shanmeng Platform - Shuangxiong Stone Glass Walkway - Bajie Marries a Wife - Dolphin Emerging from Water - Jiucaiyuan
Route 2: Hiking Trail
Jiucaiyuan - Feihu Double-layer Glass Gallery Bridge - Immortal Sunning Boots - Café - Spirit of the Taihang - Feiyunkou - Shanmeng Platform - Shuangxiong Stone Glass Walkway - Dolphin Emerging from Water - Jiucaiyuan
Route 3: Photography Route
Jiucaiyuan - Feihu Double-layer Glass Gallery Bridge - Immortal Sunning Boots - Three Buddhas Paying Homage - Spirit of the Taihang - Feiyunkou - Shanmeng Platform - Shuangxiong Stone Glass Walkway - Shuangxiong Guarding the Mountain - Bajie Marries a Wife - Foguang Summit - Mantou Stone - Jiucaiyuan
Admission: 135 RMB/person
Scenic shuttle bus (one-way): 30 RMB/person
Xiangyunmen Cable Car (East Gate, one-way): 70 RMB/person
Jiucaiyuan Cable Car (inside the area, one-way): 45 RMB/person
Feiyunkou Cable Car (inside the area, one-way): 45 RMB/person
Cuipingfeng Cable Car (West Gate, one-way): 80 RMB/person
Address: Fenglianggou Village, Baishishan Town, Laiyuan County, Baoding City, Hebei Province
Recommended visit duration: 1–2 days
Opening hours: 8:30–17:30
Leave the scorching summer behind and come to Baishishan in West Beijing to experience a 20°C summer. The air, rich in negative oxygen ions, is incredibly refreshing, and the absolutely stunning natural scenery will make you never want to leave.
