200 km West of Beijing: Enjoy the Splendid Scenery of Baishishan!
As Xiang Ge’s true fans, you probably know that since March this year, his travels in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region have been a bit sparse. He has mostly been wandering around the south, in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area. So he received lots of private messages from friends in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, all asking: with the scorching summer vacation just around the corner, are there any recommended places near Beijing that are fun and also cool?
Well, as a blogger who spoils his fans, Xiang Ge naturally has to sort out all your needs clearly. So for the whole month of June, he basically arranged his itinerary around the outskirts of Beijing, heading out in four directions — east, south, west and north — to scout out great summer travel destinations for his loyal fans.
Today’s travel guide takes you west of Beijing to Baishishan, to experience a 21-degree summer.
1st: Arrive at Baishishan – Sea of Clouds on the Peak
2nd: Baishishan Grand Loop (Xiangyunmen Cableway – Taihang Laozu – Lilac Flower Sea – Immortal Drying Boots – Nature Corner Café – Three Sages Worship Buddha – Three Cave Heavens – Spirit of Taihang – Feiyunkou Cableway – Mountain Pledge Platform – Sky Mirror – Bajie Gets Married – Jiang Taigong Fishing – Dolphin Emerges from Water – Taihang Laozu) Full tour 7 hours
——Sea of Clouds on the Peak
On the first day when we arrived, it was already afternoon and there was a light rain. We braved the rain up the mountain, hoping to catch a sea of clouds — and our luck was really great. We took the Xiangyunmen Cableway and then an electric cart to the viewing platform in front of Jiucai Garden, gazing down at the distant mountains. Rolling clouds surged between the peaks, and looking down from above at the sea of clouds was truly breathtaking. Of course, this kind of scenery is something you can’t always count on, but if you want to see it, you can check the weather in advance, do some homework, and then add a pinch of luck~
——Xiangyunmen Cableway
There are generally two ways to go up Baishishan: one is to take the shuttle bus inside the scenic area, and the other is the cableway. After parking our car outside the scenic area, we entered and went straight up via the Xiangyunmen Cableway. It is 2,380 meters long and takes about 8 minutes. The scenery along the way shows different amazing views depending on the weather.
——Taihang Laozu
After getting off the Xiangyunmen cable car, take an electric shuttle to Jiucai Garden. On the square there is a statue. Legend has it that in ancient times there was a lofty man surnamed Lu who could fly across cliffs, had great medical skills, and could turn stones into gold. The locals called him Baishi Laozu. Because Baishishan is the head of the Taihang Mountains, he is also known as Taihang Laozu.
——Immortal Drying Boots
We entered from the 1,600-meter altitude loop and returned via the 1,900-meter half-loop, completing a full grand loop. Although this route is longer and takes more time, the scenery you can enjoy is definitely the most complete, the most, and the most beautiful. Among them, Immortal Drying Boots was the first remarkable rock formation on the grand loop that left the deepest impression on me.
A bizarre rock stands atop a massive crag. Viewed from the side, it looks exactly like a boot — just as if an immortal had been drying a boot here.
Nature Corner Café, also called Cloud Café. By the time you reach this spot on the grand loop, you’re probably about worn out, so it’s the perfect place to take a rest and grab a cup of coffee.
Most importantly, besides savoring coffee, at an altitude of 1,600 meters you can take in the magnificent scenery of Baishishan through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
And this place is an internet-famous spot. Type it into any search and you’ll get loads of beautiful photos. So if you’re a couple or a group of girlfriends traveling together, be sure to stop here. It will absolutely make your Baishishan trip, apart from the natural landscapes, yield dreamy and fresh, exquisite photos.
——Three Sages Worship Buddha
Looking out from the mountain boardwalks along the way, three peaks of different heights appear just like three sages worshiping, and they face exactly west — which matches the Western Three Sages in Buddhist culture. When we saw the three peaks and read the description, our first reaction was: incredible, truly incredible, how could there be such a coincidence?
Walking further down, you come to the Three Cave Heavens. This place left me and Yiyi with very romantic and beautiful memories. The rocks of the Three Cave Heavens are also called Kissing Rocks, representing the three stages of love: from the first stirrings of young love, to passionate embraces, and finally to union eternal until the seas dry up and stones crumble.
The symbolism is super romantic and lovely. Couples or husbands and wives visiting Baishishan should definitely stop here. Not only will it make you marvel at nature’s craftsmanship, but the beautiful meaning of an eternal love in one kiss will also make you love each other even more. This is surely one of the most romantic things in life.
——Spirit of Taihang
The Spirit of Taihang is an iconic sight at Baishishan. A solitary stone pillar is hidden at the bottom of Feihu Gorge. Although only 11 meters tall, its upper part is relatively stout while the base is slender — just like a statue hanging on a stone platform, utterly exquisite. There is also a legendary tale about this place.
I’ll leave a cliffhanger here, so that when you decide to visit Baishishan and reach this spot, you can regale your companions with the legend fluently~
——Feiyunkou Cableway
The Feiyunkou Cableway is a transfer cableway at the 1,600-meter altitude on the grand loop. It’s called Flying Cloud Pass because here you can see clouds dancing. Due to its geographic position and shape that satisfy all the physical conditions, it’s often shrouded in mist, looking like a fairy tale — mesmerizing and dreamlike.
After riding up from Feiyunkou to the platform, continue along the right side of the mountain and you’ll see a large heart-shaped platform hanging over the cliff.
This platform is called Mountain Pledge Platform. Since the Three Cave Heavens, everything here seems filled with sweet love and romantic vibes. They talk about vows as deep as the sea as high as the mountain. So when you hold hands and step onto the Mountain Pledge Platform, how high would it rank on a 1-to-10 romance scale?
Here I even held Yiyi’s hand and said to her: If before saying a mountain vow might not have been so vivid or moving, now as we both stand on this Mountain Pledge Platform, I say again I pledge you a mountain-and-sea vow. I wonder if this time it leaves you with a deep and beautiful memory!
——Sky Mirror
From the Sky Mirror onward, you are basically at the midway point between the 1,600-meter and 1,900-meter loops. The Sky Mirror is incredibly photogenic. On the day we played here, Yiyi wore a bright red long dress. Standing on the Sky Mirror against the blue sky and white clouds, it created a striking contrast — just stunning beyond words.
Standing here, I could only regret not bringing a ring. This is also an ideal place for a proposal. Beneath the open sky, you can promise each other a lifetime of guardianship and companionship.
If there are any lads among Xiang Ge’s fans preparing a proposal, you might consider this spot. It will absolutely make your proposal ceremony the envy of everyone.
——Bajie Gets Married
On the way back to Jiucai Garden along the 1,900-meter loop, at the viewing platform behind the 1314 sign, you can spot another fascinating rock formation on Baishishan, very vivid and aptly named Bajie Gets Married.
Look at the rock in front, and with a bit of imagination, it really does look like Zhu Bajie’s head, with a bride in a veil behind him. Believe me, once you stand here and see it from this angle, and then read its name and description, you’ll definitely agree with me — the more you look, the more it resembles.
——Jiang Taigong Fishing
Actually, after Bajie Gets Married there is one more stop: Buddhist Light Peak. But due to physical exhaustion from climbing the grand loop, we didn’t go up there. Instead we took the flat path ahead. Rounding a bend on the other side of the mountain, a different scene unfolds.
From here you can see yet another fantastic rock formation on Baishishan: Jiang Taigong Fishing. A large rock that looks just like an old man fishing with a rod in hand, sitting atop a peak. As the saying goes, Jiang Taigong fishes — and whoever is willing will bite. If the bait is the scenery of Baishishan, trust me, everyone who has been here is willing.
——Dolphin Emerges from Water
This is the last unusual rock formation before returning to Jiucai Garden Square: Dolphin Emerges from Water. Find the right angle and look straight at a tall upright rock that vividly resembles a dolphin just emerging from the sea, sending up spray. It’s as if this bizarre rock truly evolved from that very moment.
1. If the weather is bad, remember to keep warm. After taking the cableway up, before exiting Xiangyunmen Cableway station, you can rent a military coat — this is really important. Bad weather: stay warm, stay warm, stay warm. Important things must be said three times, because this lesson was learned the hard way through personal suffering. After all, such a high altitude is no joke.
2. If the weather is good, you must protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen, sun hats, UV-protective clothing — whatever you can arrange, arrange it all. You could even bring a headscarf that covers your whole face — not excessive at all, because the mountain sun is indeed quite bright, so you know it! If you don’t want to get sunburned and peel, you must take proper sun protection.
3. If you want to hike the grand loop, I strongly recommend bringing some snacks that quickly replenish energy, as well as water. Try to be compact — use the minimum weight to achieve maximum effect.
Setting off from Beijing, just navigate directly to Baishishan. The distance is a bit over 200 km, about three hours’ drive. For a self-driving trip, transportation is very convenient — simply take the Lailai Expressway to get there.
Around the scenic area there are many farmhouse inns. You can book in advance according to your needs. I’d recommend this idea especially for self-driving friends, because most farmhouses are some distance from the scenic area. With your own car, that distance can be ignored — it’s just a tap on the accelerator~
There are also hotels inside the scenic area. I recommend a two-day one-night itinerary. Where to stay exactly — as I said, it depends on your own needs~
Baishishan entrance ticket: 135 RMB
Xiangyunmen Cableway (east gate): one-way 70 RMB
Cuipingfeng Cableway (west gate): 80 RMB
Feiyunkou Cableway: one-way 45 RMB
Shuttle bus: one-way 30 RMB
Travelogue Contents
1. Baishishan Trip Opening
2. Baishishan Trip Itinerary
3. Baishishan Trip Sights
4. —Nature Corner Café
5. Baishishan Trip Tips
6. Baishishan Trip Transportation
7. Baishishan Trip Accommodation
8. Baishishan Trip Price Reference:
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