Miao Feng Shan, about 55km West of Beijing, is the nearest mountain in Beijing. It is about 1290 metres. The most efficient way to travel there over the weekend is by following the 6th ring all the way West until it literally stops. Get off and turn left into the valley to the town of Jun Zhuang Zhen . You drive about 10km through small villages and then arrive at a big T junction. Turn right on the main road called "G109″ (109 国道) towards the West and go 5km until the pretty entrance archway of Miao Feng Shan.
At the end of April in west Beijing, Miao Feng Shan Mountain featuring an old pilgrim’s trail—the Golden Summit —is holding the biggest temple fair in northern China. Temple fairs have traditionally been a time for worshiping the gods and praying for blessings, all the while enjoying a great opportunity for some serious fun. Many kinds of traditional shows will be on display: crosstalk , banner and kungfu and even a lion exhibition. All spectacles are certain to be a delight for the kiddies.
Now travelers following in the pilgrims’ ancient footsteps can climb the summit along their old trail, but the walk is quite easy. Centuries ago even elderly pilgrims had to finish the grueling trek on their own while today travelers unable to finish the hike can just take a shuttle bus and relax upon arriving at the sacred spot.
On a rocky cliff, known as Miao Feng Shan, amid the mountains about 30 miles northwest of Peking, stands a very important temple. Every year from the first to fifteenth of the "fourth moon" there was a pilgrimage. During these days, great numbers of pilgrims streamed day and night to a shrine in that temple. One source states that one year 514,200 pilgrims visited the shrine. Another source estimates that between the 8th and 10th days of that month, 100,000 pilgrims arrive daily. The pilgrims come not just from the surrounding countryside and Peking but from Tientsin and even Shanghai .
Address: Jiangou Village, north of Mentougou District.
Admission: 30 RMB.
Opening Hours: 7:00-18:00 (Summer time) ; 8:00-17:00 (Winter time).
Bus: Buses that go directly to Miao Feng Shan are only available on weekends - 7:30am at the Ping Guo Yuan station.
Drivers can take Lian Shi Xi Lu or Fu Shi Lu to Men Tou Gou District then follow the signposts on G. 108 National Highway.
Tel: 010-61882936.
