Dajue Temple

The Dajue Temple sits on the Yangtai Mountain in the western suburb of Beijing. It’s a thousand-year-old temple first built in the Liao Dynasty. It was originally named Qingshui Temple and changed to its present name after a reconstruction in the Ming Dynasty. The Dajue Temple is famous for its clear springs, ancient trees and beautiful magnolias. Dajue Temple, Fayuan Temple and Chongxiao Temple are dubbed Beijing’s three flowery temples, for their magnolias, lilac and peonies respectively.

The most eye-catching item of the Dajue Temple is an ancient ginko tree that’s said to have been planted a thousand years ago during the Liao Dynasty. The best time to view ginko leaves is between late November and early December, when the leaves take on a green color with a tinge of yellow. The gradient is intriguing. The sunlight would shine through the leaves, making it tempting to feel them with your hands.

Address: No.9 Dajuesi Road, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing 北京市海淀区苏家坨镇大觉寺路9号

Ticket: 20 yuan

By Bus: Take bus No. 633 (South Entrance of East Anningzhuang Road 安宁庄东路南口-- Yangtuo 杨坨) and get off at the Dajue Temple Stop (大觉寺站).