Route: Jietai Temple - Tanzhe Temple - Tanwang Road - Jiuyuan Village
Reason for Recommendation: poetic golden gingko leaves present a picturesque landscape.
Jietai Temple
Jietai Temple is rated as a national AAAA scenic spot. This over-1,400-year-old temple together with Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou City and Zhaoqing Temple in Hangzhou City are dubbed China’s Three Buddhist Altars. By large area, Jietai Temple is also hailed as “First Altar under Heaven”. The first feature of Jietai Temple is Four Sightseeing-worthy Sceneries including sunrise in the morning, sunset in the evening, and Beijing’s cityscape and neon lights at night. The second feature of Jietai Temple is pine trees - Jietai Temple Scenic Spot abounds with old trees and famous flowers. Notably, the old pine trees here enjoy national renown. As early as the Ming and Qing Dynasties, top ten oddly-shaped pines like dragon pine and phoenix pine had gained great fame all over the then capital. In addition, exterior scenes of many famous television series including Journey to the West and Empresses in the Palace are filmed in the Temple. Here, visitors can learn standard dining ceremonies in the Dazhai Hall and taste the Eighteen Arhats Food.
Tel.: 010-69805942
Self-driving Route: Lianshi West Road - Bypass of National Highway 108 - Jietai Temple
Tanzhe Temple
Nestling at the foot of Tanzhe Mountain to the southeast of Mentougou District, Tanzhe Temple is over 30km away from Beijing’s downtown. With a history of 1,700-odd years, it has the distinction of being the oldest temple of Beijing, even 800 years older than Beijing City. Thus, there goes a proverb to this effect that “Tanzhe Temple came first, then Beijing City made its debut”. Leaning against Baozhu Peak that is surrounded by nine horseshoe-shaped tall peaks, this temple looks like being protected by nine huge dragons. Thanks to the barrier formed by rolling high mountains against the northwestward cold current, Tanzhe Temple boasts not only a warm and humid climate, but also tall old trees, numerous pagodas and magnificent palaces. Featuring a creative layout, the temple spreads along the natural terrain, all architectures being well-arranged with bamboo trees and famous flowers dotted around, creating a picturesque environment. Tanzhe Temple in autumn is in its prime. Mountains around Pingyuan Village where the temple sits are covered with fruit trees like persimmon, haw, hawthorn and autumn pear, as well as smoketree and red maple. After a blast of autumn wind, myriad fallen leaves are dancing in the air. Just like a poem line writes, another splash of color is added to Western Hills that are covered with autumnal fiery red leaves, as it frosts over bit by bit.
Tel.: 010-60861699
Self-driving Route: Lianshi West Road - Tunnel at Tanzhe Temple - Tanzhe Temple
Jiuyuan Village
Located at the foot of Jiulong Mountain, Wangping Town, Mentougou District, Jiuyuan Village is made up by four sub-villages including Dongluopo, Xiluopo, Jiuyuan and Qiaoerjian. Anecdotally, in the past, villagers mainly lived on growing vegetables, especially Chinese chives. So, it got its name as Jiuyuan Village. In addition, there are also a dazzling array of cultural landscapes such as Sanyi Temple, watchtower, Jingxi Ancient Path, former residence of Ma Zhiyuan, Niujiaoling Gate, and many century-old yards.
Tel.: 010-61858156
Self-driving Route: National Highway 108 - Tanwang Road - National Highway 109 - Jiuyuan Village
