Dajue Temple

Many people living in Beijing visit a temple in autumn just to admire a single tree, and Dajue Temple is one such place, with its famed ginkgo tree. Among these admirers was Ji Xianlin, who said: “Every time I drive from Peking University to Dajue Temple, my frustration decreases in inverse proportion to the distance traveled. As the distance increases, my frustration diminishes, and by the time I enter the temple gates, all my worries vanish, leaving me in a state of tranquility.”

The “ginkgo king” is a male ginkgo tree among the two ginkgo trees in front of the Hall of Infinite Life. Legend has it that it was planted during the Liao Dynasty, over a thousand years old, standing about 25 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 7.5 meters, and is revered as the ginkgo king.” In late autumn and early winter, the bright yellow ginkgo leaves cover the entire courtyard, with the high branches spreading out freely, complementing the red walls and gray tiles of the temple, creating a unique beauty shaped by the passage of time.

Apart from admiring the ginkgo trees, the thousand-year-old Dajue Temple itself features unique architecture and layout. It faces east and sits west, reflecting the Liao people's customary reverence for the sun. Rest in the temple’s tea house, enjoy a cup of tea, and observe the Qianlong-era plaque hanging under the eaves of the Hall of Infinite Life—"Observing Stillness and Motion"—which offers deep philosophical insights and thought-provoking reflections.

Nearby recommended attractions:

Jiufeng National Forest Park serves dual purposes as both a research forest for Beijing Forestry University and a popular science education base for youth in Beijing. The park is characterized by its dense trees. In autumn, the most common colorful trees are torch trees, yellow hornbeams, and maples. The areas for viewing torch trees and yellow hornbeams are about two to three kilometers long, while the maple viewing area is about one kilometer. Recently introduced red leaf trees like the Chinese maple, silver maple, red maple, tea tree maple, and Canadian red maple also offer considerable aesthetic value. During autumn, not only do the leaves turn red, but the leaf stems also turn red, providing a unique contrast with the silvery white trunks and vivid red leaves.