Fragrant Hills Park (Xiangshan Park)

Map of Fragrant Hills Park

The most spectacular natural scenery in the Fragrant Hills Park is the red smoke tree leaves over the mountains. When autumn arrives, fiery red leaves blanket the entire mountain. Every year, thousands of tourists come to it. The cable cars are a great way to take in the beautiful scenes.

Visitors may take two main routes to explore the park. The first one is to go along the north route, where visitors will see Spectacles Lake (Yanjing Lake), Study of Reading Heart (Jianxin Zhai), Bright Temple (Zhao Miao), etc. Spectacles Lake is a lake divided half by a bridge. Study of Reading Heart was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was noted as the park inside it. Bright Temple is a large Tibetan style lamasery complex built in 1780 as the residence for the sixth Panchen Lama during his visits to Emperor Qianlong. Buildings in the complex have partially been burned down. Among the surviving treasures are a majestic glazed-tiled archway in front of the complex, a Tibetan style terrace and a glazed-tiled pagoda. Bells hung on the eaves of the pagoda chime in breeze.

Fragrant Hills Park

Red Leaves

This hill is one the most famous places in China to see the red leaves. Red Leaves Festival is held every Mid-October to early November. That is the busiest time of it. Travelers had better go there in week days to avoid great number of visitors in the weekends.
 

 Fragrant Hills Temple (Xiangshan Temple)
The temple is in the south hill foot close to Shuangqing Villa. First built in Tang Dynasty, the temple is the origin of Fragrant Hill's culture. Be cautious of many steps in this area. 
 Best time to see red leaves: circa October 18 - November 2

 Heshun Gate:
It is on the south hillside, 980 feet (300m) above the ground. It is close to the red leave trees. 
 Best time to see red leaves: circa October 25 - November

 Yuhua Xiu:
This is the largest flat area in it and the road to it from the east gate is even, within 20 minutes' walk along the middle road. There is broad field of vision. 
 Best Time to see red leaves: October 18 - November 4

 Xiangwu Ku (literally Fragrant Mist Cave)
It has classical garden environment on the hillside. It takes over half an hour to climb up to this place.  
 Best time to see red leaves: October 15 - November 4
 

Biyun Temple

 Route 1: East gate - Jingcui Lake - Shuangqing Villa - Xiangshan Temple - Heshun Gate - hill top
 Tips: The route takes about two hours. Need to climb up the hill. 

 Route 2: East gate - Yuhua Xiu - Xiangwu Ku - hill top
 Tips: This is a meek route and suitable for family going together. 

 Route 3: North gate - cable car station - hill top
 Tips: It is 5 minutes' walking distance from the north gate southward to the cable car. By cable, you can get to the hill top nearly 20 minutes later. You can have a bird-eye view of Temple of Azure Clouds (Biyun Temple) and overlook the red leaves afar. 
 

 By Subway:
1. Take line 10 to Bagou Station. Then transfer to Western Suburban Line and get off at Xiangshan Station. Walk southwest around 900 meters (984 yards) to arrive at the ticket office of this park.
2. Take line 4 and get off at Beigongmen Station. Get out from Exit A and transfer to bus 563 to Xiangshan Gongyuan Dongmen (east gate of the Fragrant Hills Park) Station. 

 By Bus:
Take bus 563 to Xiangshan Gongyuan Dongmen (East Gate of Fragrant Hills Park) Station, then walk westward for about 600 yards to the gate.
Beijing Bus / Subway Search