Badachu Park

Badachu Park is located next to Xishan Forest Park. The name "Badachu" refers to the eight Buddhist temples within the park, which have a long history and remain popular pilgrimage sites in the Beijing suburbs. The mountains are also home to many ginkgo and maple trees, creating stunning red and yellow foliage every fall. In early spring (March–April), the blooming apricot flowers below Hutou Peak resemble a flurry of snow. It's an excellent destination for walking, sightseeing, and hiking.

Suggested travel time and route

Badachu Park features relatively low mountains with stepped paths throughout. The hike from the entrance to the mountain top covers approximately 4–5 km, making it ideal for hiking exercise. Dedicated hikers typically complete the route in 2–3 hours, while those enjoying the scenery may take 4–6 hours or longer. Visitors from downtown Beijing usually plan a full day for the trip. For those with limited stamina or traveling with seniors or children, the park offers cable cars and slides—especially the slide descending from the summit, which provides an exciting experience perfect for kids.

Highlights of Badachu Park

The eight sites within the park refer to Chang'an Temple (Site 1), Lingguang Temple (Site 2), Sanshan Nunnery (Site 3), Badachu Park - Dabei Temple (Site 4), Badachu Park - Longquan Nunnery (Site 5), Xiangjie Temple (Site 6), Baozhu Cave (Site 7), and Zhengguo Temple (Site 8). All seven sites are open to visitors, except for Chang'an Temple (Site 1), which remains closed.

Lingguang Temple, the second site, was built during the Tang Dynasty. It enshrines a Buddha tooth relic, one of only two such relics in the world, making it very famous among Buddhist temples. Legends also say it is very efficacious, which is why Lingguang Temple is a popular place for prayers within Badachu Park.

The temples from the fourth to seventh sites are primarily known for their scenic views. Six of them even served as imperial palaces in the past, featuring exquisite garden-like layouts. The surrounding mountain landscapes are equally stunning, making sightseeing the main focus during visits.

Lush ancient ginkgo trees are found in four places, clear and beautiful Dragon Springs in five, magnificent and exquisite architecture in six, and seven is a great spot to view the panoramic city and sunrise.

"Ninth Division": Cliff Valley

In addition to the Eight Great Sites, the recently discovered Cliff Valley is known as the "Ninth Site." The stone cliffs in the valley feature numerous carvings of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues from the Ming Dynasty, hidden in the mountains for centuries. Visitors can explore this remarkable find.

You can also check out attractions like glacial erratics along the way. Beyond the many scenic spots, simply coming here to admire the mountain views or hike for exercise are both great options.