A famous Imperial Garden in western Beijing, renowned nationwide for autumn foliage. Climbing Incense Burner Peak offers panoramic city views, and spring wildflowers are equally worthwhile.
Fragrant Hills Park is located in Haidian District in the western suburbs of Beijing. First built in 1186 during the Jin dynasty, it has a history of over 800 years and is an Imperial Garden with rich mountain forest features. Covering 188 hectares, its highest peak — Incense Burner Peak (nicknamed "Ghost's Dread") — rises to 575 meters. The mountain terrain is rugged and the forests lush, making it a rare natural oxygen bar in the Beijing suburbs.
Fragrant Hills is famous nationwide for its "Autumn Foliage" — from late October to mid-November, nearly 100,000 smoketrees and maple trees paint the mountains in brilliant reds and golds. The autumn foliage interspersed with evergreen pines and cypresses creates a magnificent fall panorama, while "Clear Snow on Western Hills" is one of the Eight Great Sights of Yanjing. Beyond autumn, spring brings peach blossoms, apricot flowers, and magnolias; summer offers lush greenery and cool retreats; winter wraps the hills in silver — beautiful in every season.
Cultural heritage sites dot the park: Biyun Temple preserves Dr. Sun Yat-sen's cenotaph and the Diamond Throne Pagoda; Shuangqing Villa witnessed the founding preparations of New China; and Fragrant Hills Temple is one of Beijing's oldest Buddhist temples. In 2019, the Fragrant Hills Revolutionary Memorial Site officially opened, making it an important Red Tourism destination.
The main peak of Fragrant Hills stands at 575 meters, named for the giant rock at its summit resembling an incense burner. From the top, you can overlook Kunming Lake and the entire Summer Palace; on clear days, the Beijing city skyline is visible in the distance. Early morning hikes for sunrise and evening sunset viewing are perfect choices for photography enthusiasts. The climb takes about 1-1.5 hours, with ancient pines, rugged rocks, and scenic views at every step.
The Fragrant Hills autumn foliage is dominated by smoketrees, interspersed with maple and torch trees, covering tens of thousands of square meters. The best viewing areas are concentrated in the Southern Hills foliage forest, around Jingcui Lake, and near Senyu Terrace. After the first frost, leaves transition from green to yellow, orange, and red in rich gradations. The annual "Fragrant Hills Autumn Foliage Cultural Festival" in mid-October is one of Beijing's most popular autumn events.
First built in 1331 during the Yuan dynasty, this temple is nearly 700 years old. Built into the mountainside with layers of ascending halls, it features magnificent architecture. The Diamond Throne Pagoda within is a nationally protected relic with exquisite relief carvings. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall is housed here, preserving his cenotaph. Ancient ginkgo trees reaching dozens of meters high turn the grounds golden in autumn — a breathtaking sight.
From March to September 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong lived and worked here, directing the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign and preparing the new CPPCC conference — this villa witnessed the birth of New China. Nestled in a pine forest on the mountainside, the serene grounds feature ancient pines, ginkgo trees, and a natural spring. Now a Patriotic Education Base, it displays numerous precious historical photographs and artifacts.
First built in the Eastern Jin dynasty, it is one of the oldest documented temples in the Beijing area, having undergone numerous renovations through the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. After major restoration during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty, it featured a unique layout of front street, central temple, and rear courtyard, earning the title "Crown of the Capital." After a decade-long restoration completed in 2017, it reopened to the public, recreating the splendor of an imperial temple.
Enter via East Gate → Jingcui Lake (autumn colors) → Shuangqing Villa → Fragrant Hills Temple → Senyu Terrace (core foliage area, photo ops) → Incense Burner Peak summit → Cable car down or walk back. This route connects the best foliage viewing points with key cultural sites, ideal for first-time visitors. On autumn weekends, enter before 8 AM to avoid crowds.
Enter via East Gate → Biyun Temple (Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall + Diamond Throne Pagoda + ancient ginkgo) → Fragrant Hills Temple → Zhao Temple Glazed Pagoda → Jianxinzhai Classical Garden → Shuangqing Villa → Fragrant Hills Revolutionary Museum. Focused on history and culture, ideal for visitors interested in history and architecture — allow ample time to appreciate each heritage site.
Enter via East Gate → Jingcui Lake (fish viewing) → Zhisong Garden (ancient pines) → Cable car up → Incense Burner Peak viewpoint → Cable car down → Biyun Temple. Using the cable car conserves energy, ideal for families with elderly members or young children. Stop and rest anytime along the way to enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Autumn Foliage Photography: Late October to early November is the optimal shooting window. Early morning light is soft and crowds are thin, capturing foliage perfectly blended with ancient pines and historic buildings. The Southern Hills foliage forest yields the best photos; telephoto lenses excel at distant layered shots. The park publishes annual "Foliage Index" forecasts — check them to choose the best time to visit.
Spring Flower Viewing: From late March through April, mountain peach blossoms and forsythia bloom first, followed by magnolias, crabapples, and cherry blossoms, painting the hills in pinks, yellows, and reds like a poetic landscape. Peach Blossom Creek is the most popular spring photo spot — with gurgling waters and petals drifting on the breeze, it feels like a paradise.
Hiking & Fitness: Fragrant Hills is Beijing's classic hiking destination, where many citizens exercise year-round. Several hiking trails lead from the East Gate to Incense Burner Peak, varying from gentle to steep. Early morning hikes may reward you with sunrise and sea-of-clouds views, and the sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit and overlooking the entire city is unparalleled.
Red Education Tour: The Fragrant Hills Revolutionary Memorial Site, opened in 2019, includes eight revolutionary sites such as Shuangqing Villa and Laiqingxuan, displaying extensive historical materials. Combined with the immersive exhibition at the Revolutionary Museum, visitors can deeply experience the historic moment of "entering the capital for the examination." It is the top destination for corporate team-building and youth study trips.
Dining: The area around Fragrant Hills Park has abundant dining options, with tea houses and snack shops inside the park. Xiangshan Mai Street along the park's exterior features various restaurants serving Beijing-style noodles, hotpot, and home-style dishes. The historic "Fragrant Hills Hotel" is known for imperial pastries, and "Najia Xiaoguan" for Beijing cuisine. During autumn foliage season, bringing your own food is recommended as park dining is overwhelmed by demand.
Accommodation: The Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by Zhang Jinqiu (a disciple of Liang Sicheng), is a classic building blending Suzhou garden style — itself a scenic attraction. Other options nearby include the Fragrant Hills Holiday Inn and Fragrant Hills Qingqin Hotel. For deep exploration, stay near Fragrant Hills and continue to the Botanical Garden or Biyun Temple the next day.
Combined Tours: Fragrant Hills and the Beijing Botanical Garden are just across the road — visit both on the same day. Biyun Temple, though within Fragrant Hills Park, requires a separate ticket and is worth visiting. The Summer Palace is ~6 km away (15 minutes by taxi), forming a "Western Hills Day Tour" route. The Old Summer Palace and Peking University are also nearby.
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