Continuing with our Visit Here series, we are stepping away from the city center to explore some locations that, while not typically featured on top sights lists for Beijing, are certainly worth the journey.
Now, let’s venture outside the city center for a hike and enjoy the beautiful views.
Yaji Mountain Scenic Area (丫髻山旅游风景区 Yājìshān Lǚyóu Fēngjǐng Qū)
Situated in Beijing’s eastern Pinggu district, this scenic area is home to two Taoist temples built during the Tang (618-907) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, located on a hill that resembles an ancient girl’s hair bun. It remains a revered local site and is an excellent getaway for hiking, not too far from the city center.
Why Visit?
After reaching the top, the bare hilltop provides stunning views of the surroundings. Moreover, once you've explored the temples for a while, you can descend and spend additional time hiking the trails in the nearby area.
The Details
Admission to the scenic area is RMB 50 per person. To reach it, take bus 852 from Dongzhimen to Guanzhuang Lukou (官庄路口) station. From there, transfer to bus 郊82 heading to Yaji Mountain (丫髻山) station. Alternatively, you can join a group tour with Beijing Hikers (bejinghikers.com) or FCN (WeChat ID: foreignerandchina), both of which organize trips to Yaji Mountain and the Pinggu district.
Yaji Mountain Scenic Area 丫髻山旅游风景区
Beijishan Village, Liujiadian Town, Pinggu District 平谷区刘家店镇北吉山村
Hours: Daily, 8 am - 4:30 pm (Nov 1 - Apr 30); Daily, 8 am - 5 pm (May 1 - Oct 31)
Contact: 010 6197 2535; 010 6197 4009
READ: Visit Here: Hong'en Taoist Temple
Images: Robynne Tindall
The peak of Yaji Mountain, though it may merely be a hill, offers impressive vistas of the neighboring Pinggu district.
