The Shangfangshan National Forest Park (Shàng fāng shān guó jiā sēn lín gōng yuán 上方山国家森林公园), with an area of 340 hectares (840 acres), is situated in Hancunhe Village, Fangshan District, and about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Beijing. With its main peak 860 meters (2,820 feet) high, the park is characterized by vast area of woods, nine marvelous karst caves, twelve stupendous peaks, seventy-two ancient temples, and the largest stupa group in North China. 

With over ninety percent of the area covered by woods, the forest park is a natural kingdom of woods and plants. The primary forest and secondary forest which are rare in North China cover a vast area here. Besides, the park has the most of the ancient trees in Beijing, including a ginkgo, a cypress tree, a pine, and a pagoda tree. It is also abundant in exotic plants of over 600 varieties. Cedrela sinensis, sealwort, and another fruit are called as the three treasures of the mountain and they enjoy a high prestige.

The park is also known as a Buddhist shrine for its seventy-two ancient temples. The most famous one, Doulv Temple, was originally built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). This majestic and lofty temple with a stately Buddha was the former residence of the abbots. The back wall of the main hall was engraved with the Sutra of Forty-two Sections which are the soul of the Buddhist sutra. In the court of the temple are stone tablets and sutra pillars.

The Doulv Temple is only accessible by scaling a stairs of 262 stone steps which was cut into a perpendicular cliff during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Fifty-four ancient stupas account for a quarter of the total stupas in Beijing, making this the largest stupa group in North China.

Yunshui Cave, the first karst cave opened in North China, gives the best expression to the unique natural karst caves in the mountain. Over 1,400 years ago, Buddha had been to this amazing cave. 108 miraculous landscapes inside were named after the Buddha of past dynasties. Various interesting rock formations, such as stalactites, stone pillars, stalagmites, and stone curtains, are there to delight and surprise the visitor. An overwhelming stalagmite, 38 meters (125 feet) high, is the greatest in Asia and ranks the third in the world. A mysterious pit, a special karst landscape in North China, was found here with valuable fossils of animals and plants.

Entrance Charge: CNY 50
Cable Car: CNY 50 (round-trip)
                CNY 30 (one-way trip)
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
Bus Route: 917 (Tianqiao Long Distance Bus Station-Fangshan Bus Station) (-房山汽车站), and transfer to a small bus to the Shangfangshan National Forest Park (上方山国家森林公园).

More Information: http://www.shfsh.com.cn/

Tags: Travel in Shanghai     Travel in Beijing