Badachu Park

Badachu Park, located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, is a famous destination with a long history, ancient temples and delightful scenery. It is also known as Eight Great Sites Park because of its eight Buddhist temples and nunneries scattered across Cuiwei, Pingpo and Lushi Hills in the park. Visitors can stroll from one temple to another, enjoying the beautiful scenery and admiring pavilions and rare ancient trees.
 

Badachu Park, Beijing
Bell Tower of Xiangjie Temple

Eight Temples

The eight Buddhist temples are the precious antiques of the park. They are Chang'an Temple, Lingguang Temple, Sanshan Nunnery, Dabei Temple, Longquan Nunnery, Xiangjie Temple, Baozhu Temple, and Zhengguo Temple. Apart from Zhengguo Temple, they all sit on Cuiwei Hill. Zhengguo Temple is the oldest and is situated on Lushi Hill, far from other temples.

Follow the route below, you will visit all temples:
Lingguang Temple - Sanshan Nunnery - China’s Largest Inkstone - Dabei Temple - Longquan Nunnery - glacial erratic boulder - Xiangjie Temple - Baozhu Temple - Chinese Seal Valley - Red Leaves Admiration Zone – stone sculptures at Moya Valley - Zhengguo Temple

 1. Chang'an Temple, literally ‘Temple of Eternal Peace’, stands about 0.6 miles (1km) to the south of the ticket center. It used to be a famous temple with five hundred Arhat statues, but it was badly damaged in the 1960s. Thus, it is not open to visitors.

 2. Lingguang Temple was initially erected in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). There are three courtyards. It houses a statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, weighing 3.3 tons. Lingguang Temple is famous for its majestic seven-storey stupa, a golden fish pond where beautiful brocade carp swim delightedly, as well as the heart sutra wall and arhats wall presenting a splendid sight. Tooth relics of Sakyamuni are preserved in the temple, making it a holy temple for Buddhists.

 3. Sanshan Nunnery sits between the three hills, thus giving it this name, which literally means ‘three hills’. A spot you cannot miss in Sanshan Nunnery is China’s Largest Inkstone. It measures 38 feet (11.8m) long, 10 feet (3.18m) wide and weighs about 45 tons. Fifty-six lifelike dragons, nine longevity turtles, the pattern of China’s territory, the sun and the moon are ingeniously inscribed with great proportion.

 4. Dabei Temple, meaning the temple of great mercy, is noted for the eighteen lifelike arhats in the Hall of Mahavira which were molded by the famous sculptor Liu Yuan in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). These statues are made of fine sandalwood powder, giving off a waft of faint scent. Also to be found here are two towering gingkoes, which have a history of over eight hundred years. The inscription on the stone tablet over the gate was written by Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

 5. Longquan Nunnery, located to the west of Dabei Temple, is widely known for the clear spring that never dries up.

 6. Xiangjie Temple is the largest in the Badachu Park, housing five courtyards. It used to be one of the temporary residences for the Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. On the way to Xiangjie Temple, you will encounter a glacial erratic boulder, which was formed one or two million years ago.

 7. Baozhu Temple, whose name Baozhu suggests ‘precious pearl’, has a cave behind its Guanyin Hall, with pebbles on the wall like shining pearls. Standing on the peak of Pingpo Hill, the temple was initially built in 1780 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. One can find many inscriptions left by this emperor. A cable car is available to take visitors from Longquan Temple to the temple within 15 minutes.

 8. Zhengguo Temple, on Lushi Hill far from other seven temples, is the oldest with a history of over 1,200 years. It is said that Lushi once studied as a monk in the temple.
 

Chinese Seal Valley and Moya Valley

The valley between the three hills is home to two attraction spots. One is Chinese Seal Valley between the fourth and the seventh temple. It is themed with China’s seal culture. Hundreds of seals are divided into eight sections chronically. Another one is the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) stone Buddha sculptures in Moya Valley, which were discovered in 2000. The sculptures are considered to be the ninth great site, attracting lots of stone carving aficionados and Buddhists. The middle of the valley also serves as the Red Leaves Admiration Zone. Cable cars to the zone are available at the southeast of Longquan Nunnery.
 

Twelve Natural Sights

Apart from three hills and eight ancient temples, twelve natural sights can be discovered in Badachu Park. The natural sights are: panoramic view from the summit, apricot blossom in spring, mist floating over the hills, sunset at Lushi Hill, chirping of cuckoos, torrents after summer rain, peaceful valleys with streams, morning sun over woods, five bridges under moonlight, flaming autumn leaves, summer green on Hufeng Peak, and snowscape in winter.

With so much to enjoy, Badachu Park is an attractive place to visit all year round, but September and October when leaves are particularly popular when leaves turn red.
 

How to get to Badachu Park

 By Bus
1. Take bus Zhuan 215 and get off at Badachu Station, then walk northward for 100 meters (109 yards) to the entrance.
2. Take bus 347, 489, 958 or 972 to South Badachu, and then walk northward for 900 meters (0.56mi) to the entrance.

 By Subway & Bus
Take Subway Line 6 to Yangzhuang Station, and then transfer to bus 958 to South Badachu, and then walk northward for 900 meters (0.56mi) to the entrance.
Beijing Bus / Subway Search

Fees Entrance: CNY 10
Children below 3.9 feet (1.2m) can enter for free.
Cable car and Slideway Cable Car: CNY 68; CNY35 for children below 3.9 feet
Slideway: CNY 98; CNY50 for children below 3.9 feet
Combined Ticket for Cable Car and Slideway: CNY 158
Opening Hours Mar. 16 to Aug. 31: 6:00 to 19:30 (ticket selling stops at 18:30)
Sep. 1 to Nov. 15: 6:00 to 19:00 ( ticket selling stops at 18:00)
Nov. 16 to the next Mar. 15: 6:00 to 18:30 ( ticket selling stops at 17:30)
Recommended Time for a Visit Half a day

Nearby Attractions:

 Western Hills National Forest Park
 Fragrant Hills Park
 Temple of Azure Clouds
 Beijing Botanical Garden
- Last updated on Apr. 06, 2023 by Kate Liu -
Questions & Answers on Badachu Park
Asked by Kaung Myat from MYANMAR | Jun. 18, 2018 23:02Reply
Now can we able to see the tooth relic of Beijing Badachu in March 22 to 24?
Answers (2)
Answered by Lyon from GERMANY | Jun. 19, 2018 00:46
00Reply


Normally it’s open to public at that time, and you’d better check it again before visiting.
Answered by Kaung Myat from MYANMAR | Jul. 07, 2018 22:55
00Reply


Thank you so much for your answering friend.
Asked by Chris from GERMANY | Oct. 18, 2015 04:30Reply
Autumn leaves in october at Badachu Park.
When will the leaves be red in 2015?

Thanks in advance for your reply.
Answers (1)
Answered by Eillen from CANADA | Oct. 18, 2015 04:50
00Reply


Hi, the leave get fullu red during late Oct. to early Nov. Don't miss the best timing!
Asked by Danilo Hinić from SERBIA | Apr. 19, 2015 04:24Reply
Is walking up easy to manage Badachu Park without using cable car?
Answers (1)
Answered by Jenny from JAPAN | Apr. 20, 2015 00:55
00Reply


Yeah, it is not very hard to walk up and down. The highest altitude is around 465m (509yd) and the slope is not that steep. Anyway, the cable car is really worth a try to see the bird's-eye view of the park.
Asked by Elena from RUSSIA | Jun. 23, 2014 13:49Reply
Is it possible to reach Fragrant Hills park from Badachu park inside the park?
Is there a direct way or I should get to the road and take a bus? I would like to see autumn leaves in Eight Great Sites Park in November. Is it possible or there are no viewes? Should I go after this park to Fragrant Hills to watch leaves or will I have good viewes in Eight Great Sites Park?
Answers (1)
Answered by Riso from IRAN | Jun. 23, 2014 22:02
10Reply


It is impossible to go from the Eight Great Sites Park to the Fragrant Hill inside the park and you need to get out of the part to transfer from one to the other.

You are suggested to take a taxi to transfer between. Although the two places are are close to each other, there is no direct bus between. You can see the autumn leaves in Eight Great Sites Park, but the scenery here is not so beautiful than the one in Fragrant Hill. So if you want to enjoy the autumn leaves well, you are suggested to go to the Fragrant Hill first.
Asked by NR from SINGAPORE | Jan. 31, 2013 23:32Reply
I'm visiting the temples 13/3/13. Are 8 temples close by I can walk? need to pay fees at all temple?
Answers (5)
Answered by Ellen | Feb. 01, 2013 03:07
10Reply


Yes, you can walk from one to another. You have no need to pay fees at all temples, just need to buy the entrance ticket for the park.
Answered by NR from SINGAPORE | Feb. 03, 2013 23:15
00Reply


thanks Ellen. Are we able to see the Buddha tooth relic during this time? Are there signs in English to guide tourist up the hill and to the temples also instructions in the temple?
Answered by Ellen | Feb. 04, 2013 03:16
00Reply


Don't worry! You can visit the Buddha Tooth Relic during these days. But as it is during Chinese Spring Festival, it may be very crowded.

As I know, there are English guiding signs in the park. You will not get lost. Relax!
Answered by nr from SINGAPORE | Feb. 06, 2013 22:45
00Reply


thank you Ellen. You've been most helpful. Now I can relax.
Answered by Christina from SWEDEN | Nov. 02, 2014 19:56
00Reply


No, you are not able to see the tooth relic (possibly at some rare special ceremony during the year).
Ask a Question
Question Summary (100 characters)
Details (optional) (2,000 characters)
NameCountryEmail