Beijing's First Wave of Spring Flowers on the Mountains Has Bloomed
Spring flowers are in full bloom on Beijing's mountains. Phoenix Ridge, Baiwang Mountain, Xiangshan Park, Western Hills National Forest Park, and the Eight Great Sites all simultaneously welcome the early spring spectacle. Peach blossoms, apricot flowers, elm-leaf plums, forsythia, golden bells, wintersweet, magnolia, and cornelian cherries bloom in succession, with staggered flowering periods offering a rich visual feast. There are the soft pink and white blossoms, the brilliant golden hues of early spring, and the poetic atmosphere where ancient temples and flower shadows blend. Along mountain trails, near viewing pavilions, under temple corridors, and on forest boardwalks, you can encounter nature’s exclusive springtime gifts. Beyond flower viewing, diverse experiences such as XR immersive theater, organic farm picking, a rest at the Xiangshan Hotel designed by I.M. Pei, performances in the Central Art District, and strolls through the Modekou Ancient Street extend the depth of your journey. Enjoy a civilized spring outing and cherish the beauty of youth—come to Beijing’s mountains and start your unique adventure!
[Phoenix Ridge]
In early March, peach blossoms quietly bloom along the northern route from Shenquan to Tianti Pavilion on Phoenix Ridge. From the summit, the mountains are swaying with pink and white blossoms in the breeze. Apricot flowers cluster around the Apricot Flower Village pavilion, petals dancing poetically in the wind. Elm-leaf plums warmly cluster at the crossroads 50 meters from the east gate, offering a spring surprise upon entry. The fully immersive theater "The Great Wall" is also open, combining XR technology with live NPC performances for an immersive journey back to the Ming Dynasty border defense. Nearby, you can visit Wendao Restaurant for pancake-wrapped hairtail fish, pick strawberries and vegetables at Nature Farm, and enjoy the petting zoo.
[Baiwang Mountain]
Spring flowers are in full bloom along Route 1, Route 3, and Liujin Garden on Baiwang Mountain. Peach blossoms range from early to full bloom, mainly along Trail 351, Route 3, and Route 5. Forsythia blooms along Route 1 and from the North Gate to Tiancheng Lake, spreading bright golden ribbons. As the easternmost peak of the Taihang Mountain range, the summit offers panoramic views of western Beijing in spring. Adjacent to the Xibeiwang Vientiane Plaza, a seven-story commercial space with greenery and water features houses 228 diverse businesses, making it an ideal rest stop after hiking.
[Xiangshan Park]
Wintersweet is at its peak in Xiangshan Park. The wooden plank path through Plum Valley south of Yanjing Lake winds through clusters of wintersweet, creating a "hidden plum in the valley with a faint fragrance." Wintersweet decorates the branches inside the Biyun Temple meditation hall and pagoda courtyard, blending golden hues with the temple’s Zen atmosphere. Over a hundred plum trees including Gongfen, Zhusha, and Lve’e varieties will bloom in succession. You can relax at the Xiangshan Hotel, holding a cup of wintersweet coffee and drifting to sleep surrounded by the garden-style hotel designed by I.M. Pei, experiencing the small joys of early spring.
[Western Hills National Forest Park]
Cornelian cherry is in full bloom in the Western Hills, with golden umbrella-shaped flower clusters densely covering the branches. From mid-March, the branches glow with a gentle golden light like a thin mist for over 30 days, especially spectacular around the open views near Guixiao Rock. From the 473-meter-high summit of Baita Mountain, you can enjoy panoramic views of Beijing. Nearby is the Central Art District, a 60,000-square-meter new performance space including theaters, galleries, cinemas, and workshops, recently featuring professional framed-stage performances.
[Eight Great Sites]
Magnolias at the Eight Great Sites are about to bloom. White magnolias await full bloom in the Eight Sites Courtyard, the two Qiao magnolias at the Jialan Hall of the Fourth Site, and the Wangchun magnolia. Bright peach blossoms bloom by Yingcui Lake, the Eight Sites viewing pavilion trail, and the tower courtyard of Shiyun Temple at the Fifth Site. Forsythia extends along the entire Eight Sites route, from the Fourth to the Fifth Site trail, and outside Lingguang Temple. Surrounded by Hutoushan, Cuiwei Mountain, and Qinglong Mountain, the ancient temples and flower shadows create an elegant spring scene. A walk leads to the Modekou Historic Cultural Street, where a 1,500-meter camel bell ancient trail connects Ming and Qing dynasty residences and bluestone relics.