Baihua Mountain's Path to a Flowery World

The mountain, located in Mentougou, is Beijing's third highest peak at 1,977 metes. With 1,100 plant and 170 animal species, Baihua is known as Northern China's Natural Park. Various flowers, including Chinese roses, azaleas and wild flowers, dot the mountain, especially in springtime. This world infull bloom is what awaits hikers.

Several ancient temples can be seen at Baihua's peak; one of them is Xianguang Temple, the largest mountaintop temple in the Ming Dynasty. Xianguang, which has been restored severa times, is open to tourists and worshippers.

People interested in a day trip to Baihua can take Bus 336, 383 or 941 to Dayu stop, then spend the morning hiking up the mountain and visiting temples at the peak. In the afternoon, visitors are advised to walk the famous Baihua Meadow, a vast tract of land stretching for miles and covered with colorful flowers.

Marvel of Peru, the earliest-known flower on the mountain, blooms at the end of April. The temperature in Baihua is about 10 degrees lower than downtown, so the flower's blossoms herald the coming of spring.Chinese roses are at their best in late May, just when azaleas begin to wake up. Hikers are at risk of drowning in a sea of floral fragrance.