Float Lazily in a Sea of Clouds on a Trip to Wuling Mountain

原创 Zeus Zou theBeijinger

收录于合集

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Here at the Beijinger, we strive to help you get the most out of downtown life by sharing all manner of news about restaurants, nightlife, and the city's serpentine hutongs, just to name a few. However, like any Beijinger worth their salt, we also understand that there's an entire world outside the inner ring roads, a stunning countryside that serves as the capital's backyard garden.

Situated at the border between Beijing's Miyun District and Hebei Province, roughly 140km outside the city center, 雾灵山 wù língshān Wuling Mountain is a staggering peak that soars more than 2,000 meters in height, taller than the world-renowned Mount Tai. And unlike the nearby Emperor Kangxi’s Summer Mountain Resort in Chengde, Wuling Mountain and its surrounding national forest are significantly less well-known, making for a much more relaxed experience unencumbered by hordes of tourists.

So peaceful it's kind of eerie, really

Given its location on the border, you can enter the park from either the Beijing or Hebei’s side. The road on the Beijing side is a bit flatter and offers breathtaking lakeside views with resorts scattered along the ridgeline, many of which have boats you can take out on the shimmering lake. Given its lack of incline, though, the Beijing route does not have a road going all the way up to the mountain's peak. Instead, you need to park about halfway up and complete the rest of the journey on foot. On the Hebei side, however, you can drive all the way up the peak, though the winding hillside roads may prove challenging for inexperienced drivers, especially if the weather is not on your side. If both hiking and driving aren't within your wheelhouse, you can always choose to carpool with others from the van at the main entrance (RMB 90), and essentially let someone else do the heavy lifting while you leisurely stroll around the scenic nature preserve.

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A cloud camel or cloud llama? Your imagination can be as broad as the sky

From flora and fauna to rivers and waterfalls, Wuling Mountain forest park has everything you could possibly want from a weekend trip out of the city. Its name, wu lingshan can be literally translated as The Mountain of the Fog Spirit, which explains its foggy weather and the omnipresent mist that lingers around the mountain's waist. To be sure, visibility is limited as you make your way to the top, however, all the effort is worth it once you reach the peak and gaze upon the ocean of clouds. If you're a photo buff, the soothing movement makes for a perfect time-lapse. Otherwise, simply meditate on the boulder and feel the flow of energy in the air.

The moon rises above the waves of clouds

The climate within the park is usually cooler than outside, and it tends to get a bit chilly – even in summer – once the sun goes down, so make sure you layer up. The forest park is closed during winter, which varies year by year, but generally lasts from mid- to late-October until May. If you'd like to make a trip out of it, there are only a few hotels in the park and can be booked up easily during the peak season, so make sure you call them ahead of the time.

Wuling Mountain National Forest Park 雾灵山国家森林公园

Daily. 7:30 to 18:30, June to Mid-October, varies from year to year
Xinglong County, Hebei Province 河北省兴隆县
Price: 108 per adult (discount available online)