subject: eight Great Sites In Breathtaking Badachu Park, Beijing [print this page] Ideally situated less than 17km from the heart of the Chinese capital lays the holy Buddhist site of Badachu Park. Complete with ancient temples, manicured gardens and majestic caves, the venue located among the cloudy and lush atmosphere at the foot of Beijings western hills is one of the most frequented spots in the city. And rightfully so, as it houses eight prominent religious and cultural sites including the Changan Temple, Dabei Temple, Lingguang Temple, Zhengguo Temple, Xiangjie Temple, Sanshan and Longquan Nunneries and the Baozhu Cave.
The Temple of Eternal Peace or Changan Temple is located at the base of Cuiwei Hill. It is an illustrious temple compound which includes two courtyards. The Sakyamuni Hall with its bronze monument of Guan Yu and Niangniang Hall are located within the courtyards, while a bell (shaped like an urn) dating back to the Ming Dynasty is located opposite the Sakyamuni Hall. The Temple of Divine Light or Lingguang, on the other hand, houses behind its halls a quaint pond full of vibrant gold fish as well as the Shuixin Pavilion where cold water has sprinkled about in the kiosk for centuries. Other highlights include the 13-floored Pagoda of the Buddha's Tooth and an ancient monastery house, in addition to Mahavira Hall and Ming-style tables of stone located opposite the hall.
The Temple of Great Mercy or Dabei Temple contains three central halls in the compound which were built at varying periods of the Ming dynasty. The front hall and the densely populated rare bamboo plantation in front of it is another must-see attraction, as the garden remains lush even through the winter season. Complete with 800 year old gingko trees, decorative rock formations and sweet-scented plants, the temple is also home to some fine carved sculptures by a renowned Yuan Dynasty artisan. Just northwest of Dabei Temple is Long Wang Tang or Longquan Nunnery, where its Dragon Spring spurts forth a sweet-tasting, cool water throughout the year. Other points of interest include the Pavilion for Listening, The Pavilion of Reclining Leisure and the equally captivating Hall of the Dragon King. The Sanshan Three-Hill Convent is surrounded by mountain peaks with a temple nestled in the heart of a dense canopy of forest, while the Baozhu Cave offers panoramic views of Beijing city from a unique vantage point. Xiangjie Temple is the largest temple complex at Badachu and it is home to an Imperial Palace and Scripture Repository as well as numerous religious relics, calligraphy and artwork by well-known artists. The oldest temple complex Zheng Guo is renowned for its ancient trees that are hundreds of years in age while a scenic temple also adorns the site.
Visitors in search of a luxury hotel in Beijing will find no better resort than the celebrated China World Hotel Beijing. Situated in the centre of the citys CBD, this award-winning establishment is also a conveniently-located Beijing hotel in the heart of the metropolis.
