Leisure & Entertainment

--Fangshan travel guide

Weekend getaways are an ideal breath of fresh air for weary city dwellers. Most suburban districts are linked with Beijing by expressways, but tourism remains limited. Each month, we examine one of Beijing's outer districts and offer suggestions.

This month, we focus on Changping. Located southwest of Beijing, Fangshan District is one of the capital's largest suburban areas and its greatest treasure house of tourist attractions. Covering an area of 2,019 square kilometers, the district has 559 cultural relics and many major scenic spots open to tourists. From the Peking Man Cave to the Qing tombs, every stage of Beijing's history has made its mark and left evidence in Fangshan. The relics of the ancient Yan capital in Liulihe proved Beijing 3,045-year history.

The Beijing-Shijiazhuang (Jingshi) Expressway is the most often used way to get to Fangshan. Tourist attractions are conveniently accessed via the Jingbao, Jingyuan and Jingzhou roads.

Long History--A Living History Textbook

Yunju Temple

The Yunju Temple lays claim to being the world's largest carved stone library, containing 14,278 stone tablets with inscriptions of Buddhist sutras. The sutras were carved during a more than 1,200 year period beginning in 605. A total of 4,182 tablets were kept in the nine caves on the mountain at the back of the temple.

The remaining 10,082 tablets were discovered under the temple. On September 9, 1999, they were re-buried to protect them.There are only 21 Tang Dynasty (618-907) pagodas still standing in China and five of them are at Yunju Temple.Not far from Stone Flowers Cave is the Silver Fox Cave, the largest karst cave group in northern China. It was discovered accidentally by local farmers in July 1991.

The cave is so long that a visitor can use a boat in the cave to go to some parts. Its name comes from a two-meter long crystal white stalactite that looks like a silver fox. Hancunhe is Beijing's most famous village for tourists. The villagers became rich because of their construction industries. Residents now live the village's more than 500 villas. In recent years, it has become the hottest destination for visitors who want to see a modern Chinese village.

Chinese Restaurant

Fangshan Fengxianju Restaurant

Add: 7 Fangshannan Dajie

Dongdefu Restaurant

Add: 5 Gongchennan Dajie, Liangxiang

Rendehou Restaurant

Add: 14 Gongchenbei Dajie, Liangxiang

Rendehou Restaurant Branch

Add: 1 Liangxiangxi Lu, Liangxiang

Juyuanlou Restaurant

Add: 2 Tiyuchang Lu, Liangxiang

Xinggong Restaurant

Add: Beiguan exit of Jingshi Expressway, Liangxiang

Shangfangshan Chinese toon, Chinese kiwi fruit, Liangxiang Chinese chestnut, Yutang rice, Mopan persimmon. Fangshan is the only place in the world that produces white marble. Beautiful Karst CavesThis is one of the must-sees for visitors to Beijing because it is where the ancestors of today's Beijingers lived 400,000 to 500,000 years ago.

The site is located 48 kilometers southwest of Beijing. Human remains and animal fossils are on display in an exhibition at the site.The ruins of the Yan State Capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty were excavated in Liulihe Town during the 1970s providing strong evidence that Beijing was a civilized city 3,045 years ago. A museum was built on the ruins, featuring two tombs and excavated relics such as China's biggest bronze tripod, lacquerware, pottery and jade crafts.

Zhoukoudian

Peking Man Cave

Ruins of Yan Stat Capital

Yunju Temple

Shidu(Ten Ferries)

Peking Man Ruins Museum

Puwa Hunting Ground

Shanfangshan National Forest

Park and Yunshui Cave

Silvery Fox Cave (Yin hu Dong)

Bai Hua Mountain

Stone Flower Cave (Shi Hua Dong)

Qinglong Lake

Green Brook Hot Spring Hotel

Stone Flowers Cave is one of China's four biggest caves and contains a superb collection of formations such as stalactites. It was first discovered during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Six levels have been discovered and three levels are open to public. The cave is full of lifelike stalactites in the shapes of animals, plants and music instruments.Stone Flowers CaveStretching for more than 50 kilometers, the Shidu (Ten Ferries) Scenic Area features stunning natural landscapes, combining clear water scenery and lava landforms. Shidu is inclusive of the ten ferries along the Juma River running from Zhangfang to the tenth ferry.

The fame of Ten Ferries has been carried farther afield thanks to the installation of China's first bungee jumping facility in 1997. The thrill of a jump and cheers of the crowd offer an unforgettable experience.Shangfang Mountain is the largest national forest park in North China. It is well-known for its nine caves, 12 peaks and 72 thatched cottages. "Heavenly ladders" lead up to the peak. Along the way, visitors can see the primitive forest. There are many relics of temples scattering in the mountains. Yunshui stone flower cave is located here.Baihua Mountain is the boundary mountain for Fangshan and Mentougou districts. Flowers blossom during three seasons. The highest point, Baicaopan, allows a magnificent view of mountain ranges, fresh flowers and cloud sea. A flower and summer resort festival is going on at the moment. Temperatures at Baicaopan are about 7 degrees lower than those of Beijing even on the hottest days. Hotels with modern facilities provide a most ideal summer resort.Shangfang Mountain National Forest Park, Jingshi Expressway, Sketch Map of Fangshan, How a man made his stand at Zhouzhuang?

Yanqi Lake

Yanqi Lake provides more than 20 different kinds of water recreational activities.Gaily-painted dragon boats tour the lake, and small boats, powered by hand or foot-paddles, are available for families and lovers.

If you are keen for sport and brave enough, you might want to try the motorboats, then you can explore the lake and all its scenery on your own. You can also go for a little more excitement by lying over the water or parasailing. Fitted with a parachute and holding onto a tow-rope like that used for water-skiing, you will be pulled by a motorboat, ascend quickly, and soar up and down in the sky.Yanqi Lake also offers a swimming beach, artificial sand beach and fishing area. If it can be done on the water, you'l find it at Yanqi.

Ticket: 15 yuan, 8 yuan for students.

Take Bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 6 from Xuanwumen or Dongsishitiao, or take the train from Xizhimen.

Jinhai Lake

Jinhai Lake is the third-biggest reservoir in Beijing. Located 18 kilometers east of Pinggu, it was the first place in Beijing to develop comprehensive water sports.Water bicycles, motor boats, a swimming beach, fishing area, and parachuting are all available.There are more than 30 hotels nearby.

Around the lake is a mountain. Aside from water sports, there is a mountain riddled with caves.

Ticket: 12 yuan.

Motorboat: 40 yuan per person; self-driven motorboat: 6 yuan per minute; water-skiing: 10 yuan per minute; pneumatic boat: 80 yuan per hour; swimming: 10 yuan per hour.

Take bus 918 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 14 from Dongdaqiao or Zhanlanlu.