Western Hills

The Western Hills (Chinese: ; pinyin: běijīng xīshān) refers to the hills and mountains in the western part of Beijing.

Being an extension of the Taihang mountain range from Hebei Province, the Western Hills cover about 17% of Beijing municipality including most of Mentougou and Fangshan Districts as well as parts of Changping, Haidian, and Shijingshan. The Western Hills range in elevation from 100 m to over 1900 m above sea level and are visible from the city on clear days. A mix of deciduous and coniferous forests and highland meadows cover much of the Western Hills. Mountain streams feed into the Yongding and Juma Rivers, which flow through the Western Hills to irrigate the plains of Beijing. Coal is mined in Fangshan and Mentougou Districts. The Western Hills are rich with natural and historical points of interest. They are known for cliffs, caves, river gorges, and hot springs, as well as temples, historic homes, secluded retreats and ancient ruins.

An area renowned for its scenery (it is sometimes also known as the Western Hills Scenic Area), the Western Hills have long been a retreat for Chinese scholars, religious men, and members of the government and civil service. Nearest to Beijing's Haidian District is the Fragrant Hills Park, most famous for its fall colors. Nearby is the Beijing Botanical Garden and Temple of Azure Clouds. The Wofo Temple, best known for its giant reclining Buddha statue, is located on the grounds of the botanical gardens. To the northwest of the Fragrant Hills Park are Jiufeng (Vulture Peak) Forest Park (鹫峰森林公园), Dajue Temple, and Fenghuanling (Phoenix Ridge) Scenic Area.

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