The Baiquan Mountain is at its most beautiful in the summer or early autumn.

Located in Huaibei Town in Huairou District, about 65 kilometers north of downtown Beijing, the Baiquan Mountains are destination famous for towering mountains and clear waters.

Characterized by beautiful scenery and rich water, the scenic spot forms a unique sight with stunning peaks, beautiful stones, unusual trees, springs, pools, waterfalls, streams, rivers and wild fruit forests.

Baiquan means there are 100 wells hidden in the mountains. But in reality, there are hundreds of wells of different sizes throughout the scenic spot.

The area is literally brimming with water flowing from wells, springs and waterfalls, making it one of the few suburban destinations with a rich water area.

Bamboo rafts are available at the park and visitors can rent a raft from the resort and tour the lake around the mountains, or just drift down along the streams.

The mountain is also an ideal place for hiking enthusiasts.

All the mountain areas are covered by thick trees. A valley between mountains winds about eight kilometers long. A small stone lane was built along the valley to help tourists walk through the scenic spot.

The valley is definitely the main attraction. Streams flow beside a stone lane for you to walk on, but if you do not want to walk on the path, you can step into the stream and walk to the end of the valley in the shallow stream.

Though most of the park's waterfalls are small, they flow down from the mountains into the streams and add exciting scenery to the valley.

Wild fruits and flowers can be found everywhere in the mountain, if you visit before October.

The resort offers rock climbing, fishing and swimming in the lake. A nightly barbeque is also offered for visitors in the evening.

Some indoor entertainment and sports facilities are also available in the resort near the entrance to the mountain scenic spot.

Entrance: 16 yuan (US$2) per person.

Accommodation: 200 yuan (US$25) to 280 yuan (US$33) for one room per day. Two beds are available in each room.

To get there: Bus route 936 at Dongzhimen goes directly to the Baiquan Mountains.

If driving to the destination, go along Jingshun (Beijing-Shunyi) Road to the Kuliushu Traffic Circle and then go along Jingmi (Beijing-Miyun) Road to the town of Huairou. Go forward along Huaifeng Road. The scenic spot is beside Huaifeng Road. It will take 80 minutes to drive from Beijing. A bus ride there will take a little more time.

Address: Yudaohecun Bei, Huaibei Town, Huairou District

Tel: 86-10-61622954 

Nearby travel sites: The famous Yanqi Lake Scenic Area and Yougu Shentan Scenic Spot are just a few kilometers away.

(China Daily June 3, 2005)