Badachu Park

Badachu or 'Eight Great Sites' is an area of the Beijing Western Hills which contains eight Buddhist sites of great beauty, set against striking mountain scenery, with picturesque streams and fish ponds. The eight sites are:

The Temple of Eternal Peace (Changan Temple) was built in 1504 and contains some well preserved and very precious antiques, as well as some highly valued trees, which are said to date from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368).

The Temple of Divine Light (Lingguan Temple) was built in 1071, during the Tang dynasty. It is particulary well-known for its fish pond, which contains unusually large andbeautiful fish, and is said to be one of the few existing features that is still unchanged since the temple's foundation. Unfortunately, the temple sustained severe damage at the hands of western forces, who invaded Beijing in 1900, and many of its famous cultural relics were destroyed. Monks picking through the ruins of the temple found a box containing the teeth of Sakyamuni, which had previously been hidden inside a pagoda, and these priceless Buddhist relics remained at the temple until 1955, when they were removed to the hall of Buddhist Relics. To commemorate this find, a new pagoda named the 'Pagoda of Buddha's Tooth' was constructed on the site in 1956.

Not far from the Temple of Divine Light is the Three Hill Nunnery (Sanshan),a small but very beautiful convent of white marble with amazing carvings.

The Temple of Great Mercy (Dabei Temple) dates from the Yuan Dynasty, and was officially named in 1712 by Emperor Kangxi, in whose handwriting the temple's name is carved. This temple is famous for its gardens, as it contains a number of remarkable plants, including a rare type of evergreen bamboo, and some gingko trees that are said to be over 800 years old. Another main attraction here are the 18 statues of the arhats, which are some of the most beautiful artefacts in Badachu.

The Temple of the Dragon King (Longwang Temple) dating from the Qing dynasty, is the site of the Dragon Spring, which has its source in the temple's first courtyard. The temple's pavilions provide great vantage points from which to view Badachu's beautiful mountain scenery.

The largest and most important temple in Badachu, The Temple of the Fragrant World (Xiangjie Temple) was the residence of the emperors during their summer visits to the area. All of the buildings currently on the site date from the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the history of the temple goes back much further, to the Tang dynasty. The temple is composed of a number of halls and pavilions, and includes beautiful views, ancient sculptures and stunning gardens.

The Cave of Precious Pearls (Baozhudong) is the highest of the eight sites, and the entrance pavilion shows breathtaking views, which on a clear day can include all of Beijing, as well as Lake Kunming and the Yongding River, and, of course, the other seven temples in Badachu. Named for its shape, which resembles a pearl, this small cave was home to a Qing dynasty monk for over 40 years.

The last of the eight temples, Zhengguo Temple, is also the oldest in Badachu Park, established in the Tang dynasty. Situated next to 'Mysterious Devil's Cliff' this area has a great many engraved inscriptions left by famous visitors during the Qing dynasty, including poems and calligraphy.

Badachu Park is a tranquil area of natural, historical, cultural and religious interest, and is a fascinating way to spend a day wandering from site to site, or take the cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy one of Beijing's most extensive panoramas.