Sunrise Glow over Fragrant Hills Park in Beijing

Fragrant Hills Park is a big draw in Beijing. It is formerly an imperial garden at the foot of the Western Mountains in Haidian District of Beijing.

It is located 9 km to the west of Summer Palace and 25 km to the northwest of Beijing city center. It covers an area of 160 acres with the highest peak at the sea level of 557 meters. The peak is known as “Incense Burner Peak” since the huge rock on the summit of the peak resembles an incense burner.

Fragrant Hills Park is teemed with traditional architectures and features charming landscapes – Bridges, pavilions, palaces, caves, lakes, springs, and a natural pine-cypress forest, maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees.

Autumn ( late October ) is the best time to climb Fragrant Hills Park – Azure sky, red and yellow leaves blanketing the hills. You may climb and take a cable car up to the Incense Burner Peak.

If you happen to tour Beijing in late October, you are highly recommended to get up early and come to Fragrant Hills Park for a glimpse of sunrise over the red and golden leaves covering the hills in the park, a spectacular view rarely seen elsewhere.

Check online the exact time for sunrise on the morning you are going to visit Fragrant Hills Park. Normally you need to climb one hour to get to the summit ( the Incense Burner Peak) of Fragrant Hills Park.

So basically you should leave your hotel or residential area at least 2 and half hours in advance if you are going to drive to Fragrant Hills Park.

The bright sun is rising with its orange glowing
The sky is reddening with the fireball burning

The colorful hills of the park is brightened by the fresh sun.
The colorful hills of the park is brightened by the fresh sun.

Add-on

Best Places to See Fall Colours in Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall in autumn hues
Sunrise Glow over Fragrant Hills Park in Beijing
Beijing Fall Foliage Tour

Tip:  Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:

Beijing Autumn Tour
Beijing Fall Foliage Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Great Wall Tour
Beijing Winter Tour
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Best Time to Visit Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Shichahai
How to Visit Lama Temple
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

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