Beijing Shengquan Mountain Scenic Area is a natural Buddhist sacred site and a Buddhist cultural venue in Huairou. It features the Guanyin Temple Buddhist Cultural Garden, Bell and Drum Towers, and Linggu Pagoda, among other places for meditation and Zen practice. The core attraction is the Guanyin Temple on Shengquan Mountain, surrounded by numerous cultural and natural landscapes. Among the many cultural relics, there are still many mysterious puzzles that cannot be deciphered.
Located in the northeastern part of Beijing, at the foot of the Yanshan Mountain Range, there is a blessed land and a Buddhist paradise. Here, the mountains are majestic, the peaks are towering, the trees are lush, the waters are lingering, the temples are ancient, and the surroundings are serene. This is the Shengquan Mountain Scenic Area – a dazzling and splendid exotic flower blooming on the outskirts of Beijing! Beijing Shengquan Mountain Scenic Area is 6 kilometers away from the Huairou city center, adjacent to the ancient Red螺 Temple in the east and Mutianyu in the west. It covers a total area of 15 square kilometers, backed by the Yanshan Mountains, grand and magnificent, and embraces the Huaihe River, with beautiful scenery. Shengquan Mountain integrates natural and cultural landscapes with Buddhist and historical culture, making it a pure land of Buddhism and a Zen paradise. Since ancient times, countless visitors have speculated and pondered, leading to many magical legends and stories in folklore. These stories have been passed down orally, spreading the fame of the Guanyin Temple on Shengquan Mountain far and wide. Believers, adventurers, and pilgrims come and go, each gaining their own insights, ensuring that the Guanyin Temple on Shengquan Mountain remains lively despite its remote location, away from the mundane world but with a thriving incense. According to the inscriptions on the Guanyin Temple’s stele, the temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty and was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua era, with a history of over 1700 years. In addition to cultural landscapes such as the Mahavira Hall, the Great Compassion Hall, and the Perfect Penetration Hall, the temple is surrounded by rich natural landscapes, including the Divine Turtle Stone, the Three Stars Cave, the Incense Burner Stone, and the Lingzhao Pine. According to folklore, the famous female general of the Tang Dynasty, Fan Lihu, was stationed in the northern border of Youzhou. Once, during a battle with the Northern Kingdom, she was trapped at the foot of Jiulong Mountain (now known as Shengquan Mountain). Faced with a strong enemy and a weak position, she was on the brink of death. In desperation, Fan Lihu clasped her hands and urgently called out: ‘Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva manifests! Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva saves me!’ Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, upon hearing the call for help, immediately inspired the nine dragons lying beneath Jiulong Mountain to come to their aid, creating a remarkable karmic connection. The nine dragons gladly accepted the command, immediately stirring up wind and rain, and causing a downpour over the battlefield. The warring parties were so drenched that they could not open their eyes or lift their arms, preoccupied with their own survival. Amidst the chaos, Fan Lihu led her personal troops to rush out, breaking through the encirclement. Afterward, Fan Lihu, grateful for the life-saving grace of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, built a temple and statue for Avalokitesvara on the cloud-rising spot of Jiulong Mountain as an offering. Over time, the Tang Dynasty structures have disappeared, but today, two ancient locust tree stumps can still be seen in the southwest corner of the main hall and the southeast corner of the Wei Tuo Hall in the Guanyin Temple, with a diameter of over 1.5 meters.After the Tang Dynasty, during the Liao, Jin, and Yuan periods, the area around Shengquan Mountain experienced social unrest and population displacement, causing many stories of the Guanyin Temple on Shengquan Mountain to be obscured by history. The long-standing Buddhist culture and formal rituals are the highlights of the Shengquan Mountain scenic area since its renovation and reopening in 2006.
Together with the subsequently introduced folk tourism, they form the main body of Shengquan Mountain tourism. Although Shengquan Mountain does not bear the name of the Five Great Mountains, it possesses their momentum. Looking around, high ridges wind and turn, with numerous peaks standing, and valleys scattered between the ridges, far from the hustle and bustle of the secular world, and enjoying the breath of nature. From the foot of the mountain to the ‘Spring Dawn in Zen Forest’ section, there is an elevation difference of 288 meters, with an average slope of the mountain trail of 25 degrees, making it suitable for hiking and fitness; from ‘Spring Dawn in Zen Forest’ to the Guanyin Temple section, there are lush pine and cypress trees, shaded paths, bird songs, and fresh air, making it suitable for strolling and sightseeing. The entire scenic area is open throughout the year from 7:00 to 17:00. 1. Entertainment project reception time: 8:00 to 17:00 (the specific time is subject to the site). 2. In the case of severe weather or irresistible natural disasters that prevent tourism (such as thunder, rain, snow, hail, fog, heavy rain, strong wind, etc.), the scenic area will be temporarily closed or some scenic spots will be closed. Preferential policies: Children: Under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height, free; Disabled: With a disability certificate, free; Elderly: Age 60 (inclusive) to 65 (exclusive) years old (calculated by birthday) with an elderly card, half price; Active-duty military: With an officer’s certificate, half price; Students: Full-time primary, secondary, and college students (excluding adult education, graduate students) with a valid student card, half price. Additional note: 1. Unified ticket sales, no other preferential policies at present. 2. The above is for reference only, and the specific information is subject to the announcement of Beijing Shengquan Mountain Scenic Area on the day.
