Constant temperature of 13 degrees, a good place to escape the summer heat

Number of days: 2 days
Time: April
Average cost: 800 yuan
With whom: and friends

Fangshan Shihua Cave Scenic Area

This isn't Ella's first time visiting Fangshan Shihua Cave. Every time, I feel like I'm exploring a hidden gem. Let's follow Ella's lead and explore this magical and beautiful cave.

The Sky-Supporting Mandarin Duck Pillars behind me are a must-see for any visitor to Shihua Cave, one of its ten wonders. Located at the junction of the second and third levels, they consist of two stone pillars of equal thickness. These pillars, formed by connecting stalagmites and stalactites, stand a magnificent 12.6 meters tall.

The image above shows the ten wonders of Shihua Cave: Moon Milk Stone, Stone Curtain, Stalactite, Stone Shield, Stone Pillar, Cloud Basin, Stalagmite, Stone Flag, Stone Waterfall, and Stone Flower. Be sure to find them when you visit Shihua Cave again.

Each wonder is a masterpiece of nature, and its charm can only be truly appreciated when you experience it in person.

Shihua Cave maintains a constant temperature of 13 degrees Celsius year-round, making it a pleasant place to visit year-round: warm in winter and cool in summer. There are four levels open to the public, requiring a series of stairs. The higher you go, the older the formations become, resulting in larger structures. The further down you go, the more minute details you'll see. It takes about 5,000 steps to walk around here. Going up and down not only allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also exercise your body, killing two birds with one stone.

Yaochi Stone Lotus - Moon Milk Stone

Upside-down Torch - Stalactite

White Jade Canopy - Stone Flag

Dragon Palace Harp - Stone Curtain

Sky-supporting Mandarin Duck Pillar - Stone Pillar

The Stone Flower Caves were slowly formed over millions of years, so please be sure to take good care of them if you visit, as damage is irreversible.

Warm Tips:

Wheelchairs are not recommended, and elderly people are not recommended to enter alone, as there are many stairs and the ground can be slippery.

Fire Trees and Silver Flowers—Shihua

Speaking of Shihua Cave, another highlight is its exquisitely preserved wines. Ever since the days of the emperor, Shihua Cave's fine wines have been prized by dignitaries. The cave's unique temperature and humidity make it ideal for storing liquor, making it a real treat for those who enjoy it.

Six years have passed in a flash. Returning to Shihua Cave, I can still see her adorable face and hear her innocent laughter. She was only two years old then. I remember holding her the whole time. We have so many wonderful memories here.

When we were two years old, we were tiny and adorable. Time flies, and now you're a third-grader. This May Day, I'll try to bring you here again. Besides the Shihua Cave itself, the outside of the Fangshan Shihua Cave Scenic Area is also very beautiful.

Legend has it that there are ten Buddha statues in Shihua Cave. Whoever finds them will carry gold, silver, and treasures home. How many Buddhas can you see on this cliff? Tips:

Visit duration: About 2 hours, walking and exploring, so be mindful of your schedule.

The road can be slippery, so wearing comfortable, non-slip shoes is recommended.

Shihua Cave is entirely inside the cave, so it's generally unaffected by the weather.

Remember to bring water with you; there are no water vendors or restrooms inside, so prepare beforehand.

About Shihua Cave Scenic Area:

Ticket price: 70 yuan, half price for students

Address: From the Fangshan (Yancun) exit of the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway, take Tuoli to Shihua Cave. From the Fangshan Liangxiang Airport exit of the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway, take Qinglong Lake and Beicheying to Shihua Cave.

Bus: Take bus No. 836 or 835 from Tianqiao. Transfer to bus No. 833 (or Fang No. 13) at Liangxiang West Gate to the Shihua Cave entrance. Transfer to Fang No. 42 to Shihua Cave.

Services: Elderly persons over 60 years old require chaperones, and those with limited mobility will appreciate the thoughtful amenities provided by the scenic area.

Spend a leisurely morning strolling through Shihua Cave, marveling at the wonders of nature, and then leisurely strolling through the gardens. Admire the vibrant spring scenery, and if you're tired, there's a great place to enjoy a wild vegetable feast.

The variety of wild vegetables is exceptional, and they're mostly seasonal. Examples include shepherd's purse, Chinese toon, Sichuan pepper sprouts, magnolia sprouts, willow sprouts, and spring bamboo shoots. There are also delicious pancakes and stewed fish, each of which is nutritious and healthy.

Moon Mountain Scenic Area

The Moon Mountain Scenic Area is located near the Shihua Cave Scenic Area parking lot, not far from a restaurant serving wild vegetables. It is not very big inside, and the most distinctive feature is the glass plank road inside. The glass plank road is built between two small hills. The hills are not high. If you have time and energy after playing in Shihua Cave, you can also come here to play.

About Moon Hill Scenic Area:

Ticket price: 20 yuan, half price for children and senior citizens

Address: Nancheying Village, Hebei Town, Fangshan District

Parking: 10 yuan

Xiu De Valley Traditional Cultural Experience Base

Since I'm here, I decided to make the most of it. Every day, I meditated with a master, ate vegetarian food, listened to the guqin, and felt like I was retreating to the mountains.

By the way, if you enjoy a drink, don't miss out on ordering a bottle of Shihuadong Tibetan wine. It's the perfect meal!

After dinner, you can visit Mingde Hall to learn rope weaving or make sachets with the instructor. Each little craft can be a great way to hone your skills. This slow pace of life is truly relaxing.

Here you can also experience an intimate experience with the guqin (Chinese zither). Playing the instrument in the sunshine is so elegant.

Life in Xiude Valley is truly a time of complete relaxation. Professional teachers will lead us on a mountain tour to collect herbs. Every day, we'll carry a basket up the mountain to pick wild vegetables and herbs, feel the fresh air, and get to know the local flowers and plants. Life is simple and pure. These are my harvests. I dug up a lot of dandelions.

These are my harvests. I dug up a lot of dandelions~

Xiu De Valley Traditional Culture Experience Base:

?Accommodation: Jixiang Jingshe Inn

?Food: All-vegetarian meals, using mostly ingredients sourced from farms within the valley

?Activities: Mountain climbing and seeking medicinal herbs, parent-child rural activities, tea ceremony, guqin (Chinese zither), needlework, ancient poetry, Hanfu (Chinese traditional clothing), tie-dyeing, bamboo weaving, and other traditional cultural experiences.

?Address: Xiu De Valley, Beibanbidian, Hebei Town, Fangshan District, Beijing

If you haven't made plans for the May Day holiday yet, why not come to Fangshan without leaving Beijing? The beautiful mountains and waters are truly relaxing.