Drive with the kids to see macaques, enjoy the mountains and water, and enjoy the peace! A hidden paradise deep in Fangshan Shidu

Number of days: 2 days
Time: July
Average cost: 500 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: Food, Photography, Self-driving, Free travel, Hiking, Small-budget, Luxury, Weekend tour
The author went to these places： Fangshan Tianchi Scenic Area

Fangshan has long been a top destination for Beijing's suburban tourism. Each of the Shidu Ferry crossings is like a pearl scattered throughout Fangshan's landscapes! This time, we're discussing a hidden gem, a newly-launched online attraction nestled amidst the mountains. It's Xitaiping Village, located 16 kilometers north of the Fangshan Shidu Tourist Area.

Xitaiping Village, like many other scenic spots in Shidu, is renowned for its water features, but it's even more remarkable! The scenic area's name is a combination of the village's name and the magnificent scenery of Tianchi Lake: Taiping Tianchi—a tranquil mountain village that remained untouched even during wartime. "Taiping" is worthy of its name; and "Tianchi" is a municipal-level small Type 2 reservoir with a storage capacity of 170,000 cubic meters embedded between two mountains, at an altitude of 500 to 900 meters. It can be said to be the beauty of "a touch of green in the midst of green", and it is well-deserved! As for why this area has become a newly popular online tourist attraction, it's all due to its unique natural resources and the stunning scenery it has created through transformation and development. The Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area boasts lush vegetation, gurgling springs, silver streams, intertwined pools and waterfalls, and clear waters and blue skies. The valleys on either side are verdant and beautiful, and the air is fresh!

In short, the Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area offers a breathtaking array of breathtaking scenery and breathtaking views, and that's far from the end! The theme of "viewing the mountains and water, enjoying tranquility" permeates every corner of the Taiping Tianchi Natural Scenic Area. This is true even of the adjacent Happy Macaque Valley, which is also part of the Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area.

Happy Macaque Valley is less than a ten-minute drive from the Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area and is also part of Xitaiping Village. The scenic area shares much the same aesthetic as Taiping Tianchi, with numerous pools and waterfalls and lush vegetation. The only difference is that there are more Taihang macaques here (nearly 500 or so), which makes the Macaque Valley more lively and more spiritual! You can tell how happy the macaques here are as soon as you enter the scenic area. As soon as you enter the scenic area, you'll see groups of macaques, either jumping around or watching from a distance of five or six meters. Their only concern is to see if you've brought any goodies. But don't worry, the macaques here aren't as eager as monkeys elsewhere, and they won't snatch food from tourists. The scenic area feeds visitors at designated times and locations. When the whistle blows, the monkeys know it's time to eat! Therefore, the monkeys won't go hungry, and they won't rush to grab food from tourists. The macaques here love peanuts the most. The scenic area also sells various snacks to tourists, and peanuts are of course the most popular. Look at the macaques everywhere they go, what they hold in their hands and mouths—even their cheeks are bulging with peanuts, their favorite treat. The monkeys here are divided into groups, going up the mountain and down. Those on the mountain have less to eat and are often chased away by the reigning monkey king. But don't worry, the scenic area staff feeds the monkeys at designated spots regardless of who's king, so most of the macaques here are plump and plump!

Driving Directions: From the Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area, follow the map to Laibao Road. Turn right, and you'll arrive in Yosemite in about 40 minutes.

Bus route: Take bus F17 directly to Xitaiping Station and walk 2 kilometers.

Warm reminder: Taiping Tianchi Scenic Area is open every day from 7:30 to 18:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:30.)