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.