[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (Updated Apr)

Spring has sprung, so don't stay cooped up at home! It's the perfect time to plan some lightweight outdoor activities like hiking. I've heard that there's a mountain outside Beijing with a hole right through it, so I took advantage of the beautiful weather to explore it. Tianmen Mountain, located in Mentougou District, is famous for the large, irregular hole at its summit. This naturally formed hole looks like an eye embedded in the mountain and is known as the "Eye of Beijing." It's just over an hour's drive from the city center to the foot of Tianmen Mountain. This used to be a forest park, but it's currently closed. However, the well-maintained hiking trails are still accessible, making it a popular free hiking route in the suburbs of Beijing. 🚶 Hiking Routes: Tianmen Mountain has an elevation of 550 meters, and the climb is relatively gentle, making it suitable for hikers of all ages and abilities. There are two entrances at the foot of the mountain. I recommend taking the one on the right, as it's closer to the "Eye of Beijing" and the Stone Great Wall. 1. Half-way: Hike from the foot of the mountain to the "Eye of Beijing" and then return the same way. This route is shorter and suitable for those with limited stamina or who just want to see the "Eye of Beijing." 2. Full route: Follow the loop trail along the mountain ridge. There are pavilions for resting and enjoying the scenery at regular intervals along the way. Just follow the direction of the pavilions, and you won't get lost. The entire loop is two to three kilometers long. We spent 2.5 hours hiking and exploring, and it wasn't tiring at all. 🔸Highlights: The "Eye of Beijing" on Tianmen Mountain is a great spot for taking photos, but I personally found the natural Stone Great Wall, made of rock formations, even more interesting. The Stone Great Wall section is the wildest part of the trail, with cliffs on both sides. Standing on top, you have a wide-open view of the surrounding rolling mountains. 🌟Tips for Visiting: 1. Navigate to "Tianmen Mountain Forest Park." After seeing the Tianmen Mountain archway, turn left uphill and drive for another 2 kilometers to reach the parking area at the foot of the mountain. 2. It gets crowded on weekends, so it's best to arrive before 10 am. Otherwise, you might not be able to drive up due to traffic and will have to park along the road and walk a long distance to the trailhead, which can be tiring. 3. As the park is closed, there are no facilities on the mountain, so be sure to prepare everything you need beforehand. 4. The trail is mostly stone steps, so bringing hiking poles can be helpful. 5. Tianmen Mountain is close to Tanzhe Temple, and the surrounding area has many other attractions, making it a great place to spend a day exploring.

Worship Buddha at 545 meters above sea level. Huffing and puffing, climb the steps to the towering Tianmen Cave. It might be slightly underwhelming, but it truly is a unique world. The "Natural Cloud Ladder" is located at the "White Bear Visiting Mother" spot. It's almost vertical and incredibly steep, with a sheer drop right beside it. One misstep could... so those who are afraid of heights, be warned! Fortunately, there's a winding, flat path as an alternative. The mountain itself isn't large, and besides a few pavilions, there aren't any other man-made attractions. Two hours is enough to reach the summit and descend. The ascent and descent are a bit tiring, but the middle part is relatively easy. Many people bring their pets along. With the dormant period over, many small lizards 🦎 are darting around. Be careful where you step, and don't be startled by these little cold-blooded creatures. In this time of fluctuating temperatures, the sun feels warm. The peach blossoms on the mountain are already in bloom, with beautiful buds waiting to open, a truly beautiful sight.

Tiānxiān Waterfall is the best winter hiking destination. It is the largest ice waterfall in Beijing, naturally formed over the winter. It is not only the largest ice waterfall in Beijing, but also the most beautiful naturally formed ice waterfall in Beijing! 📍Tiānchí Gorge, Yúnméng Mountain - Tiānxiān Waterfall - Tiānmén Mountain 🧗20 km, 1,300 m cumulative ascent, 8 hours 🎒Equipment: Waterproof, non-slip hiking shoes, crampons, trekking poles (the ice waterfall is very slippery), a windbreaker, down jacket, warm pants, hat, gloves, hand warmers, and quick-dry clothes under your down jacket! ⚠️Notes: It is very cold in winter, so make sure to keep warm. Be careful when taking photos under the ice waterfall. Phones and other electronic devices may run out of power and shut down, so you can use hand warmers to keep them warm. Some sections of the trail may have deep snow, so be careful.

#hikingtrails • A natural scenery that is super suitable for taking photos and checking in - "Beijing Eye" Tianmen Mountain! Let's fly over Tianmen Cave together! Location Transportation: It is located in the southwest of Nanxinfang Village, Tanzhansi Town, Mentougou District, Beijing, about 40 kilometers away from the city. It is recommended to drive by yourself, public transportation, and travel together. If there are wild roads in abandoned scenic spots, you may get lost. It is best not to explore alone. O Carry-on items: Camera and mobile phone, it is recommended to bring some snacks, 2L water and sunscreen. The scenic spot is free and unmanaged. Remind everyone to protect the environment and not throw garbage at will. Let's protect this beautiful land together!

There is also a Tianmen Mountain in Miyun, Beijing. Being in it feels like you have arrived at the same secret realm of Tianmen Mountain Cave. The view from the top of the mountain is even more beautiful. You can see the Miyun Reservoir, which feels like Qiandao Lake. 100 kilometers from downtown Beijing, about 2 hours by car Few people, a good place for hiking and mountaineering, with pleasant scenery ◆Spectacular granite landform features, "Zhangjiajie's same Tianmen Cave" ◆ From the top of the mountain, you can see the Great Wall, Miyun Reservoir and Baihe Canyon, and the Qiandao Lake The whole journey takes 3 hours, and the fatigue level is not bad. Forest hiking natural oxygen bar, a different kind of cool The tour route is as follows Starting from the uphill road, passing Zheng's old house, Ruyitan, Hongliwang Looking back at Tianmen, the lilac forest at Tianmen Cave The mountain road goes down the mountain and passes by Laojiaotai. The pine waves are still there. → Return to the scenic area gate 【Check-in photo spot】Tianmen Cave There are two locations for taking photos of Tianmen Cave, namely [Viewing Tianmen] on the way up the mountain, and [Looking Back at Tianmen] on the way down the mountain. Rooftop View The pavilion at the top of the mountain offers a panoramic view of the Miyun Reservoir and a bird's-eye view of the Lupiguan Great Wall. This trip was an unexpected surprise. The scenery is really beautiful. The Qiandao Lake is like the top of Tianmen Mountain. Continue walking up for about 5 minutes to reach the top, where you can see the whole mountain. Beijing MiTe Tianmen Mountain Fengwu District

I have been to Tianmen Mountain in Mentougou several times a few years ago, this time I took a different starting point that I have never been through before, starting from Zhushaling, passing through Songshuling, and then arriving at Tianmen Cave. There is a small cliff at Songshuling, with ropes left for assistance, but it is not suitable for children to try.

👋Hello! I am Zhenzuo, an HR who doesn't do human affairs and likes to travel. 🌹The past spring and summer, the 'Eye of Beijing' was on fire. 💦Unexpectedly, the heavy rain in July ruthlessly blocked the mountain road. ❄️Half a year later, taking advantage of the winter, thinking that the road should be open, I went with a try. ✅Winter hiking around the Eye of Beijing challenge succeeded! · 🗺️Hiking route: 🏁I chose the starting point at Nanxinfang Village, why? There are regular free parking spaces on the side of the road, TA is really fragrant! 🚶Walk G234 Tanwang Road, from Tianmen Mountain Forest Park plank road, check in 'Eye of Beijing', ascend 'Stone Great Wall', overlook 'China Zun', descend from the back mountain dirt and stone path, and return along G108 Jingkun Road. 📈The whole journey is 9.5km, climbing 421 meters, hiking + taking pictures + resting, I used 4 hours and 40 minutes. 💓If you are worried about getting lost, you can ask me for a guidebook and footprints. · 📸Photo check-in points: ✅Eye of Beijing Tianmen Mountain Tianmen Cave, at the highest point of the plank road, is named for its resemblance to an eye. · ✅Stone Great Wall Also known as the 'Ancient Rock Great Wall', it is a 'Stone Great Wall' that naturally forms along the ridge of the mountain. · 🧥Outdoor equipment: 👔Upper body: storm jacket shell + down warmth + fleece warmth + wool base layer 👖Lower body: fleece storm pants + wool base layer 👟Shoes: Gao Bang outdoor climbing shoes 🧢Accessories: hat + climbing bag + climbing stick + windproof mask + gloves + sunglasses · ❤️Intimate Tips: 1️⃣Mentougou is carrying out reconstruction work in an orderly manner after the flood, but the houses on both sides of the mountain gully have not been cleaned up yet, do not approach at will. 2️⃣You must choose to go up on the right side of the plank road in Tianmen Mountain Forest Park, and walk counterclockwise. 3️⃣There will be dark ice on the shady side of the mountain road, be careful. 4️⃣The downhill path in the second half of the journey is narrow, with shrubs on both sides, the combination of gloves + windproof mask + sunglasses is very necessary! 5️⃣There are no shops and toilets throughout the mountain, prepare food and water in advance. 6️⃣In the dry winter, do not bring fire into the mountain, forest fire prevention is more important than Mount Tai. 7️⃣Protect the environment, everyone is responsible.

🥾Although the winter in Beijing is bleak, But nothing can stop me from stepping into the mountains! I hiked 10km around the mountain to prove that although there are no snow-capped mountains or golden mountains in Beijing in winter, But we have the golden "Eye of Beijing", I hope that this jump in front of the "Beijing Eye" before the Spring Festival will also bring good luck in the new year. ✅The Tianmen Cave, a naturally formed cave on the Tianmen Mountain in western Beijing, looks like a giant eye looking at the entire city, so it is called the "Eye of Beijing". ✅On the mountain ridge, the stones are weathered into the shape of the Great Wall, which is called the "Stone Great Wall". Taking photos with distant mountains gives a sense of desolation. ✅10km hiking loop, 443m climbing, basically 0 difficulty. The trail from the starting point to the Stone Great Wall is basically a hiking trail, and the second half of the loop is a wild road. If you are afraid of getting tired, you can return to the Stone Great Wall along the same route. ✅If you are alone, feel free to go, we didn't meet anyone during the whole trip. ✅It only takes 1 hour to drive there, so one day on the weekend is enough. ✅The Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area has not reopened after the flood, so it is currently free. Hiking route: Nanxinfang Village - Tianmen Mountain Gate - Beijing Eye - Stone Great Wall - Jingkun Road - Nanxinfang Village 🅿️Parking: Navigate to Nanxinfang Village, there are free regular parking spaces at the travel gathering point at the entrance of the village. ‼ ️If you are worried about not finding the way, you can ask me for the track🤝🏻 ❗Tips: 1️⃣It is windy on the mountain, so be sure to keep warm. 2️⃣ The mountain road is very narrow and there are branches on both sides. It is important to wear a hard shell jacket to prevent scratches and wear. 3️⃣It is recommended to bring trekking poles and wear a pair of non-slip hiking shoes. The downhill slope was quite steep and there was a gravel road, and I fell flat on my face. 4️⃣There are no toilets or supply points along the way. 5️⃣Pet friendly. 🤝🏻If you need footprints, ask me! I would also like to see your photos of hiking in Beijing in the comments section📸 🙋🏻‍♂️Just call me Xiao Ming! Beijing boy, traveling around. Don’t get lost if you play with me, don’t forget to give me a ❤ before you go!