Fragrant Mountain
Last week we visited Fragrant Mountain. Fragrant Mountain, also known as Xian Shan in Chinese, is located on the northwestern corner of Beijing. There was a thirty-minute uphill walk past many shops and restaurants just to get to the gate of the mountain. After entering the East Gate we found ourselves in various gardens and two small lakes. One of the lakes had a waterfall, under which tourists seemed to enjoy taking pictures.
We then started on the seemingly endless stairs that lead up to the top of the mountain. However, a few of us soon decided against climbing stairs and took the cable cars up the mountain. Although the cable cars were a bit pricey, they were a quick, convenient and painless means of traveling up the mountain. We got to see the same sites as everyone else but without the muscle cramps and sweat. After getting to the top of the mountain we joined everyone else and all enjoyed the amazing breeze and perfect view of the Beijing skyline.
Starting to climb up the endless stairways.
Me and Danielle with Beijing in the background!
After taking lots of pictures and relaxing on the summit, we started our decent down the mountain. This time we all decided to walk. On our way down some of us visited a pavilion, which required some climbing. According to the various informational signs throughout the mountain, most of the building and gardens were destroyed by French Anglo-Saxons. However towards the foot of the mountain we saw a museum, which had an exhibition with a model of what Fragrant Mountain used to look like. It seemed like Fragrant Mountain used to be a thriving community with buildings all over the mountain. Most of the buildings do not exist anymore. After visiting the museum we left the mountain and started our journey home.
- Wenxi
We then started on the seemingly endless stairs that lead up to the top of the mountain. However, a few of us soon decided against climbing stairs and took the cable cars up the mountain. Although the cable cars were a bit pricey, they were a quick, convenient and painless means of traveling up the mountain. We got to see the same sites as everyone else but without the muscle cramps and sweat. After getting to the top of the mountain we joined everyone else and all enjoyed the amazing breeze and perfect view of the Beijing skyline.
Starting to climb up the endless stairways.
Me and Danielle with Beijing in the background!
After taking lots of pictures and relaxing on the summit, we started our decent down the mountain. This time we all decided to walk. On our way down some of us visited a pavilion, which required some climbing. According to the various informational signs throughout the mountain, most of the building and gardens were destroyed by French Anglo-Saxons. However towards the foot of the mountain we saw a museum, which had an exhibition with a model of what Fragrant Mountain used to look like. It seemed like Fragrant Mountain used to be a thriving community with buildings all over the mountain. Most of the buildings do not exist anymore. After visiting the museum we left the mountain and started our journey home.
- Wenxi