Pinggu is China’s famous peach hometown, boasting 220,000 acres of peach orchards, making it the largest in the world. Heading north from Guanzhuang Road to Dahua Mountain Town and passing through Yukou Town, you will reach the “Hundred-Mile Peach Blossom Corridor.” Every mid-April, the area is covered in vibrant, blooming peach blossoms, stretching for miles and creating a picturesque landscape that captivates visitors. The stunning mountains and waters complement the beautiful peach blossoms, turning Pinggu into the world’s largest open-air “love-themed park” without walls.
Travel Information about the Peach Blossom Corridor
Tickets and Opening Hours
- Tickets: Yaji Mountain: 50 RMB, Lao Xiang Peak: 30 RMB, Xiyu Water Park: 15 RMB.
- Opening Hours: Yaji Mountain Forest Park is open all day; Lao Xiang Peak is open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is from mid-April to early May, which is the season when peach blossoms are in full bloom. During this period, you can enjoy the beautiful and vibrant peach blossoms.
Transportation to the Scenic Area
- Location: Yuyukou Town, Liujia Town, Dahua Mountain Town, Shandongzhuang Town, Nandulehe Town, and Jinhaihu Town in Pinggu District.
- Public Transportation: Take bus No. 918 from Dongzhimen Station to Pinggu Yuegezhuang, cross the road and head north to transfer to bus No. 20 towards Xiaoyuzi, which will take you directly to the Sea of Peach Blossoms. If you plan to visit multiple flower viewing points in the surrounding area, it is recommended to rent a car locally.
Scenic Rating
- Culture: ★★★
- Features: ★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Thrill: ★★
Highlights of Peach Blossom Corridor
Yaji Mountain (丫髻山)
Yaji Mountain, located in Liujia Town of Pinggu District, derives its name from two massive stones at its peak, resembling the ancient hairstyle of young girls. The park features various attractions such as strange rocks, underground rivers, an opera stage, Nantian Gate, Huixiang Pavilion, Dongyue Temple, Lingguan Hall, and a forest of steles. The Bixia Yuanjun Temple on the mountain, initially built during the Tang Dynasty, is the most famous ancient temple in eastern Beijing, known for its magnificent architecture.
Related Details:
- At the foot of the mountain, visitors can enjoy boating and playing in Ya Lake, and even release river lanterns upstream.
- The scenic area hosts the “Yaji Mountain Temple Fair” from the 1st to the 15th day of the fourth lunar month every year, and the “Golden Autumn Bixia Pan Peach Harvest Festival” from September 12 to October 2, both of which are bustling events.
- South of the mountain peak lies a sea of peach trees, the largest peach orchard base in Pinggu District. During the peach harvest season, visitors can indulge in delicious peaches.
- Near Yaji Mountain, there are farmhouses where visitors can savor authentic farm-style dishes, including free-range chicken and wild mushrooms.
Xiaoyuzi Peach Blossom Sea (小峪子桃花海)
The main scenic area of the Peach Blossom Sea in Pinggu District is located south of Xiaoyuzi Village in Dahua Mountain Town, covering an area of approximately 13 square kilometers. This is Pinggu’s earliest and largest ecological peach base with the most diverse varieties, developed for the peach industry. Every mid-April, the entire area is covered with blooming peach blossoms, resembling clouds, mist, seas, and waves, attracting a large number of visitors who come to immerse themselves in the sea of peach blossoms, offering significant ornamental value.
Related Details:
- From August to October each year, Pinggu hosts a fruit-picking festival where visitors can freely pick various natural fresh and dried fruits, including chestnuts, walnuts, apples, and Sichuan pepper. Additionally, in early June, the 3-kilometer-long valley is filled with red, white, and black mulberries, which can also be picked for free.
- Xiaojinshan is located near the Xiaoyuzi Peach Blossom Sea. There is a pavilion on the mountain, offering a panoramic view of the peach blossoms from the top. The angle and effect of the photographs taken here are considered the best, making it a popular “photography base” for capturing the beauty of the peach blossom sea.
Guajia Yu Village (挂甲峪村)
Located in the northern mountainous area of Pinggu, Dahua Mountain Town, Guajia Yu Village is a place filled with legendary charm. The village is named after the Song Dynasty general Yang Yanzhao, who is said to have hung his armor and rested here while resisting the Liao invaders. To this day, the village boasts ancient wonders such as Liu Lang Hanging Armor, the Ancient Well Cave, and the Eunuch Herding Horses.
The village is lush with greenery and boasts beautiful scenery, with mountains resembling giant dragons reaching the main peak, Laoguanding, at an altitude of 623 meters, forming a scene of “two dragons playing with a pearl.” The peak is covered with clusters of emerald cypress trees, exuding a unique verdant beauty. From the summit, visitors can enjoy expansive views: to the west, the skyline of Beijing; to the north, the Miyun Reservoir; and to the east, the Sizuolou Great Wall. Especially at night, the village lights up with twinkling lights that, together with the starlight and moonlight, create a mesmerizing scene, blurring the line between heaven and earth.
Related Details:
- When peach season arrives, the Guajia Yu Vegetable and Fruit Picking Garden opens, allowing visitors to enter the picking area and select their own fruits. During the visit, you can also take photos, pick wildflowers, and experience the simple and peaceful rural life.
- Guajia Yu Village also has its own vegetable greenhouses, where villagers can buy vegetables not grown in their own yards or come to pick the freshest produce firsthand.
- In the central square of Guajia Yu Village, there is a cartoon castle made of paper. The roof, walls, and beams inside the castle are all crafted from recycled newspapers and cardboard boxes. It’s quite interesting and worth a visit.
Lao Xiang Peak (老象峰)
Located in Xiaoyuzi Village of Dahua Mountain Town, Lao Xiang Peak is named after the giant elephant-like peak. The majestic Lao Xiang Peak stands 51.8 meters high and 82 meters long, with its body, legs, head, tail, trunk, and eyes all remarkably lifelike. Even more astonishing, from different angles, it transforms into a double elephant, appearing as a mother and child connected, a unique spectacle in China and a rare wonder in the world.
The scenic area features a winding canyon with majestic mountains, deep ravines, and dense forests. Wildlife such as roe deer, yellow sheep, and badgers can be spotted, as well as wild rabbits, pheasants, squirrels, and mountain birds. The area is adorned with over 20 scenic spots, including:
- Lifelike Elephant: The peak itself is a strikingly realistic representation of an elephant, with every feature intricately detailed.
- Dense Forests: The area is covered with diverse tree species, each with its own unique shape, creating a deep and mysterious forest.
- Cliffside Ancient City: The high and steep cliffs of Lao Xiang Peak resemble artificially built walls, looking like block structures that form a natural fortress. Legend has it that this is a paradise for immortals.
- Chrysanthemum Fairy Valley: From summer to autumn, wild chrysanthemums cover the slopes, blooming beautifully and competing for attention.
- Orchard Fields: In autumn, the air is filled with the fragrance of ripening fruit from the extensive orchards. Visitors can enjoy the serene rural experience of picking their own fruit.
Related Details:
- In the golden autumn season, the valley’s thousand-acre orchards are laden with fruit, and wild chrysanthemums blanket the mountains, creating a stunning display of color that visitors can pick and enjoy.
- To the north of Dahua Mountain Town lies Xiyu Water Park, which is connected in a line with Lao Xiang Peak and Yaji Mountain. The park offers a range of water activities, including rowing boats, jet skis, pleasure boats, and fishing, providing plenty of experiences to enjoy.
Glass Tile Village (玻璃台村)
Glass Tile Village is located in the southeastern part of Luoying Town, at the end of Nanshuiyu. Surrounded by mountains, the village is connected to the outside world by a 7-kilometer path that winds alongside a meandering stream. Due to its remote location, Glass Tile Village is relatively unknown and attracts many visitors with its nearly pristine ecological environment. The ancient mountain pass ruins, the serpentine Great Wall along the ridges, scattered rural homes on the terraces below, and the sunset with curling smoke create a picturesque scene reminiscent of the idyllic setting described in “Peach Blossom Spring.”
In Glass Tile Village, the glass leaf has two main uses: preserving fruit and processing food. When used to preserve fruit, the glass leaf provides ventilation and breathability, preventing decay and retaining moisture, which keeps the fruit fresh and enhances its sweetness. Food steamed with glass leaves emits a unique aroma that is both soothing and appetizing. In the past, villagers never used cloth for steaming food.
Visitor Guide for Peach Blossom Corridor
Dining
You can dine at various farmhouse inns in the area. In addition to mouthwatering traditional dishes like free-range chicken eggs and chicken stew with mushrooms, be sure to try the distinctive wild mountain vegetables.
In Guajia Yu Village, the small cabins not only offer lodging but also dining options. The restaurant is particularly notable for its unique rotating observation restaurant halfway up the mountain. Both the ambiance and the scale are impressive, and enjoying farmhouse cuisine there adds a charming touch to the experience.
In Glass Tile Village, special farmhouse dishes include chicken stewed with glass leaves, glass leaf ribs, and glass leaf vegetable dumplings. Many farmhouses offer a “四平八稳” glass leaf feast, costing around 300 RMB per table and serving up to 10 people. This feast includes dishes like chicken stewed with glass leaves and glass leaf ribs, providing a taste of local culinary traditions.
Accommodation
The Hundred-Mile Peach Blossom Corridor is dotted with several folk villages, such as Dongshanjia Village, Guajia Yu Village, and Glass Tile Village, all of which offer well-established farmhouse accommodations.
Guajia Yu Village: The small cabins situated halfway up the mountain are particularly popular. Though modest in size, these wooden lodgings are well-equipped and clean. It’s advisable to book in advance, especially during the peach blossom season.
Glass Tile Village: Glass Tile New Village is a dedicated folk tourism village, with nearly every household operating as a farmhouse inn. There is a tourist reception center at the village entrance where you can arrange food and lodging. The center can recommend suitable farmhouse inns for your stay.
Recommended Itineraries
Explore the Hundred-Mile Peach Blossom Viewing Corridor by traversing through the Peach Blossom Sea in Xiaoyuzi, Dahua Mountain Town.
- Route A: Turn left at Guan Zhuang Intersection – Continue to Yuko Town – Visit Pinggu Xiaoyuzi Peach Blossom Sea – Proceed to Dahua Mountain Town – Explore Guajia Yu – Head to Xiong’er Village (south side of the township government) – Continue to Yishoujia Ridge – Reach Wang Xinzhuang – Travel along Qi Ge Zhuang Road – Arrive in Pinggu Urban Area
Best for Spring: This route is ideal for enjoying the peach blossoms in spring. - Route B: Turn left at Guan Zhuang Intersection – Continue to Yuko Town – Visit Pinggu Xiaoyuzi Peach Blossom Sea – Explore Qianhou North Palace – Proceed to Daling – Visit Lezhengwu – Travel to Wang Xinzhuang – Arrive in Pinggu Urban Area
Best for Summer and Autumn: This route is best for exploring the peach orchards and other attractions in the summer and autumn seasons. - Classic Route: Start at Guan Zhuang Intersection – Visit Xiaoyuzi Peach Blossom Sea – Continue to Dayuzi – Explore Hou Beigong – Proceed to Wang Xinzhuang – Arrive in Pinggu Urban Area
Overview: This route is wide and well-maintained, covering the main peach blossom areas of Pinggu, with an area of approximately 133 square kilometers.