Eight Sights at BadachuBadachu is located on the western outskirts of Beijing. The word Badachu means “eight great sites”, so it makes sense that it has eight Buddhist temples and monasteries, all restored in the 1980’s.
Each temple has a unique history. The Temple of Eternal Peace, located at the foot of Cuiwei Hill, was built 1504 during the Ming Dynasty and is notable for its carvings and architecture. Ironically, given its name, the temple is dedicated to the god of war. The Temple of Divine Light, with its tranquil pond, stands 500 meters away. Three Hill Nunnery, with its single courtyard, is located between the Pingpo, Lushi, and Cuiwei Hills, as its name indicates. The wood surrounding the nunnery is so dense that it remains cool even in summer. The Temple of Great Mercy lies up the hill and past a number of large rock formations. A rare species of bamboo that stays green throughout the year grows on the temple grounds. A spring flows from the entrance of the Dragon King Temple, built during the Qing Dynasty. The Temple of Fragrant World is the largest in the park. A stone bearing inscriptions from various emperors stands on the grounds. The Cave of Precious Pearls has a lovely two meter Ming Dynasty bronze bell, over which hands a large rock that looks like a roaring lion and the home of Monk Lu Shi both.
These models of Buddhist architecture are surrounded by luscious greener, which keeps the park relatively cool during Beijing’s hot summers, and shelters it from the wind during spring and winter. The vegetation also adds to the park’s history; some of the lofty trees there are 600 years old. One of the most beautiful times of the year at Badachu is fall, when leaves of all those lovely old trees turn red and begin to fall, like flowers offered at Buddha’s feet.
The entire park takes several hours to traverse on foot, though the cable car is an option on the way up.
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