Being an extension of the
Taihang mountain range from the
Hebei Province, the Western Hills cover approximately 17% of the
Beijing municipality, including most of the
Mentougou and
Fangshan Districts as well as parts of
Changping,
Haidian, and
Shijingshan. The elevation of the Western Hills range is between 100 m to over 1900 m above sea level and is visible from the city on clear days. A mix of
deciduous and
coniferous forests and highland meadows cover much of the Western Hills. Mountain streams feed into the
Yongding and
Juma Rivers, which flow through the Western Hills to irrigate the plains of Beijing.
Coal is mined in Fangshan and Mentougou Districts. Natural and historical points of interest include river gorges, and hot springs, as well as temples, historic homes, secluded retreats and ancient ruins. Also known as the Western Hills Scenic Area, the area has long been used as a retreat by Chinese scholars, religious men, and members of the government and civil service. Nearest to Beijing's Haidian District is the
Fragrant Hills Park. Nearby is the
Beijing Botanical Garden and
Temple of Azure Clouds. The
Wofo Temple, which has a giant reclining
Buddha statue, is located on the grounds of the botanical gardens. To the northwest of the Fragrant Hills Park are
Jiufeng (Vulture Peak) Forest Park (鹫峰森林公园),
Dajue Temple, and Fenghuanling (Phoenix Ridge) Scenic Area. South of the Fragrant Hills Park is
Badachu (八大处; literally "eight great sites") in Shijingshan District, which is named after eight
Buddhist temples and monasteries. The Western Hills of Shijinghan are also home to the
Laoshan Mountain Bike Course, where the mountain biking competition of the
2008 Summer Olympic Games was held. Fossils of the
Peking Man were discovered in the caves of Dragon Bone Hill near
Zhoukoudian in Fangshan District. The Western Hills also houses an underground command center of the
Chinese military, a secret
bunker-like underground facility built with the assistance of the
USSR in the 1950s, which now serves a purpose similar to the
United States Military's
Pentagon.
Mao Zedong briefly lived in the Western Hills, and the
Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party retreated there briefly in 1989. == Western Hills Group ==