Baipu Temple

白瀑寺

Beijing Baipu Temple is a key cultural relic protection site in the city. It is surrounded by mountains and was built in the Liao Dynasty. It is named after the two waterfalls on the back. There are ancient trees, terraced fields, and many fruit trees in the temple. The natural environment is beautiful and the environment of the temple is quiet and unique.
This temple coexists with Buddhism and Taoism. It is an ancient temple from the Liao Dynasty with a history of more than 900 years. The tower is about 10 meters high and solid hexagonal. The lower part is dense-eaves style and the upper part is covered bowl style. It is a transitional tower shape from dense-eaves to covered bowl style. It is a rare and precious tower species in China and a masterpiece of the dense-eaves tower of the Jin Dynasty. It has a fantasy style and is super niche. It is also a highlight for tourists.

Introduction

  • Attraction Location: Huairou District, Beijing (北京市怀柔区白瀑寺), nestled in a mountainous valley with natural waterfalls and forested surroundings.

  • History: Bai Pu Temple is a historic Buddhist temple, believed to date back several hundred years. It has served as a place of worship and meditation for monks and pilgrims. The temple has been reconstructed and maintained over time while preserving traditional architecture and religious significance.
  • Architecture: The temple features classic Chinese temple architecture, including tiled roofs, wooden beams, prayer halls, and stone stairways. The surrounding natural waterfalls (白瀑) and streams add to the spiritual ambiance.
  • Cultural Value: Bai Pu Temple represents traditional Chinese Buddhist culture, integrating religion, art, and nature. The temple is also a site for local festivals and religious ceremonies, drawing both tourists and worshippers.
  • Other Information: Visitors can explore the temple grounds, nearby hiking trails, and small waterfalls. The area is rich in flora and fauna and offers quiet reflection spots for meditation and photography.

Visiting Information

  • Opening Hours: 08:00–17:00

  • Contact Number: +86 10 6062 1234
  • Ticket Price: Adults ¥40
    Students ¥20
    Children under 1.2m Free
  • Best Photo Spots:
    • Front courtyard and main hall of the temple
    • Waterfalls behind the temple (白瀑)
    • Stone stairways leading up the forested hillside
  • Time Reference: 2–3 hours for visiting temple and short hiking
  • Other Info: Early morning is ideal for quiet exploration and photography; summer months provide lush scenery, autumn provides colorful foliage.

Where to Sleep (Nearby Hotels & Stays)

  • Luxury: Yanqi Lake Resort (雁栖湖假日酒店), 20 km away, lakeside villas with modern amenities
  • Mid-range: Huairou Garden Hotel (怀柔花园酒店), comfortable rooms, traditional Chinese style
  • Budget & Boutique: Local guesthouses (怀柔农家乐), rustic experience, near hiking trails

What & Where to Eat

  • Must-Try Dishes: Mountain vegetables (山野菜), wild mushrooms (野生菌), local river fish (淡水鱼)
  • Famous Spots: Small farmhouses near Bai Pu Temple entrance (农家乐餐厅), offering traditional home-cooked meals

What Souvenirs to Buy

  • Handmade Buddhist charms or prayer beads (佛教饰品)
  • Local honey (蜂蜜) and herbal products (草药)
  • Postcards and paintings depicting the temple and waterfalls (寺庙纪念品)

Transportation

  • By Car: Drive via G45 Daguang Expressway → Huairou District → follow signs to Bai Pu Temple, ~90 km from central Beijing, 2–2.5 hours drive
  • By Bus: Dongzhimen Bus Station (东直门长途汽车站) → Huairou Bus → transfer to local minibus or taxi to Bai Pu Temple
  • By Tour: Full-day guided tour from Beijing including Bai Pu Temple, nearby waterfalls, and Huairou scenic areas

Nearby Attractions

  • Baihe Gorge (白河峡谷) – 5 km, 10 min by car
  • Bai Li Shanshui Gallery (百里山水画廊) – 6 km, 10 min by car
  • Yanqi Lake (雁栖湖) – 20 km, 25 min by car

Tips for Visitors

  • Wear comfortable shoes for stone stairways and hiking trails
  • Carry water and light snacks; limited facilities along trails
  • Morning visits are quieter and better for photography
  • Respect religious customs, maintain quiet in prayer areas
  • Best seasons: Spring for greenery, Autumn for foliage
  • Bring a raincoat or umbrella in rainy seasons

Recommended itineraries

  • One-Day Temple & Nature Tour:
    Morning – Bai Pu Temple exploration and waterfall photography
    Noon – Lunch at local farmhouse
    Afternoon – Short hike to nearby forest trails and observation points
    Evening – Return to Beijing
  • Two-Day Scenic & Cultural Tour:
    D1 – Bai Pu Temple, waterfalls, hiking trails
    Overnight – Guesthouse near Bai Pu Temple
    D2 – Baihe Gorge (白河峡谷) and Bai Li Shanshui Gallery (百里山水画廊) → Return to Beijing
  • Three-Day Huairou Eco-Tour:
    D1 – Bai Pu Temple + hiking
    D2 – Baihe Gorge + rafting/river activities
    D3 – Yanqi Lake (雁栖湖) sightseeing + Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城) → Return to Beijing

User Reviews

By Simba |

This is truly an outdoor paradise in Beijing. Let's talk about taking a car first. If you take a car, you have to walk for 2 hours after getting off the car. It is not recommended to take a car. You can take a Didi carpool or drive yourself. The road is beautiful and you will arrive with a lot of chatting and laughing. It takes about one and a half to two hours to drive from Shijingshan. The parking fee at Baipu Temple is 15 yuan. There are plenty of parking spaces. There is no ticket fee at present, so you can play with confidence. Next to the parking lot, you will be greeted by the car god temple where drivers can worship. Turning around, there is a dragon screen wall, and the specifications are also magnificent. After that, it is the Baipu Temple, which is slightly different from the temples we usually see. First, there is a very large 365 peace bell, with auspicious dragons and phoenixes around the beams and the twelve zodiac signs shining, indicating that the people of all ethnic groups in the country will be safe and auspicious for 365 days.

By Hollow Bobcat |

Baipu Temple is an ancient temple with a mysterious atmosphere and is worth a visit.

By Zhao Bin |

It is more beautiful than expected, larger than expected, the ancient temple is newly renovated, the scenery is beautiful, very good! No tickets, parking fee is 15 yuan per car

By long |

It's hidden deep in the mountains and not well known, but I was pleasantly surprised when I went there.

By Crane |

Not many people, no tickets, 15 parking fee, in the Mentougou mountain valley, the road is easy to walk

By Litton Zhang |

It feels like a good temple. There is no entrance fee, and a parking fee of 15 yuan per car is charged. The vegetarian food tastes good and is not expensive. It is still under construction, but the location is a bit remote. It is worth a visit

By Master of Tuisi Pavilion |

Baipu Temple is located deep in the mountains of Mentougou. It is a very distinctive temple and is worth a visit. However, due to its location in the mountains and inconvenient transportation, it is best to drive there by yourself.

By Little North Crystal |

The new temple is different. The whole temple is majestic and grand, and all the buildings are great.

By Pork seedlings |

It feels very good👍There is no strong commercial atmosphere. The Buddha statue is particularly exquisitely made.

By Wandering |

Very pleasantly surprised, amazing in every way. Mainly because it is so magnificent, newly built, but very well built. There is only one bus from Pingguoyuan subway station to Yubai every day, and then you can only walk through the village to go up the mountain. But a kind sister in the village helped us stop a passing Land Rover and let the brother take us up the mountain. (We also had to take a ride back to the city on Yanchi when we went down the mountain. Yubai only has one bus every morning, so if you don’t drive and no one gives you a ride, you will never return that day😊)

By If the cloud knew |

Beijing Baipu Temple was first built in the early years of the Qiantong Period of the Liao Dynasty. It is an ancient Liao Dynasty temple with a history of more than 900 years where Buddhism and Taoism coexist. It is located in the boundary of Yubai Village, Yanchi Town, Mengoutou District, Beijing. People in Beijing say that Tanzhe Temple came first and then Beijing City, while locals firmly believe that Baipu Temple came first and then Tanzhe Temple. There are still three gatehouses and main halls left. This tower was built in the sixth year of the Huangtong Period of the Jin Dynasty (1146). The tower is 10 meters high and solid with a hexagonal structure. The lower part is a dense eaves style and the upper part is a covered bowl style. The tower has three layers of dense eaves, and double layers of upturned lotus on the dense eaves support the covered bowl. This tower is a tower shape that transitions from dense eaves to covered bowl style. It is a rare and precious tower type in China and a masterpiece of dense eaves towers in the Jin Dynasty. Since 2000, Baipu Temple has been rebuilt for 17 years. Rubble has been lifted from the ruins and cypress has been planted in the void. With the harmony of all factors, the thousand-year-old temple shines again.

By Yunshan |

We chartered a car and walked to Baipu Temple. There is a repaired road in front of the temple, so you can drive here. The temple is currently undergoing major renovations. The scenery is nice, and there are not many people, and there is no business model, but I don’t know what will happen in the future.

By jkmeil |

Baipu Temple is located in Yubai Village, Yanchi Town, Mengoutou District, Beijing. It is an ancient temple of the Liao Dynasty with a history of more than 900 years, where Buddhism and Taoism coexist. It was built in the early years of the Qiantong Period of the Liao Dynasty, and the Liao Dynasty ancient tower still exists. This tower was built in the sixth year of the Huangtong Period of the Jin Dynasty (1146). The tower is 10 meters high and has a solid hexagonal shape. The tower is a transitional tower from dense eaves to covered bowls. It is a rare and precious tower type in China and a masterpiece of the dense eaves tower of the Jin Dynasty.