Silver Pagoda Loop | The Silver Pagodas stand on the site of a temple first built during the Tang Dynasty
The Silver Pagodas stand on the site of a temple first built during the Tang Dynasty

Silver Pagoda Loop

Follow a trail through the Changping countryside, passing villages, quarries, and a local shrine on the way to the Silver Pagodas, a set of five well-preserved 600-year-old pagodas that are all that remains of a big Buddhist temple.

Level 3
Moderately difficult with one big climb. (Can I do it?)
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Booking info

Private tour: Silver Pagoda Loop

From ¥550 per person

For cost details please see the table of prices and inclusions

The Silver Pagodas are a set of five large pagodas that sit on a temple site that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). The pagodas were built in the 1400’s, and below each of the pagodas are the interred remains of an important monk.

The silver bells of the pagodas used to ring in the breeze, and are the source of the name of this peaceful spot. The foundations of the temples remain, but the structures of the temples are long gone, burned during war.

Several villages can be found in the hills around the pagodas, and old folkways make it possible to do a loop walk around Silver Mountain, peaking at a mountaintop observation platform and finishing with a stroll by the pagodas.

Prices and inclusions

Prices

* Discounts available for larger groups.
Group size 2 3 4 5-7 8-9 10+*
Price
per person
¥1,300 ¥920 ¥750 ¥680 ¥600 ¥550

Inclusions

English-speaking Beijing Hikers guide • Round-trip transport in private vehicle from central Beijing • Tickets and entry fees • Bottled water, snacks, lunch and drinks • Hiking sticks

Not included: surprise shopping trips.

Hiking around the Silver Pagodas

Our favourite version of the hike is a 10km loop around Silver Mountain.

We start off with a walk through a small village, stopping for a quick look at a 300-year-old performance stage. After walking through the village we'll follow a slowly ascending path through the countryside, passing an isolated shrine, fields, and concrete water reservoirs as we circle Silver Mountain.

The path takes us into a small village on the other side of the ridge, and we'll follow dirt streets through its outskirts, walking past donkeys and old stone houses on the way to the chestnut orchards behind the village.

An ancient pine tree and a shrine to Zhong Kui, sited on a small hill
An ancient pine tree and a shrine to Zhong Kui, sited on a small hill. (Click for larger image)

Around the hill behind the village we'll find what's called the "Valley of Mercy", and this is where the path starts to get a lot steeper, heading past more quarries and following a hillside trail up to the top of Holly Mountain. The valley is not too merciful to the legs. It's quite a good climb!

Towards the top we'll find the Silver Pagoda park trail, and climb its steps to the viewing platform at the top. We can look down on the pagodas from there, and will have an unobstructed 360° view of the surrounding mountain peaks and countryside.

From the top we'll follow stairs of the park trail down to the pagodas.

To finish the hike we'll walk a side trail through the hills to get back to the village where we began.

Shorter versions of this hike are also possible.

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