Fragrant Hills

Fragrant Hills is a park just outside Beijing to the north-west. It is both an ornamental garden, with bright flower beds, lakes, and temples and pavilions, and the gateway to the more rugged hills behind. After the hour long bus ride from our apartment the final walk to the park entrance is up a friendly, low-key street lined with snack and souvenir shops.


Road up to Fragrant Hills
The summit of Incense-Burner Hill is the destination for many of the Chinese visitors. It's quite a climb, but most, both young and old, seem to like the hike. We took the chair-lift...


Xiangshan Chairlift
... as did this young bubble-blowing child on the way down.


Bubbles
There are views of the city, and back into the hills, from the summit, although it was rather hazy today.


Incense-Burner Hill Summit
There is a good bird's-eye view of the park on the way down. The Glazed Tile Pagoda is a centerpiece of the park.


Glazed Tile Pagoda from Chairlift
Back down, this is the Study of Reading Heart pavilion with a pond of large Koi and bags of pellets to feed them.


Koi Pond

Feeding the Koi
The Glazed Tile Pagoda is close by.


Glazed Tile Pagoda and Distant City


Detail


Glazed Tiles