Mentougou, once a remote mountainous region, has transformed.

As Beijing's only purely mountainous district, Mentougou's tourism resources can be categorized into four types: ancient western roads, famous temples, traditional villages, and natural landscapes. Historically, the ancient western roads of Beijing included military routes built by the government, commercial paths for coal transportation and mule caravans, and pilgrimage routes to temples. The existing ruins of these ancient roads stretch nearly 300 kilometers. The Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area in Shuiyuzui Village, Miaofeng Mountain Town, is a 3A-rated scenic spot. Besides the 3-li-long ancient road, it also features an ancient road museum and the first pass, Niujiaoling. Additionally, within the Julingxia Scenic Area in Qingshui Town, there's the Lingshan Ancient Road, the starting point for climbing Donglingshan, the "Roof of Beijing." Among the famous western mountains, there are many ancient temples. Within Mentougou, the most worthwhile temples to visit are the 4A-rated Tanzhe Temple and Jietai Temple. Tanzhe Temple, considered the origin of Beijing, was first built during the Western Jin Dynasty's Yongjia period. It's known as the first Buddhist temple in Youzhou and received royal patronage during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple boasts numerous attractions, from its architecture to its flowers and trees. Jietai Temple in Yongding Town was built during the Sui and Tang dynasties. The temple houses well-preserved Liao Dynasty Buddhist relics, including pagodas, scripture pillars, and ordination platforms. Five famous pine trees and prestigious peonies add to the temple's allure. Cuandixia Village in Zhaitang Town is Mentougou's most famous scenic spot. This ancient village on the western commercial road was once home to the Han clan. Its well-preserved Ming and Qing courtyard complexes have long been popular among artists and filmmakers. Mentougou's traditional villages are not limited to Cuandixia. Gushan Village, a 4A-rated scenic spot in Miaofeng Mountain Town; Malan Village, a red tourism village in Zhaitang Town; Yanhecheng Village, which originated as a military garrison; Lingshui Village, a 3A-rated scenic spot with eight scenic views; Shuangshitou Village, a stone village in the Cuanbai Scenic Area along with Cuandixia; and Baiyu Village, where ancient military music is preserved, are all worth a visit. Mountains form the backbone of Mentougou, and the rivers flowing through its valleys are its lifeblood. Mentougou's natural scenic areas are distributed among these mountains and rivers. Baihuashan Scenic Area is located within the Baihuashan National Nature Reserve. Its main attractions include Baihuashan Peak, Baihua Meadow, Wanghailou, and Baicao'an, each with its own unique features. Shuanglongxia Scenic Area in Zhaitang Town attracts summer visitors with its 10-li stream and numerous waterfalls, as well as thousands of mu of red apricots and vast forests. The 4A-rated Baqidou Cave, located one li from Tanzhe Temple, is a natural underground labyrinth. Shenquanxia in Miaofeng Mountain Town and Guacaodi Scenic Area in Wangping Town, both with unique geological formations, are known for their icefalls. Many scenic spots in Mentougou blend natural beauty and cultural heritage, such as the previously mentioned Julingxia with its ancient Lingshan Road. The fourteen temples on Miaofeng Mountain, led by the Niangniang Temple, have always been popular pilgrimage sites. Even if you're not religious, the area's sunrises, sunsets, unusual pine trees, strange rocks, and thousands of mu of roses are worth seeing. The Cuanbai Scenic Area not only includes cultural attractions like Cuandixia and Baiyu Village but also features the 1,773-meter-high Huangcaoliang and a narrow erosion canyon known as "Yixiantian" (A Thread of Sky). The name of the former Huayan ancestral temple, Baipu Temple in Yanchi Town, reflects its blend of natural and cultural elements. Due to its geographical location and limited transportation, in the past, only a few merchants, soldiers, and pilgrims traveled the ancient western roads of Mentougou. Today, it's no longer remote. A five-yuan ride on the BRT Line 4 from Fuchengmen takes only an hour to reach Dayu Subdistrict, where the Mentougou District government is located. The S1 Line maglev train is even faster. Multiple bus routes starting with "M" can also reach most of Mentougou's major scenic areas.