Dragon Cloud Mountain

Cross the White River to get on to the trail that leads up to the Ghost House atop Dragon Cloud Mountain, and then follow a winding gravel road down the back of the mountain to finish.

Level 3

3–4 hours start to finish over 7km. (Can I do it?)

This hike is not currently scheduled

Contact us for schedule updates or set up a private hike

Once upon a time, Dragon Cloud Mountain was one of the many scenic areas hidden away in Beijing’s mountains. Now, with the park entrance boarded up, the views of the surrounding cliffs, canyons, and boulders are more or less forgotten. But not by us!

We’ll ford the White River and pass through a cave to find the stairs that lead up to the top.

The climb up to the top is fairly steep, but after a while – and maybe a few stops for rests – we’ll be up on top and enjoying the excellent views.

As we reach the top of the hill, we’ll pass the ‘haunted house,’ left over from a film production – from a distance it looks like a regular house with a great view of the canyon; getting closer we can see that the construction is not so sturdy.

After visiting the haunted house we will continue to walk in the hills, passing old terraces, and heading for the local ‘heavenly lake,’ a reservoir high up in the hills.

What to bring on this hike

• Lunch and snacks
• Sun protection: hat, long-sleeved shirt
• A bottle of sports drink with salt content (Gatorade, Pocari Sweat)
• Rain jacket or poncho just in case
• Good hiking boots
• (Click here to read our full What to Bring on a Hike list)

Reasons you might not like this hike

• It’s a fairly short hike, but the climb up to the reservoir and the haunted house is quite steep – perhaps tough if you’re not used to hiking.