Forest hideaways

By Peng Kuang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-26 10:13

Labagoumen village is in northernmost Huairou district on the Hebei border, a three-hour drive from downtown Beijing. It is in the midst of a beautiful landscape where grow Beijing's biggest forests in which birch trees predominate.

Labagoumen marks the point where the vast North China Plain gives way to Yanshan Mountain, which shields the capital from northern cold fronts in winter.

The temperature in Labagoumen is at least 5 C lower in spring and summer than in urban centers. The birch-white and grassland green shades in which the village bathes offers a cool ambience that could calm the savage breast of the most desperate urban escapee.

But green and white changes to rambler plant-red and birch leaf-yellow in autumn. Village communities are also graced with oak, walnut, pine and poplar trees that combine to wreathe the village in autumnal splendor.

Scientists that the forests attract have so far discovered more than 100 endangered species around the village. Certain rare funguses in the area have also proven suitable medicine ingredients. Labagoumen Nature Reserve was set up in 1999 to protect its endangered species. Agricultural and hunting activities on the reserve are banned.

Cars may be driven as far as the foot of mountain, just before the birch forest. As neither camping nor cooking is permitted, your best bet is to stay at the village guesthouse.

(China Daily 06/26/2008 page19)