Western Hills|china guides

Western Hills, which are 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Kunming, are actually a range consisting of four mountains: Biji, Luohan, Huating, and Taiping. Viewed from a distance, the skyline of the Western Hills' forest reserve resembles a beautiful maiden reclining leisurely alongside of Dianchi Lake with her long hair drifting casually in the mirror-like water. It is for this reason that the local people gave the Western Hills the nickname, Sleeping Beauty Hills.

The Western Hills stretches along more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Dianchi Lake and rise to an altitude of 2,350 meters (7,710 feet). The panoramic views from these hills are unforgettably beautiful and you will certainly want to bring your camera to capture these glorious scenes.

As well as having some of the best temples in the area, the Western Hills are also home to remarkable steles, sculptures, corridors, grottoes, pavilions and pathways. These are all works of art that were hewn and carved from the rocky cliffs by hand. They form the bequest of the marvelous craftsmanship, ingenious ideas, and dedicated work created by artists, craftsperson and laborers of the past.

The most famous four places on the Western Hills are: Huanting Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Pavilion and Dragon Gate.