Fanjingshan - A Hidden Gem in Guizhou
In the southwestern corner of China, there stands a mountain praised as the "Heaven on Earth" - Fanjingshan in Guizhou. It is the real-life version of the floating mountains in "Avatar," hiding the most mysterious realm at 30th parallel north. As the main peak of the Wuling Mountains, with an altitude of 2,572 meters, the mountain is perpetually shrouded in clouds, resembling a fairyland. If you are planning a trip there, refer to this Mount Fanjing travel guide to fully enjoy your trip.
Guizhou Fanjingshan Facts
Fanjingshan Temples
Fanjingshan (also called Fanjing Mountain or Mount Fanjing), the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Guizhou, has been well-known since ancient times as the dharma realm of Maitreya Bodhisattva. Temples abound here, with 84 temples currently open to the public. Centered around the Golden Summit of Fanjing Mountain, these temples are built around the mountain, forming a unique landscape like stars surrounding the moon.
With numerous ancient monasteries surrounding it, the dharma realm is solemn. It is particularly famous for the Four Great Imperial Temples of Tianqing Temple, Huguo Temple, Cheng'en Temple, and Chaotian Temple. Additionally, there are 48 small monasteries, such as Bamei Temple, Baiyun Temple, and Tianma Temple. >> Read more about the top ten temples and monasteries in ChinaFanjingshan Temples History
The history of Buddhist temples on Fanjingshan can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, with continuous development throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Buddhism was initially introduced to Fanjing Mountain in the Tang Dynasty, during which temples began to be established. During the Song and Yuan periods, Buddhism gradually flourished. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Buddhism there reached its heyday, with the construction of the Red Cloud Golden Summit temple complex and the Four Imperial Temples.
From the late Qing Dynasty to the People’s Republic of China period, the temples on Fanjingshan were severely damaged due to wars. But after multiple reconstructions, especially the government-funded restoration efforts since 1984, they have been preserved to this day. The existing buildings, constructed with stone blocks, integrate natural scenery with religious imagery, demonstrating the harmonious coexistence of Buddhist culture with the natural environment.Must-see Attractions in Fanjingshan
Mushroom Rock
The 10-meter-tall Mushroom Rock is a landmark attraction of Fanjingshan, which cannot be missed during your Guizhou tours to Fanjing Mountain. It is composed of layered metamorphic rocks. It has a larger upper part and a smaller lower part yet has stood stably for hundreds of millions of years.
Red Cloud Golden Summit
This peak of Fanjingshan stands at an altitude of 2,336 meters, with a vertical height difference of about 94 meters. The mountain path is rugged and steep, making it challenging to ascend. However, once you reach the summit, you'll see the most stunning scenery with clouds swirling around, resembling a fairyland. Besides, the summit is connected by a sky bridge, with Sakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Buddha enshrined on either side.
Old Golden Summit
The old golden summit of Fanjingshan is famous for its "strangeness" and is a typical sedimentary rock landform. Due to geological movements and compression, the rocks have formed vertical fractures, and the exposed rocks have various shapes, resembling waffle cookies, soaring eagles, mushrooms, and more, which are truly attractive.
Things to Do in Fangjingshan
Hike Fanjingshan
Fanjingshan is one of the best places for hiking in China, allowing you to measure the beauty of this fairyland with your feet. The whole journey of hiking takes about 4 hours, which is to some degree challenging but definitely rewarding. To hike the classic "Ten Thousand Steps Cloud Ladder" route in its entirety, you need to climb from the foot of the mountain to the top along steep stone steps. Some sections of the trail have nearly vertical slopes, which demand high physical fitness.
View the Sunrise at the Summit
The sunrise over Fanjingshan is a magnificent spectacle. In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight strikes the mountain peak, bathing the entire valley in a golden glow, which is extremely enchanting. When you stand at the top of the mountain, watching the sun slowly rise from within the sea of clouds, you may feel as if time has come to a standstill at that moment. The best place to view the sunrise is from the Red Cloud Golden Summit, where you can gaze out at the breathtaking beauty of Fanjingshan with an unobstructed view.
Admire Peculiar Peaks and Rocks
Fanjingshan in China greets visitors with many unique peaks and rock landscapes, among which the most famous are the Golden Summit and the Mushroom Rock. The Golden Summit is the highest peak of Fanjingshan, from which you can overlook the stunning scenery surrounding you. Mushroom Rock resembles a giant mushroom and stands in the mountains with a peculiar posture. Besides, there are more peculiar land formations like Scissors Gorge and Dripping Water Cliff waiting for you to discover.
Immerse in the Buddhist Culture
Fanjing Mountain is a sacred place for Buddhists. Every year on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, a grand Buddhist event is held there, attracting thousands of believers to gather here and promote Buddhist culture. You can take a cable car to Fanjingshan’s temples and admire the buildings as well as the Buddhist culture. Furthermore, various cultural activities like meditation, chanting, and Buddhist talks offer an opportunity to experience Buddhist culture and achieve inner peace amid daily chaos.
Explore the Primitive Forest
Mt. Fanjingshan boasts the best-preserved primitive forest at this latitude on Earth, making it a paradise for ecology enthusiasts. Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve preserves the ecosystem of a mid-subtropical isolated mountain range and is the only habitat for rare species such as Qianjin Monkeys and Fanjingshan Fir. As you wander through this primitive forest, you may occasionally catch a glimpse of these rare animals.
Best Time to Visit Fanjingshan
Fanjingshan is open all year round, but the best time to visit there is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), during which the weather of Fanjing Mountain is pleasant, making it ideal for hiking. In spring, with blooming flowers and cloud scenery, this mountain becomes a fairyland on Earth. In autumn, the red leaves and sea of clouds complement each other, creating a breathtaking view. Additionally, you can experience the harvest activities of the Miao villages.
Fanjingshan is also a great place for summer retreats, but there are frequent showers and high humidity in summer. As winter approaches, the mountain is blanketed by snow, presenting a tranquil landscape. However, some trails are closed and there are extreme temperature differences in winter, which is not comfortable for hiking and climbing.
How to Visit Fanjingshan
There are two common routes to tour Fanjingshan: the east route is easy and has a cable car; the west route is physically challenging and requires hiking. If permitted, you can start from the West Gate and exit from the East Gate to avoid crowds, with a relatively moderate level of physical exertion.
Recommended Travel Route 1: West Gate Tourist Center→Ten Thousand-meter Sleeping Buddha→Cotton Fluff Ridge→Dark Alley→Scissors Gorge→Dripping Water Cliff→Old Golden Summit→Mushroom Rock→Pudu Square→Red Cloud Golden Summit→Chengen Temple, then take the cable car downhill to exit at the East Gate.
Recommended Travel Route 2: East Gate Tourist Center→Take the sightseeing bus to the cable car station→Take the cable car to descend→Pudu Square →Red Cloud Golden Summit→Chengen Temple→Pudu Square→Mushroom Rock→Old Golden Summit→Buddha Worship Platform→West Gate
Practical Tips
How to Get to Fanjingshan
To get to Fanjingshan in Guizhou, you can take a flight or a bullet train to Tongren, which is 65 km from Fanjingshan, or to Guiyang, which is 300 km away.
Tongren to Fanjingshan
There are direct tourist buses for you to get to Fanjingshan from Tongren. Make your way to Tongren Tourist Bus Station, and take the tourist route to Fanjingshan. Just note that there are frequent buses to the East Gate of Fanjingshan Mountain (costs 35 yuan) but only 1 bus to the West Gate, which departs at 2:00 PM and costs 55 yuan.
Guiyang to Fanjingshan
You can take a train from Guiyang North Railway Station to Tongren Railway Station, which costs 147 yuan. Then walk for 5 minutes to the Tongren Tourist Bus Station and take a bus to Fanjing Mountain. Besides, you can also charter a car to Fanjingshan, with a cost about 400 yuan.
Plan Your Fanjingshan Tour with ETC
Are you expecting to travel to Fanjingshan in Guizhou? You can travel with Easy Tour China, a tour company in China with local expertise of Guizhou travel. Below is our highlighted Guizhou tour package including Mount Fanjingshan.
Feel free to contact us if you want a customized tour of Fanjingshan.
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