Tianzhu Shan

Tianzhu Mountain is located in Qianshan City in southwest Anhui Province. This scenic area is renowned for its majestic peaks, secluded caves, unique pines, and peculiar rocks, and is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Tianzhu Mountain offers breathtaking beauty, thrilling adventures, and endless fun. You can hike to the summit to admire Tianzhu Peak from afar, traverse the exhilarating Qinglong Ridge, explore ancient passes and fortresses, delve into Mystery Valley, or enjoy a panoramic view of the stunning Liandan Lake. The sea of clouds at Tianzhu Mountain is also a spectacular sight.

Travel tips

Spring, summer and fall are the best seasons to visit Tianzhu Mountain. The attraction mainly consists of the west and east sections, with three typical routes: the small west loop, the new west route, and the grand loop. The small west loop is relatively easy and suitable for visitors with less than a day. The new west route is a classic itinerary covering the entire west section, requiring a full day. The grand loop allows you to enjoy both sections' scenery but demands good physical condition, so a two-day hike is recommended.

The south gate is the main entrance to the attraction. However, after purchasing admission tickets at the visitor center, there is a mountain road leading to the south gate. Visitors can take the scenic bus to the lower station of the cableway. Currently, Tianzhu Mountain has three operating cableways: Muyanghe cableway (cableway 1), Dalongwo cableway (cableway 3), and Longtanhe cableway (cableway 4).

Tour guide

From the south gate, you can either hike or take the Dalongwo cableway to ascend the mountain. It is recommended to take the cableway up to avoid a less scenic section. After the cableway ride, there are two diverging paths leading to Zongguanzhai or Shenmigu (mystery valley). It's suggested to take Shenmigu, where massive rocks form various caves, then visit Feilaifeng (flying peak) and Tianzhufeng (heavenly pillar peak), before returning via Zongguanzhai for descent. This forms the west gate small loop route.

Tianzhu peak stands at an elevation of approx. 1,488 m and cannot be climbed, only admired from a distance. However, it remains shrouded in clouds and mist for approx. half of the year, so spotting it depends on luck. Crossing the "Immortal crossing bridge" leads to the summit of Tianchi peak, which offers one of the best vantage points for viewing Tianzhu peak. On clear days, this spot provides expansive views and serves as an excellent location for watching sunrises, sea of clouds, and sunsets.

After viewing Feilai peak and Tianzhu peak, if time permits, you can continue along the new route to admire Penglai peak, visit Baiyue platform, then pass by Writing desk - Immortal cave - Qinglong ridge - Qinglong pavilion - Lotus peak, and reach Liandan lake. If you have good stamina, you can continue descending via Huamei ridge - Yingzhen peak - Dansha pavilion - Tianzhu mountain villa route. If you have two days and are in good physical condition, you may choose to stay overnight at Tianzhu mountain villa and explore Dongguan the next day.

The Qinglong ridge is a massive, narrow mountain ridge on Tianzhu mountain, offering an exhilarating walk that leads to the Wanjing platform, a viewing deck surrounded by cliffs on three sides. Standing on the platform amidst swirling clouds and mist feels like soaring through the skies. Nestled on the mountainside, the Liandan lake is another breathtaking attraction of Tianzhu mountain. The view from above is especially stunning, and you can also descend to stroll along its shores.

As the saying goes, "the east route is perilous while the west route is scenic." The east route presents greater climbing challenges than the west route, featuring more steps carved directly into bare boulders with often bottomless cliffs on one side, requiring extra caution. It's particularly demanding on physical stamina (the east route sequence: Immortal peach rock - Warbler ridge - Echo platform - Thousand-zhang cliff - Great heaven gate - Magpie bridge - Mysterious valley ladder - East gate).

Da Tianmen is a valley between two mountain peaks, featuring a long and steep stone staircase that ascends imposingly towards the sky, making it the most physically demanding section of the Dongguan route. The Queqiao bridge beyond Da Tianmen is even more perilous, with cliffs on one side and a sheer drop on the other. Although guarded by iron railings, extreme caution is required when crossing. The Qigu ladder is renowned for its steepness and narrowness, resembling a "thread of sky" in some sections, where climbers must use both hands and feet to pass through.