Tiantai Mountain Tourist Attraction(Tiantai Mountain National Forest Park)
成都天台山旅游景区
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No. 15 of Cool Water Escapes in SichuanOpening hours of Tiantai Mountain Tourist Attraction
Tiantai Mountain Tourist Attraction Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions
Tiantai Mountain Tourist Attraction is located in Qionglai, the first city west of Chengdu on the ancient Southern Silk Road. It is approx. 110 km from downtown Chengdu, with its main peak, Yuxiao Peak, standing at 1,812 m. It is part of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, a national scenic area, a national forest park, and a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. It is also one of the top eight global destinations for firefly viewing.TiantaishanOriginally known as Dongmeng mountain, it is said to have been the site where Emperor Yu offered sacrifices to heaven during his flood control efforts, earning the name "Yu Gong Meng mountain." Historically, the mountain was shared by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, with over 100 temples, Taoist shrines, and official residences at its peak. The attraction features a box-shaped synclinal mountain, roughly forming a U-shape resembling a westward-facing "chair." The mountain rises from low to high, creating three terraces: Yitian terrace, Ertian terrace, and Zhengtian terrace, showcasing the distinctive scenery of "each terrace ascending to the heavens." Renowned for its "unique peaks, bizarre rocks, beautiful waters, serene forests, and enchanting clouds," the area boasts "ninety-mile rivers with eight hundred streams, nine thousand peculiar rocks and two thousand peaks," with approx. 95% forest coverage and abundant flora and fauna. "The higher the mountain, the higher the water," as the Jinlong river meanders down from the highest peak, Yuxiao peak, creating scenic water features like long beaches, cascading streams, waterfalls, and alpine lakes, along with phenomena like low-altitude sea of clouds and Buddha's halo. It is celebrated as "no need to see water after visiting Jiuzhaigou, no need to play with water after visiting Tiantai," making it a mountainous summer retreat famous for high-altitude water activities and nighttime firefly viewing, as well as a biodiversity-focused natural attraction for science education.
Recommended half-day tour routes for Tiantai Mountain attraction
Route 1: Visitor center > (approx. 15 min by vehicle) > Yitiantai (visit the firefly micro museum, check in at the Tiantai mountain gate, approx. 40 min tour) > (walking) > Wanshui bridge > Changhong waterfall > Shenfeng cave > Xiangshuitan waterfall > Zushi bridge (approx. 1.5 hr walking tour at Yitiantai) > Ertiantai (check in at the silk road post station, Tiantai mountain geology micro museum) > (approx. 25 min by vehicle) > Visitor center (return).
Route 2: Visitor center > (approx. 15 min by vehicle) > Yitiantai (visit the firefly micro museum, check in at the Tiantai mountain gate, approx. 40 min tour) > (approx. 30 min by vehicle, passing by Changhong waterfall, geology museum, inverted boot stone, Huashi sea, Jinglun academy, etc.) > Zhengtiantai (check in at the Tianfu tree king,Hydrangea seaHigh-altitude forest plank road > butterfly beach > Bailong crossing (walking tour takes about 30 minutes) > (about 15 minutes' walk) > Zhengtian terrace > (about 40 minutes' drive) > visitor center (return).
Recommended 1-day tour routes for Tiantai Mountain attraction
Visitor center > Yiantai (visit the firefly micro museum and firefly research institute, check in at the Yiantai mountain gate) > (walking tour of Changhong waterfall, Shenfeng cave, the first waterfall in western Sichuan - Xiangshuitan waterfall,GuanyinqiaoEtc. Distance approx. 1.7 km.) > Ertiantai (check in at the silk road post station, visit the Tiantai mountain geology micro museum) > (approx. 3.6 km by vehicle) > Zhengtian terrace (visit Leiyin temple, Tianfu tree king - thousand-year-old yew,Hydrangea sea,Forest aerial walkway) > Bailong crossing (branch 1: Butterfly beach, Shibali fragrant grass gully to experience high-altitude water play fun, enjoy over 20 water interaction projects; branch route approx. 1.2 km. Branch 2: Visit Xiushui three charms, Panlong waterfall; branch route approx. 2.2 km) > Zhengtian terrace (approx. 14 km by vehicle) > Visitor center.
Recommended 2-day tour routes for Tiantai Mountain attraction
First day
Tiantai mountain visitor center > accommodation > Yitiantai Xiaojiawan mountain gate > (visit the firefly micro museum and firefly research institute, check in at the Tiantai mountain gate) > (walking tour: attractions along the ancient southern silk road including Changhong suspension bridge, Changhong waterfall, Shenfeng cave, Xiangshuitan waterfall, etc. Distance approx. 1.7 km) > Ertiantai (check in at the silk road post station, visit the geology micro museum) > Ancient southern silk road (Tang dynasty pilgrimage route) > (walking tour to attractions including Tang dynasty great Buddha, Tianfeng gorge, Drunk stone maze, Ginseng tree, Small mill, etc. Distance approx. 1.2 km) > (take vehicle from Small mill station to Zhengtian terrace, approx. 10 min drive) > Zhengtian terrace (walking tour to Leiyin temple, Tianfu tree king - thousand-year-old yew,Hydrangea sea, forest skywalkButterfly beach and other attractions; distance approx. 1 km > Bailong crossing (branch 1: Shibali fragrant grass gully, experience high-altitude water play fun, enjoy over 20 water interaction projects, distance approx. 1.2 km; branch 2: Xiushui three charms, walking tour to Tiantai Mountain Tourist Attraction - Guifei pool, fragrant grass stacked stream, moon cave flying water, Panlong waterfall and other attractions, distance approx. 2.2 km) > Zhengtian terrace > Accommodation (dinner) > Firefly viewing spots (Xiaojiawan/Denglean/Zhengtian terrace) > Accommodation (late-night snack, entertainment, rest).
Day 2
Accommodation → Huangjiang rock/Yehe ridge/Yinding peak (sunrise and sea of clouds viewing) → Accommodation (breakfast) → Monk's yamen (walking tour through ten-li shaded avenue,Stone lion from the Ming dynastyAttractions such as the monk yamen and the southern silk road poetry corridor (approx. 1.3 km away) → sandao bay entrance (walking tour includes the jinglun academy ruins, yingyue bridge, and camellia corridor)Dieyin springAttractions, distance approx. 3 km) → Sandao bay exit → Accommodation (lunch, check-out) → Tiantai mountain visitor center →Red Army Long March memorial hall(VisitRed Army Long March memorial hallAttractions such as the site of the Shita District Soviet Government, the Southern Song Dynasty Shakyamuni Tathagata True Body Pagoda, and the Digital Memorial Hall of the Long March of the Red Army → Return.