Fanjingshan 梵净山Fànjìngshān

Why go to Fanjingshan

Fanjingshan rises to about 2,570 m at the heart of the Wuling Mountains and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018, with relict forests and species such as the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the Fanjingshan fir that live nowhere else. It is also a Buddhist mountain, traditionally linked with Maitreya, and the walk takes in Mushroom Rock and the Old and New Golden Summits, with temples and shrines on and below the rock pinnacles. A shuttle bus and cable car from the east gate shorten the climb, but it is still a full day out.

The story

The name is short for Fantian Jingtu, 'Brahma's Pure Land'. The mountain appears in records from the Han dynasty under other names, and by the early Ming it was a famed Buddhist mountain; in 1618 the Wanli Emperor ordered its temples rebuilt after they had fallen into decline following a rebellion in 1599.

What to see at Fanjingshan

• East gate cable car 东线索道: The shuttle bus and cable car carry you to the summit area in about 20 minutes, skipping a 4–5 hour climb.
• Mushroom Rock 蘑菇石: A sandstone pillar about 10 m high, broad on top and narrow below, the best-known of the weathered rock formations near Old Golden Summit.
• Old Golden Summit 老金顶: At about 2,494 m, a pilgrimage peak with a small hall to the Burning Lamp Buddha on its crest; it is one of the places that make up the mountain's Maitreya pilgrimage.
• Cheng'en Temple 承恩寺: A temple at the foot of Old Golden Summit that received its imperial name when the Wanli Emperor ordered the mountain's temples rebuilt in 1618.
• Red Clouds Golden Summit 红云金顶: The slender New Golden Summit, about 2,336 m, separated from Old Golden Summit by a gorge and crowned by halls to Shakyamuni and Maitreya; it is climbed in roughly an hour by steep steps and chains, with a timed booking.

How to visit Fanjingshan

Take the shuttle and cable car from the east gate, where over 90% of visitors enter, then follow the wooden trail to Mushroom Rock and Old Golden Summit. Red Clouds Golden Summit is a separate steep climb, so book your slot as soon as you arrive. Exploring the summit area takes 5–6 hours; if time is short, do the Red Clouds climb alone. Eating options on the mountain are limited, so bring snacks and water.

How to get to Fanjingshan

High-speed trains from Guiyang reach Tongren South station in about 1.5 hours; the east gate in Jiangkou county is then about an hour by road. A west gate on the Yinjiang side is the mountain's other entrance.

Where to stay

Stay in Jiangkou county at the foot of the mountain, close to the east gate, for an early start; Tongren is the larger alternative with trains.

What to eat

• Jiangkou rice tofu 江口米豆腐: Soft cubes of rice jelly made from local rice and plant-ash lye, served in a spicy, savoury sauce; a Jiangkou local snack.
• Jiangkou radish pig 江口萝卜猪: Pork from a small local breed raised on the lower slopes of Fanjingshan and named for its radish-like shape; a Jiangkou speciality.

Tips for visiting Fanjingshan

• Entry needs real-name advance booking online with a daily visitor cap; peak dates sell out, so book about a week ahead and bring your passport.
• Red Clouds Golden Summit has its own timed-slot booking, made by QR code on the mountain (for example at Pudu Square), and missing your slot means rebooking and queueing again.
• Mist is frequent and winter trails can be cold and icy, with closures possible; avoid May Day and National Day weeks for the shortest queues.

Nearby

• Fenghuang Ancient Town 凤凰古城 90 km
  Stilt houses leaning over the Tuo River in a town that glows after dark

Also within 30 km: Yamugou Valley 亚木沟 (20 km), Zhaiying Ancient Town, Songtao 寨英古镇 (20 km), Yunshe Village 云舍村 (20 km).

On the map

Open Fanjingshan on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• Wikipedia (Chinese)