Sightseeing Spots in Mount Qingcheng(Qingchengshan)

Mount Qingcheng is divided into Front Mountain and Back Mountain. Front Mountain is famous for its cultural monuments, and Back Mountain for its forests and waterfalls. If you come to Mount Qingcehng, you have to travel the following famous sights: Heaven Master Cave and Shangqing Palace on Front Mountain, which are the famous Taoist temples in China; Longyin Gorge Plank on the midstream of Wulong Valley, which is regarded as the most beautiful section of Mount Qingcheng; Tai’an Old Town is surrounding Tai’an Temple, which is the witness of people there reconstructing their home after earthquake.
After finishing visiting Mount Qingcheng, if you still want to visit more, you can go visit old towns, Dujiangyan (these two sights are both with thousands of years of history) and Hongkou Nature Preserve, etc.

Tickets

Front Mountain: 90 Yuan per person
Back Mountain: 20 Yuan per person
Wanfo Cave on Back Mountain: 5 Yuan per person
Crystal Cave on Back Mountain: 10 Yuan per person
Opening Time: Peak Season (March 2 to November 30) 8 AM to 5 PM; Slack Season (December 1 to March 1) 8 AM to 6 PM

Front Mountain Sightseeing spots

Usually when we mention Mount Qingcheng sights, the sights are mostly on Front Mountain. Mount Qingcheng is the famous Taoist mountain, and there are more cultural monuments and relics on Front Mountain. The mountainous path is not dangerous and haggard, so we suggest those who are the first time coming here or those with weak physical condition should climb Front Mountain first. On the mountain there are many Taoist temples. You can feel the profound culture here, or you can make a wish here, or you can enjoy the historical relics.

Route Recommendation

The Gate of Front Mountain—Yile House—Yuecheng Lake (Du Lake)–up to the mountain by cable car—Lingyun House—Shangqing Palace—Laojun Pavilion—down the mountain to Shangqing Pavilion—Zhaoyang Cave—Master Hall—Heaven Master Cave—Wudongtian—Ningcui Bridge—Shanyin Pavilion—Natural Picture Pavilion—Yile House—the Gate of Front Mountain

Jianfu Palace

You can see Jianfu Palace from the left side of the gate of Front Mountain. This palace was established in Tang Dynasty, and the couplet with 394 Chines characters on the pillar inside the hall is the most attractive, which is taken as “One Top of Mount Qingcheng”. The architecture of Jianfu Palace is old and full of profound history. Though it looks very ordinary in appearance, it will shock you when you go inside. Red lanterns hanging on the wall look attractive especially set off with the full garden of green. The surroundings are steep cliffs and lush trees, and it will make you feel standing in a picture. If you do not have enough time, you can just burn incense and worship there.

Heaven Master Cave

Heaven Master Cave, AKA Guchang Taoist Temple, is one of the main Taoist temples, as well as famous in China. It was established in Sui Dynasty, surrounded by mountains of three sides, and the environment there is very quiet. It is said that “Heaven Master” Zhang Daolin in East Han Dynasty, Sun Simiao and Du Guangting in Tang Dynasty were there for Taoist, and till today there are statues of “Heaven Master” Zhang Daolin and his 30th offspring “Xujing Heaven Master”.
It is said that “Old trees are hid in magnificent mountains”. Inside Heaven Master Cave there is an old ginkgo tree with history of thousands of years. It’s said that Master Zhang planted it by himself, now it grows tall and lush, especially beautiful in autumn, so you have to pay a visit when you come here.

Wudongtian

Wudongtian is between Natural Picture Pavilion and Heaven Master Cave, and it is the memorial arch you necessarily pass by if you climb the mountain. It is very quiet near the arch. Mount Qingcheng is titled as “the Fifth Cave” by the Taoist.

Natural Picture Pavilion

Natural Picture Pavilion is located on the ridge of the memorial arch on Longju Mountain, established During Guangxu Year in Qing Dynasty, which is a pavilion with ten eaves in the architecture of Qing Dynasty. You need to climb a section of steep steps before go up there. This is the “supply station” of climbing the mountain, because there are shops selling food, but they may be expensive.

Master Hall

Master Hall was first established in Jin Dynasty, and reconstructed in Qing Dynasty after it was ruined at the end of Ming Dynasty. It’s said that Tang poets like Du Guangting and Xue Chang, and Song poet Zhang Yu lived here in seclusion. Inside the hall there are statues of Zhenwu Emperor, Dongyue Emperor, Lv Dongbing and Zhang Sanfeng, fresco of Eight Immortal, sculptured poems and curved stones, etc. However, the mountainous path towards the hall is very dangerous and difficult, and it was terribly ruined after Wenchuan Earthquake, so it is very difficult for tourists to climb. If you choose to climb the main path to the hall, it will take you about one hour for round trip.

Laojun Pavilion

Laojun Pavilion is located on the top peak of Mount Qingcheng, in shape of pagoda with a sharp tip. There are nine floors, and there are eight eaves in every floor, standing for Taichi Eight Trigrams. In the pavilion, there is a statue of Laojun sitting on a lotus stand. After Wenchuan Earthquake, it was ruined terribly, but it was then rebuilt. From there, you can overlook the spectacular and beautiful scenery of the whole mountain.

Zhaoyang Cave

Zhaoyang Cave is located at the foot of the main peak. This cave is very deep and there are continuous drops dripping from the tip of the cave. Due to the geological features, this temple was built in the cave under the steep cliff, which is really spectacular.

Yuanming Palace

On the slight slope between Zhangren Mountain and Beimuyu Mountain on Mount Qingcheng, there is a statue of Yuanming Taoist Mother. There are four halls in the palace, including Lingzu Hall, Laojun Hall, Doumu Hall and Sanguan Hall. Maybe among such many temples in Mount Qingcheng, Yuanming Palace is not so outstanding, but it is very quiet, and not crowded, so it is a good place for you to have a rest, especially suitable for tourists who are fond of quietness.

Shangqing Palace

Shangqing Palace is at the end of the tour route in Mount Qingcheng, as well as the top peak of Mount Qingcheng, at the altitude of more than 1600 M. Inside the palace there are Laojun Hall, Sanqing Hall and Wenwu Hall, as well as many other old architectures and antique cultural relic. Standing there, among the misty cloud on the top of the mountain, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the whole mountain, like an immortal. If you go up along the stone steps behind the palace, you can see “Sunrise Pavilion” on the extreme top of Mount Qingcheng. From there, you can enjoy much more spectacular scenery.
Temple complexes of Shangqing Palace was built in Jin Dynasty, but after that they were ruined and rebuilt. Nowadays the palace we visit was rebuilt during Tongzhi Year in Qing Dynasty. There are many old cultural relics inside the palace, including Mandarin Duck Well, Magu Pool, Heaven Master Pool, Horse Riding Grassland, etc, as well as the pictures and curved stones created by Zhang Daqian, the painter, when he lived in Shangqing Palace. You can walk along the path and enjoy the pictures. If you feel tired of climbing the mountain, you can have a rest there and have a vegetarian meal, to taste the pickled vegetables made by those Taoists.

Yuecheng Lake

Yuecheng Lake is the waters you have to pass by before you climb Mount Qingcheng, with Yuecheng Mountain and Qinglong Slope standing nearby, which is as beautiful as a picture. The water of Yuecheng Lake is from the stream on the top of Mount Qingcheng, and it flows into the flat and wide valley, to become a wetland. If you want to go across this lake, you have you take a boat (ticket: 5 Yuan per person).

Quanzhen Temple

Quanzhen Temple is the first Taoist temple before you climb Mount Qingcheng, and there are “Quanzhen Seven Ancestral Creators” . There are Cihang Hall, Qizhen Hall and Wuzu Hall. There is the statue of Cihang Immortal in Cihang Hall; in Qizhen Hall there are seven statues of ancestral creator of Quanzhen Temple, including Qiu Chuji, Tan Chuduan, Ma Danyang, Liu Chuxuan, Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong and Sun Buer; in Wuzu Hall there are the statues of five Taoist Emperors. The scenery of Quanzhen Temple is very magnificent, because the splendid halls are surrounded by green trees. You will feel comfortable if you take a rest here for a little while. Fans of “The Legend of Condor Heroes” by Jin Yong cannot miss this place.

Nature Pavilion

Nature Pavilion is a small pavilion with three layers of eaves. What makes it magic lies in the pillars made by branches, and in the main structure of the pavilion on the tree. Vines are stretching around the tree—-a pavilion is made on the tree, which is really astonishing. At the end of the movie, Kungfu Panda 2, the panda’s birth father showed up beside the pavilion.

Back Mountain Sights

Back Mountain is developed later. Compared with the temples on Front Mountain, sights on Back Mountain are mostly original and charming mountainous scenery, which stands for “the great quietness in Mount Qingcheng”. Certainly the path for climbing the mountain is long and dangerous, but if you love climbing or you have enough time, you should make this a part of your trip. You need to walk up to the mountain, so you have to get up early, and it will take you a day to finish this trip.
The main sights of Back Mountain are in the two valleys. And the main sights in the valley are water, including springs and waterfalls. If you enjoy the scene of water, you cannot miss this place. The main sights: Santan Misty Spring, Longyin Gorge Plank and Another Village in Wulong Valley; Valley Flying Spring, Hundred Meters Long Bridge, Double Springs and Cuiying Lake in Flying Spring Valley. Maybe you have already visited splendid Jiuzhai Valley, but you will also be obsessed with the delicate flying springs and waterfalls.

Tai’an Old Town

Tai’an Old Town is the starting sight of all sights on Back Mountain scenic spot. In ancient time, Tai’an town was the important transit center of goods between Maowen and Jinchuan in Chengdu. Compared with others old towns in Sichuan, Tai’an is not so famous and not so crowded. After the reconstruction from Wenchuan Earthquake, this town is becoming a business area, but you can still feel the atmosphere of old town. At both sides of the street, there are all kinds of restaurants and street vendors, so if you want to taste local food like old bacon or bean curd, you can satisfy your appetite there. We suggest you visit Tai’an Old Town on working days rather than weekends or holidays, because you can feel much more cultural custom of the old town if it is not so crowded.

Tai’an Temple

This is an old and quiet temple in Tai’an Old Town, regarded as the landmark of Mount Qingcheng. Established in Tang Dynasty, old Tai’an Temple was ruined during Wenchuan Earthquake. In 2012, it was rebuilt and reopen, and a big ceremony was held there. Nowadays, this old temple is still quiet and delicate, attracting continuous believers coming here to burn incense and worship. Beside the temple, there is a stupa, three old monuments, and about ten strong old ginkgo, lauraceae machilus trees, and ormosia hosiei trees. In the front of the temple, there is an old post path, which is the necessary path from Guan County to Jinchuan.

Santan Misty Spring

It is called “Golden Baby Pool” by the local people, located at the midstream of Wulong Valley on Back Mountain. Santan means three levels of pools formed by stream water flowing into the rocks. Spring water pours down to the bottom of the valley and splashes waves, which is really splendid and makes it misty just like a fairy land. Due to misty fog, the mountainous path is very wet and slippery, so we suggest you walk on bare foot for the sake of safety.
Walking upward from Santan Misty Spring, you will arrive at Longyin Gorge. Mountains in Longyin Gorge is extremely dangerous and steep. At the bottom of the valley there is a deep stream, and two mountains at both sides are really close. The plank of Longyin Gorge is built along the mountain, which is like in the shape of winding snake. The plank is supported by the huge rock at the bottom of the valley. If you walk on the plank, you look down and can see the rapids of the river, which is really scary. However, the scenery of the plank is the most beautiful, so those who are brave enough had better to walk on it.

Another Village

Another Village is a village located at the half mountain, whose name is from Lu You’s poem, “Doubt there is no way at the end, another village jumps into my sight.” It is not difficult to imagine that in ancient time, when people climbed the mountain and were very tired, if they saw this “supply station” where they could take a rest, which really fits into the artistic conception in the poem. At present, Another Village is developed well. You can see various restaurants surrounded by lush and green trees. It is very comfortable to have a meal there. There are three byroads in Another Village, one is towards Jinli Cable way, other one is towards Baiyun Cable way, and another is to Peach Blossom Stream. If you need to go down the mountain, you should take Jinli Cable way. Due to the unclear road signs, you should be careful to not take the wrong way.

Cuiying Lake

Cuiying Lake is the mysterious land at Back Mountain, and is the small waters covered by forests, surrounded by green vegetation at all sides, where the scenery is fairly magnificent. The lake is as long as more than 50 meters. There is no road across the lake, so you have to take a boat to cross the lake (ticket: 2 Yuan per person). In summer, due to the rainstorm, mudslides happens frequently. In the past there were tourists trapped in Cuiying Lake because of mudslides, so you need to take care.

Hundred Meter Bridge

Hundred Meter Bridge connects Cuiying Lake and Baiyun Old Village, which is a plank bridge made of wood over the water. The scenery along the bridge is very beautiful because of the greatly lush greenness.

Baiyun Wanfo Cave

Baiyun Wanfo Cave is a magic sight at the top of Back Mountain. On the rock walls along the path, there are hundreds of caves and in every cave there is a statue of Buddha, which is really spectacular. Those caves are divided into three floors and interweave with each other, about 2.5 KM long in total.
Surroundings of Mount Qingcheng Scenic Spot

Dujiangyan Scenic Spot

This Water Conservation Project over Min River, was established by Magistrate of Sichuan County, Li Bing and his son, in Qin Country during Warrior Period, from BC 256 to BC 251. Over 2000 years later, it still makes great difference. The main sights include Fulong Temple, Second King Temple, Anlan Chain Bridge, Yulei Pass, Lidui Park, Yulei Mountain Park, Yunv Mountain, Lingyan Temple, Puzhao Temple, Cuiyue Lake and Dujiangyan Project, etc.

Route Recommendation
1) Happiness Road (old district)—South Bridge—Lidui Park—Yuzui—Chain Bridge—Second King Temple—Li Bing Museum—Buyun Corridor (escalator)—Yulei Pavilion—Old City Wall—Douxi Pavilion—Chenghuang Temple—West Street—South Street—Wenmiao Park
2) Lidui Park—Fulong Temple—Baoping Mouth—Feishayan—Yuzui—Anlan Chain Bridge—Second Emperor Temple
Address: Park Road, Dujiangyan, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Cost: Adult ticket: 90 Yuan; Student discount ticket (by student card): 45 Yuan; Old man (by ID card from Sichuan or other provinces): 45 Yuan; Old man over 70 years old (including 70 years old, by ID card): free on usual days but 45 Yuan on Gold Holidays; Explanation device: 10 Yuan (paid by yourself); United ticket (including Dujiangyan Scenic Spot, Yulei Pavilion, Lidui Park, Three Water Conservation Projects; from Yulei Pavilion you can enjoy the old town with thousands of years of history at east, overlook Chengdu Plain at west, overlook the source of Min River at north, overlook Mount Qingcheng at south, and experience the Viewing Escalator of Buyun Corridor, the highest photograph spot of Dujiangyan, Old City Wall, Culture Exhibition, free drum-beating experience, and free sightseeing car, etc): 130 Yuan
Opening Time: December 1 to March 1: 8 AM to 5: 30 PM; March 2 to November 30: 8 AM to 6 PM
Tour Time: 3 to 4 hours

Transportation:
1) From Chengdu: you can take air bus, train or bus to Dujiangyan;
2) From Dujiangyan (downtown): you can take No. 33 bus to get off at Yulei Mountain Park Stop; or you can take No. 101A bus to get off at Dujiangyan Scenic Spot Stop; or you can take No. 17, 9, 4 and 7 bus to get off at Lidui Park Stop.
Transportation inside the scenic spot: ticket of round trip for the sightseeing car: 15 Yuan. 10 Yuan for one way (from Monument Pavilion to Yuzui)

Hongkou Natural Preserve

Speaking of Hongkou, the most famous activity is drifting, because there are high mountains, valleys, springs, waterfalls, and original forests, so the original ecological environment is very attractive to local people. If drifting is not your first choice, you can still feel comfortable and enjoy a cool summer by climbing the mountain in the fresh air, hiking, or putting your feet in the clean and clear stream water, or playing mahjong; you can also bring your kids here to play with water, or watch wild animals in original forests, or taste delicious salmon and trout.

Accommodation
There are hundreds of farmhouses in Hongkou, mainly in Hongkou Shenxi Valley, Hongkou Miaoba, and Hongkou highland, averagely 80 to 150 Yuan per night (price negotiable). In the farmhouse you can experience swimming, camping, drinking tea, playing cards and mahjong, appreciating flowers in garden, BBQ (toast chicken or the whole lamb), campfire, and tasting Hongkou salmon (special farmhouse dishes or Sichuan food).

Jiezi Old Town

Jiezi Old Town is very near Back Mountain, so you can visit them one after another.
Jiezi Old Town with thousands of tears of history is very famous among more than 10 old towns in Chengdu. And you can also see the typical low eaves, wood gate, and cobblestone path, coupled with the clear river at both sides of the street, which makes it more antique and vintage; additionally, it is known to less people, so it has not been developed into a busy town.

Jiezi Old Town is divided into three parts: Jiezi Old Town, Guangyan Temple and Fengxi Mountain Forest Park. You should know that Shuanghe Historical Site has the history of more than 4300 years, which is the important part of prehistorical Cities Complexes on Chengdu Plain. Guangyan Temple is huge in scale, profound in Zen, and famous for Buddhism. It was the royal temple in Ming Dynasty, and is one of Buddhist Shrines in Sichuan. The temple is famous for The First Southern Buddhist Scripture, Bayeux Sanskrit, and Gift Given By Emperor. If you are fond of natural scenery, you’d better go visit the original forest and Plum Flower Village. You can enjoy the flower in winter there.
Address: at the foot of Fengqi Mountain, 25 KM from northwestern Chongzhou, Chengdu
Ticket: free
Opening Time: all day
Tour Time: 3 to 4 hours

Transportation:
1) you should take train at North Train Station in Chengdu to Dujiangyan Station or Mount Qingcheng Station, then you transfer No. 102 bus, to the terminal stop, at the mouth of Jiezi Old Town, 2 Yuan of ticket per person;
2) You can take bus at Chadianzi Coach Station to Jiezi Old Town, starting time at 8: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, 14 Yuan of ticket per person, about 1 hour of driving;
3) Self-driving: you can drive from Chengdu, along Cheng-Guan Highway, after you drive out the highway at Dujiangyan, till the bridge and turn left (see the road sign), and drive 20 KM to arrive at Jiezi Old Town, about 1 hour of driving.