Tianzhu Mountain travel guide
天柱山
As the foremost mountain of the Jianghuai region, it was already granted the title “Southern Sacred Peak” more than a thousand years ago, so its natural beauty needs no further description.
6 places · In the guidebook: pages 1309–1319
Tianzhu Mountain, Anhui Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Tianzhu Mountain in 5 days
- Day 1
- Sanzu Temple Scenic Area→
- Baimatan Rafting (overnight in the scenic area or county town)
- Day 2
- Xiguan Route of Mount Tianzhu
- Day 1
- Sanzu Chan Temple→
- Shiniu Ancient Cave→
- Cliff Inscriptions
- Day 2
- West Scenic Area of Mount Tianzhu→
- East Scenic Area
- Day 3
- Tianxian River Bamboo Raft Rafting
The feel of the place
- Scenic Beauty
- As the foremost mountain of the Jianghuai region, it was already granted the title “Southern Sacred Peak” more than a thousand years ago, so its natural beauty needs no further description.
- The Children Selling “Baby Fish”
- Much like the porters of Mount Tai and the Huizhou merchants of Huangshan, the children selling “baby fish” (giant salamanders) have become a distinctive sight on Mount Tianzhu. Some of them still wear school uniforms, carrying mineral water bottles containing seven or eight small, dark “baby fish” they have just caught in mountain streams. For the sake of these adorable children and their little fish, buying one bottle is no harm.
Hiking Routes
The Mount Tianzhu Scenic Area has two routes, West and East. The West Route starts and ends at Tianzhu Mountain Villa, passing Nanguankou, Zongguan Village, Mystery Valley, Baibu Yunti (Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder), Duxian Bridge, Baiyue Terrace, Tianzhu Peak, Wanjing Terrace and Alchemy Lake before returning to Tianzhu Mountain Villa. The East Route begins at Alchemy Lake and passes Huiyin Terrace, Diecui Pavilion, Great Heavenly Gate, Magpie Bridge and the Qigu Sky Ladder, ending at East Mountain Gate. By comparison, the West Route has the more beautiful scenery and will test the capacity of your camera's memory card, while the East Route has steeper terrain and will test your nerve and stamina.
Preparation and Enquiries
Language
The local dialect of Mount Tianzhu can be hard to understand, but Mandarin is widely spoken and works perfectly well here.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Although Mount Tianzhu has scenery in every season and can be visited all year round, spring, summer and autumn are the best times.
Mount Tianzhu has a north subtropical monsoon climate, with lush vegetation, mild winters and cool summers. The average annual temperature is fairly low, at around 9.5℃. Fog occurs about two-thirds of the year, roughly 250 days, reaching as many as 300 days at most and at least 200 days. The beautiful rime ice (fairy frost) on Mount Tianzhu mostly forms above 1,000 metres in altitude and can be seen from October to May of the following year.
Things to see
The Grand Canyon is the most important water-based attraction on Mount Tianzhu. Located between the main peak of Mount Tianzhu and Sanzu Temple, its majestic and graceful waterfalls, pools, mountain streams and lakes complement the towering peaks, strange rocks and unusual pines of the main peak area.
Mirror of the Heavenly Palace
The sky and the surrounding scenery are reflected completely on the glass. When the one-way see-through glass is installed face up, the full 360-degree view appears on the mirror surface. Combined with a specially designed coating on the base, the reflections are free of refraction and scattering, producing a clear, bright image.
Photography
Main Peak Scenic Area
The Main Peak Scenic Area is the highlight of Mount Tianzhu. Here you can see Tianzhu Peak, the mountain's emblem, and feel the proud majesty of a single pillar holding up the sky. Tianchi Peak, Feilai Peak, Wuzhi Peak and others rival it in grandeur. Main attractions: Tianzhu Peak, Great Heavenly Gate, Mysterious Valley, Heart-Testing Bridge, Xiguan Village, and more.
Photography · Nature
Sanzu Temple Scenic Area
Sanzu Temple Scenic Area is the most concentrated area of cultural and historical sites on Mount Tianzhu and one of the most culturally refined attractions, centred on the famous Chan (Zen) Buddhist temple. Facing the Qian River and backed by Tianzhu Peak, the site is surrounded by hills and water, with temples and halls densely arranged. Its beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural landscape have long made it a prized feng shui site. Key highlights include Sanzu Temple, the Great Treasure Hall, Mountain Valley Spring, cliff inscriptions, and bamboo raft rafting on the Qian River.
1 hour · Admission ¥10; Lianhua River rafting ¥100; Baima Pool rafting ¥120; Qian River rafting and Tianxian River rafting ¥100 each
Jiujing River Scenic Area
The legendary “Nine Wells” waterfall is found here, a cluster of nine cascades known as the Tianjing, Leijing, Yunjing, Fengjing, Longjing, Sanshengjing and Zhenzhujing wells. The Jiujing West Wind is considered one of Tianzhu's unique wonders. Throughout the year, in every season and in any weather, a northwest wind blows through Guku and Yezhai. Especially in summer, no matter how hot the day, the western wind rises at nightfall and the heat quickly disappears. Guku and Yezhai are therefore not only good places to enjoy the wind and scenery, but also a retreat for escaping the summer heat.
1 hour
Hutou Cliff Scenic Area
Strangely shaped rocks and numerous historic sites are the defining features of this scenic area. The uncanny and lifelike Boat-Shaped Rock, Beauty Rock and Monk Rock are truly breathtaking. Tiger Head Cliff, Iron Flute Niche, Wanshou Wuliang Pagoda, Fox Grave and cliff inscriptions are equally captivating.
1–2 hours
Fringe Scenery
History & Culture · Photography · Nature
Getting there & around
Getting There
Mount Tianzhu lies between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, right next to the Yangtze and close to National Highways 105 and 318, the Hefei–Jiujiang Railway (Hejiu Railway) and the Gaojie Expressway. It is near the airports of Hefei and Anqing and the Yangtze River ferry terminals, and a direct expressway leads to Mount Tianzhu.
By Air
Anqing Tianzhu Shan Civil Airport is 50 km from Mount Tianzhu. The airport has flights to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen and Xi'an.
By Train
All trains on the Hejiu Railway stop at Tianzhu Shan Station, with direct services to Hefei, Bengbu, Jiujiang, Lushan, Nanchang, Jinggangshan, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
By Road
To reach Mount Tianzhu by bus, you first need to go to Qianshan District. Qianshan is more than 20 km from Mount Tianzhu. Dedicated minibus services depart daily from the three-way junction about 80 m outside the county passenger transport centre, running between the city centre and the Mount Tianzhu cable car station and the South Gate. The journey takes about 1 hour and the fare is around ¥10.
By Water
Anqing is connected by Yangtze River shipping. Upstream it reaches Jiujiang, Wuhan and Chongqing; downstream it reaches Wuhu, Nanjing and Shanghai.
Getting Around the Scenic Area
There are plenty of buses from Qianshan District to the Mount Tianzhu Scenic Area in the morning, fares ¥9–12, and the trip takes 50 minutes. If you arrive by train, you can also share a ride, ¥15 for three people. Minibuses and minivan taxis wait outside the station at all times to take you to the South Gate of Mount Tianzhu, ¥7–15 per person.
The scenic area has three main cable car lines:
1. Tianzhu Mountain Cable Car: ¥40 per person up; ¥40 per person down
2. Qinglongjian Cable Car: ¥40 per person up; ¥40 per person down
3. Dalongwo Cable Car: ¥80 per person up; ¥60 per person down
Heading North
By RoadDirect coaches to Hefei via Gaohebu (高河埠) run several times a day, departing from both Hefei and Qianshan. Long-distance coaches heading to Hefei via Qianshan run at least eight times a day from other cities. To get from Hefei to Qianshan District by long-distance bus, you can then travel 9 km west by bus to reach the South Gate of Mount Tianzhu at Yerenzhai.
Heading West
By RoadVia Taihu, Susong and Huangmei in Hubei, you can reach Jiujiang in Jiangxi and Wuhan in Hubei. Several coaches each day pass through Qianshan on their way to Jiujiang or Wuhan.
Heading Southeast
By RoadVia Gaohebu (高河埠) to Anqing, with more than ten coaches a day running between Qianshan and Anqing in each direction, and at least ten more coaches a day passing through Qianshan on their way to Anqing.
Eat & drink
The local snacks of Mount Tianzhu come in many varieties. Pastries include Zhan'er Cake (盏儿糕), duck egg cake, glutinous rice Huanxi balls and sesame ciba (rice cakes). Nourishing and healthy options include Lianjiang tofu skin and sesame sugar tea. Dishes include shredded carrot, day lily, Linzhuang tribute radish and Xuehu tribute lotus root.
Famous Mountain Dishes
1. The Tianzhu Mountain Villa's stewed soft-shell turtle with stone ear mushroom and Tianzhu Clear Snow, the Xuehu Restaurant's Xuehu glutinous rice lotus root, Tianzhu Sunrise and snow mountain lotus seed soup, the Qianshan Restaurant's stone ear stewed chicken and jade rabbit eel, the Shuzhou Restaurant's Shutai Moonlit Night and goldfish duck feet, and the braised pork hock, crispy chicken and three-flavour fish from the Qianshan District Government Guesthouse all have delicious flavours and a modest local reputation.
2. Dining in the mountains is not as good as in the cities, and the flavours are a little less refined, so those hoping for a feast may be disappointed. The mountains' specialities are fungi; stone ear stewed chicken is a famous Anhui dish, and the glutinous rice wine there is also very good.
Where to stay
As with any popular destination, food and lodging are rarely a problem. For a trip to Mount Tianzhu, you can stay in Qianshan District or Anqing City, but it is better to stay on the mountain, which makes it easier to plan your itinerary. The mountain air is cool, the scenery is superb, and prices are reasonable. Most accommodation on the mountain is halfway up the slope. Tianzhu Villa and Woyun Villa are close to the cable car and offer good facilities. The other option is Minju Guesthouse near Tianzhu Villa, which has basic facilities.
Quanli International Hotel
Recommended AccommodationThe only four-star hotel on Mount Tianzhu, with very good food.
- Address:
- Muyang River Bank, Tianzhu Mountain Scenic Area, Qianshan District, Anqing City
- Phone:
- 0556-8146888
Shopping
Like the other areas of southwest Anhui, Mount Tianzhu produces plenty of tea. What sets it apart is that its teas are as lovely in name as in taste. The Mount Tianzhu series of famous teas, including Tianzhu Jianhao, Tianzhu Yunwu, Tianzhu Xiangjian, Tianzhu Yinqu, Tianzhu Cuizhu, Tianzhu Maofeng and Tianzhu Xianyue, is known as the “Seven Fairies of Tianzhu.”
Recommended Shopping Spots
New Shopping Spots
Large shopping centres such as the Wanxinan Tourism Shopping Centre, Qianshan Department Store, Wujiaohua Building, Meicheng Mall and Xuehu Mall are lively places where locals and visitors alike browse and buy goods.
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1309–1319. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version