Mount Sanqing
Many famous Chinese mountains have rock formations that resemble human figures, but most depend largely on the viewer's imagination.…
Mount Sanqing, Jiangxi Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- Admission: ¥150 (peak season), ¥120 (off-season); cable car up and down: ¥125 (peak season), ¥110 (off-season)
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1471. Open in Google Maps
About Mount Sanqing
Many famous Chinese mountains have rock formations that resemble human figures, but most depend largely on the viewer's imagination. The "Goddess Peak" at Mount Sanqing is so lifelike it is hard to believe. The mountain is steep and dramatic on the east, wondrous on the west, graceful on the north and precipitous on the south. Its Goat Bed area is also a natural botanical garden, home to rare plants such as East China cathay fir, East China hemlock, Fujian cypress, Magnolia, Chinese dove tree, Pachysandra, and Manglietia. Springs and waterfalls add further charm to the scenery.
The Sanqing Palace (Sanqing Gong) on the mountain is a small temple complex backed by Yujing Peak. The current buildings date from the Ming dynasty, and a plaque reading "Sanqing Blessed Land" hangs above the palace gate. From Ziyan Terrace (Ziyan Tai) beside the palace, visitors can take in views across the surrounding peaks.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Guide fees: Hiring a local guide costs around ¥300 per day.
- 2. Recommended viewpoints: Sunrise and sunset on Mount Sanqing are among its most spectacular sights, and Yutai and the Goddess area are the best vantage points for watching the sunrise.
- 3. Routes up the mountain: Ascending from the east side is especially suitable for adventurous hikers. The North Route has barely been developed, so it is free of commercial clutter. From the foot of the mountain, most of the way is paved with bluestone steps, so safety is not a concern. The main challenge is that the steps go on almost without end, with no gentle slopes for rest.
- 4. Budget backpacker route: Backpackers finishing their visit to Wuyuan can take a bus from Wuyuan county town to Yushan, then change to another bus to Mount Sanqing. Another option is to charter a minivan that goes directly to the foot of the mountain. The trip from Jiudu (九都) to Mount Sanqing takes 1.5 hours, and road conditions are very poor, with almost entirely gravel surfaces. There are signs at the foot of the mountain and people selling tickets there. It is best to get off here and hike, and to hire a local guide; if you hire a strong man, he can also carry your luggage. Note that you must agree on the destination and price before setting off. Fengshan (风山) is the midpoint of the North Route, roughly a 2-hour walk. The path from Fengshan to Sanqing Palace is steeper, but this section has the highest concentration of scenic spots. After reaching Yujing Peak, descend via the South Route, which takes about 4 hours on foot.
- 5. Strange rocks: Mount Sanqing has a great many unusual rock formations. Among the most famous are Ten Thousand Tablets Facing Heaven (万笏朝天), Dream Brush Blossoms (梦笔生花), and Penguin Blossoms. The Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain and the Goddess Longing for Spring, located in the northern and northeastern parts of Nanqing Garden (南清园), are remarkably lifelike and are the mountain's signature landscapes.
- Top ten scenic spots: The top ten scenic spots of Mount Sanqing are: Goddess of Spring, Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain, Laozi Reading Scriptures, Monkey King Presenting Treasure, Yulian Waterfall (Jade Curtain Falls), Ten Thousand Tablets Facing Heaven, Yujing Peak, Xiufeng Peak, Tianmen Peak, and Guanyin Listening to Music.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mount Sanqing cost?
Admission to Mount Sanqing is Admission: ¥150 (peak season), ¥120 (off-season); cable car up and down: ¥125 (peak season), ¥110 (off-season), as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How long should I spend at Mount Sanqing?
Plan on 1–2 days for Mount Sanqing.
Where is Mount Sanqing?
Mount Sanqing is in Mount Sanqing, Jiangxi Province, in the East China of China.
More places in Mount Sanqing
Yujing Peak Scenic Area
At 1,819.9 metres above sea level, Yujing Peak is the highest summit on Mount Sanqing. Here you will find the ethereal Penglai Three Peaks, the steep plunge of Feixian Valley, and natural wonders such as sea of clouds, mist and sunrise. The local saying goes, "Without climbing Yujing Peak, you will miss the wonder of Sanqing." It is one of the best spots on the mountain for watching both sunrise and sunset.
3 hours
West Coast Scenic Area
The West Coast, also known as the West Sea Plank Walk, is the most thrilling section of Mount Sanqing. Along a cliff face about 1,600 metres above sea level, a plank walkway about 3,700 metres long and 2 metres wide juts out over the abyss. Running from Tiyun Ridge (梯云岭) in the south to Sanqing Palace in the north, it is the longest and most expansive suspended plank walkway on the mountain, and arguably among the longest and most open high-mountain cliff walkways in the world. Standing on the viewing gallery, you will feel as carefree as wandering the West Sea and as joyful as an immortal.
3 hours
Guifeng Scenic Area
Anyone who has watched the TV series Journey to the West will find this place strangely familiar. Legend has it that this was once the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. When the waters receded, the turtles turned into stone. Also worth exploring are the city wall ruins from the Taiping Rebellion and the villas built during the Republican era. If you look closely, you will notice that the heads of the stone turtles here all face east, so if you get lost in the mountains, the turtle heads can help you find your bearings. The most remarkable feature is that a small stone turtle on Jinzhong Mountain can forecast the weather. Locals have a saying: 'When Jinzhong wears a hat, rain brings flooding.'
¥160 (includes sightseeing bus and boat ride) · 3–5 hours
Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain
The iconic landmark of Mount Sanqing. The Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain is a towering granite column formed by weathering and gravitational collapse. Several transverse cracks run across its body, yet after hundreds of millions of years of wind and rain, it still stands firm.
Included in the Mount Sanqing scenic area ticket · 1–2 hours