# Mount Sanqing (三清山)

Mount Sanqing, Jiangxi Province · East China, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-sanqing-jiangxi
Language: en

## 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
- **Good for:** Architecture, Gardens & Flowers, Photography, Nature

## 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.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1471. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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