Huangshan, a famous Taoist mountain, is temporarily free for Anhui residents!
When it comes to Huangshan, everyone is probably familiar with it. It is one of China's top ten famous mountains and a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, covering an area of about 1,200 square kilometers. It is renowned worldwide for its "Five Wonders": unique pines, strange rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow, as well as its "Five Beauties": historical relics, calligraphy and painting, literature, legends, and famous people. It is known as "The Most Marvelous Mountain Under Heaven," "A Picture Opened by Heaven," and "Sea of Pines and Clouds"!
Today, Huangshan has become a well-known scenic and famous mountain, crowded with visitors all year round. It is also famous for the saying, "After visiting the Five Great Mountains, you won't look at other mountains; after visiting Huangshan, you won't look at the Five Great Mountains!"
What many people don’t know is that near Huangshan there is another famous Taoist mountain, temporarily free for Anhui residents, where you can enjoy a carefree visit. Uncle Shuai suggests taking a trip there when you have free time!
This is the Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area in Anhui, abbreviated as Qiyun Mountain, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.
Historically, Qiyun Mountain was formerly known as Baiyue. It was named because the mountain peak appears level with the clouds from a distance. During the Tang Dynasty's Qianyuan period (758–760), Taoist Gong Qixia traveled here and lived in seclusion at Tianmen Rock on the mountain. In the 15th year of the Ming Dynasty's Hongwu reign (1382), the imperial court established the Taoist Association Office in the county town’s Chongshou Temple to oversee Taoist affairs in the county, and Taoists on the mountain were appointed to this office. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong inscribed Qiyun Mountain as "An Unparalleled Scenic Spot Under Heaven, the Number One Famous Mountain in Jiangnan." Since 1980, the Xiuning County government has rebuilt Lingfeng, Haitian Yiwang, and Wangxian San Pavilion on the sites of Dongyang, Boyang, and Meixuan Taoist temples, restoring buildings such as Yuxu Palace, Luohan Cave, and Zhenwu Hall (Taiwen Palace), further enriching the Taoist cultural heritage!
Immersed in the area, you can visit highlights like Yuehua Street, Yunyan Lake, and Lou Shang Lou, as well as 36 unique peaks, 44 strange rocks, 18 secluded caves, 27 flying spring caves, 14 pools, 16 pavilions, 537 stone inscriptions, 3 stone archways, 5 stone bridges, and 33 temples and shrines.
Moreover, Uncle Shuai has good news: in 2025, the "Super Huangbai Tour" benefit will be relaunched, granting Anhui residents a full month of free admission privileges for the Huangshan-Qiyun Mountain combo!
Simply put, from now until December 31, 2025, citizens from all cities in Anhui Province can enjoy free admission to Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area and Huangshan Scenic Area!
To make a reservation, follow the official accounts of "Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area" or "Huangshan Scenic Area," then verify your valid ID card or residence permit in person (reservation must be made at least one day in advance). Many Anhui residents will surely feel delighted reading this.
For first-time visitors to Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area, you can follow these suggested routes [Huangshan already has mature routes, just follow official guidance]:
Cable Car Route: (Cable car up) ➡️ San Tianmen ➡️ Yuehua Tianjie ➡️ Xiaohutian ➡️ Yuxu Palace / Tang Yin Stele ➡️ Wulao Peak ➡️ Ziyun Pass ➡️ Hanging Plank Road ➡️ Fang La Cave / Fang La Village ➡️ Danxia Corridor ➡️ Highest Peak / Moon Viewing Pavilion ➡️ Yuehua Tianjie ➡️ Visitor Center / Baiyue Restaurant direction down ➡️ Dongtian Fudi ➡️ Wangxian Tower (Cable car down)
Hiking Route: Wangxian Tower (Yuehua Trail / Hiking ticket gate) ➡️ Mengzhen Bridge ➡️ Shouzi Rock ➡️ Yitianmen / Elephant Trunk Rock ➡️ Zhenxian Cave Mansion (Cliff inscriptions, Immortal caves, Bilian Pool) ➡️ Er Tianmen ➡️ Caishen Hall ➡️ San Tianmen (Incense Burner Peak viewing platform) ➡️ Yuehua Tianjie (food and lodging available) ➡️ Xiaohutian ➡️ Yuxu Palace / Tang Yin Stele ➡️ Wulao Peak ➡️ Ziyun Pass ➡️ Hanging Plank Road ➡️ Fang La Cave / Fang La Village ➡️ Danxia Corridor (Highest peak cliff inscriptions) ➡️ Highest Peak / Moon Viewing Pavilion ➡️ Yuehua Tianjie ➡️ Visitor Center / Baiyue Restaurant direction down ➡️ Dongtian Fudi ➡️ Wangxian Tower (Cable car or hiking down)
Both routes have their advantages. The cable car route saves time and effort, taking about three hours round trip, suitable for family trips. The hiking route offers a personal experience of the scenic spots, taking about six hours, ideal for couples and backpackers!
Whichever route you choose, you can feel the Taoist cultural heritage of Qiyun Mountain, touch Zhu Xi’s "Longevity" stone inscription, explore Tang Bohu’s authentic works, stroll through ancient cliff villages, hike the Danxia secret realm, with autumn scenery and sea of clouds intertwining along the way. Every step is "a day being an immortal on Qiyun Mountain."
If you have more time, you can also check out "Qiyun Town Xiaoyao Street," holding the Xiaoyao Tongbao coin, and have fun battling with celestial men and women, lucky immortals, and wandering heroes. This immersive experience offers dozens of joyful interactions, inviting you to unlock a trendy martial arts world. When tired, enjoy performances like Qiyun iron flower throwing, fire pot shaking, fire breathing, colorful auspicious cloud fireworks, limited Hengjiang dragon dance, and Hengjiang charcoal flower dance, truly an immersive cultivation experience.
For photography lovers, key spots include "Shouzi Rock" [Zhu Xi’s personally inscribed 9-foot cliff inscription, Danxia cliff backdrop with autumn scenery perfect for photos], "Zhenxian Cave Mansion" [cliff Taoist temple group full of cliff inscriptions], "Yuehua Tianjie" [ancient Taoist village on the cliff], "Yuxu Palace" [home to Tang Bohu’s only surviving stele inscription "Zixiao Palace Xuan Emperor Stele"], "Danxia Corridor" [red cliffs like fire, surrounded by autumn forests, perfect for hiking and viewing mountain sea of clouds], "Fang La Village" [full of immortal aura when sea of clouds surges], and "Xiaohutian" [natural cave wonder], all perfect for stunning photos!
Transportation:
By car: Navigate to "Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area - Northeast Ground Parking Lot," with plenty of parking spaces.
By bus: Take the train to "Huangshan North Station," then transfer to a shuttle bus to "Qiyun Mountain Visitor Center" [18 RMB, about 50 minutes].
Practical information for Anhui Province Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area:
Advance online purchase is 58 RMB (includes Xiaoyao Street) [free for Anhui residents from now until December 31, 2025]. Optional one-way cable car fee is 60 RMB per person, downhill bus is 35 RMB per person. Operating hours are 08:00-17:00. Located in Qiyun Mountain Town, Xiuning County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. Self-driving is recommended.
So, what do you think? Are you interested in Anhui Province’s Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area? Feel free to leave comments and discuss!