Taibai Mountain is incredibly beautiful, but I honestly don’t recommend going in August because...........

Taibai Mountain Travel Guide: Climb the Peak of Qinling, Enjoy the Wonders of Four Seasons (Including Prices and Practical Tips) As the main peak of the Qinling Mountains, Taibai Mountain is famous for the “June Snow” phenomenon and its vertically distributed natural zones. It is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, photography lovers, and nature explorers. Here you will find Baxiantai (the highest peak in eastern mainland China at 3,771.2 meters), alpine lakes, primeval forests, and Quaternary glacial relics. Below is a detailed guide covering tickets, transportation, accommodation, routes, and tips to help you plan your trip efficiently. 1. Basic Information and Ticket Prices 1. Scenic Area Overview Location: Tangyu Town, Meixian District, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province Opening Hours: Peak season (April 1 - November 30): 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM (last entry) Off-season (December 1 - March 31): 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Ticket Policy: Adult ticket: 150 RMB/person (includes scenic area admission + round-trip shuttle bus) Student/Senior ticket: 75 RMB/person (valid ID required) Children’s ticket: Free for under 1.2 meters, half price for 1.2-1.4 meters Cable Car Tickets: Tianxia Cableway (Honghuaping - Tianyuandifang): Upward 120 RMB, downward 90 RMB, round-trip 230 RMB Fuyunge Cableway (Xiaban Temple - Shangban Temple): Upward 50 RMB, downward 40 RMB, round-trip 70 RMB 2. Essential Items to Bring Documents: ID card, student/senior card (for discounts) Clothing: Windbreaker or light down jacket (large temperature difference at the summit, needed even in summer), windproof hat, hiking boots Gear: Trekking poles (reduce knee pressure), raincoat (weather changes frequently in the mountains), sunscreen, sunglasses Others: High-calorie snacks (chocolate, beef jerky), thermos (for hot water), power bank 2. Transportation Guide: How to Get to Taibai Mountain 1. External Transportation From Xi’an: Bus: Xi’an Bus Station (opposite the train station) → Taibai Mountain Visitor Center, fare 37.5 RMB/person, about 2 hours, daily 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM (about 1 bus per hour). Self-driving: Xi’an Ring Expressway → Lianhuo Expressway → Taibai Mountain exit, about 120 km, toll about 60 RMB, takes 1.5 hours. From Baoji: Bus: Baoji West Bus Station → Meixian Bus Station → transfer to direct shuttle to Taibai Mountain Scenic Area, total fare about 25 RMB, takes 2 hours. 2. Internal Transportation in the Scenic Area Tour Bus: Visitor Center → Lotus Peak Waterfall → Pomo Mountain → Peach Blossom Land → Honghuaping (lower station of Tianxia Cableway), about 50 minutes total, can get off anytime to explore, last bus at 6:00 PM. Shuttle Bus: Xiaban Temple → Fuyunge Cableway lower station, fare 15 RMB/person (walking takes 1 hour, recommended to save energy by taking the bus). 3. Hiking Route Planning: One-day Tour vs. Two-day Tour Option 1: One-day Tour (Easy Version) Suitable for: Families, those with limited time Route: 7:30-9:00 Depart from Xi’an/Baoji, arrive at Visitor Center 9:30-11:00 Take the tour bus to Honghuaping, transfer to Tianxia Cableway to Tianyuandifang (3,511 meters elevation) 11:30-13:00 Hike to Xiaowengong Temple (about 3 km, stone path, 200 meters elevation gain), enjoy the “Stone Sea” wonder of Taibai Mountain along the way 13:30-14:30 Return to Tianyuandifang, take cable car down 15:00-17:00 Visit lower mountain attractions (Lotus Peak Waterfall, Pomo Mountain) Cost: Ticket 150 RMB + Tianxia Cableway round-trip 230 RMB + bus 37.5 RMB (from Xi’an) = 417.5 RMB/person Option 2: Two-day Tour (In-depth Experience) Suitable for: Hiking enthusiasts, photographers Route: Day 1: 9:00 Arrive at Visitor Center, take bus to Honghuaping, cable car up to Tianyuandifang 10:30-12:30 Hike to Xiaowengong Temple (register to enter protected area) → Dawengong Temple (6 km, 3,568 meters elevation) 13:00-15:00 Continue to Dayehai Lake (3 km, 3,590 meters elevation), stay overnight at Dayehai Reception Station (dormitory 150 RMB/person, includes dinner + breakfast) Day 2: 5:00-6:00 Early rise to climb Baxiantai for sunrise (30-minute ascent, headlamp needed) 8:00-12:00 Return to Dayehai, hike down to Xiaban Temple (about 12 km, 5-6 hours) 13:00 Take bus back to Visitor Center Cost: Ticket 150 RMB + Tianxia Cableway one-way 120 RMB + Fuyunge Cableway round-trip 70 RMB + accommodation 150 RMB + bus 37.5 RMB = 527.5 RMB/person 4. Accommodation and Dining Recommendations 1. Mountain Accommodation Dayehai Reception Station: The only accommodation at the summit, offers dormitory beds (150 RMB/person) and standard rooms (600 RMB/night, reservation required), dinner is home-style dishes (30 RMB/person, shredded potatoes, scrambled eggs, etc.). Xiaowengong Temple: Simple wooden rooms, dormitory only (100 RMB/person), basic conditions. 2. Lower Mountain Accommodation Hot Spring Hotel: Taibai Mountain Yulongwan Hot Spring Hotel (500-1000 RMB/night), includes hot spring tickets, perfect for relaxing after hiking. Budget Homestay: Tangyu Town “Taibai Yijing Camp” (200-400 RMB/night), 10-minute walk to Visitor Center. 3. Dining Guide Must-try at the foot of the mountain: Meixian Saozi Noodles (10 RMB/bowl): sour and spicy, more authentic with garlic. Guokui Bread (5 RMB each): crispy outside, soft inside, can be eaten with chili. Mountain supplies: Dayehai Reception Station offers instant noodles (10 RMB/cup), hot water (5 RMB/cup), recommended to bring chocolate and energy bars. 5. Core Attractions and Photo Spots 1. Must-visit Attractions Tianyuandifang: Qinling watershed, left side flows to Yangtze River basin, right side to Yellow River basin, high chance of sea of clouds. Baxiantai: Taoist holy site, legendary place where Jiang Ziya enfeoffed gods, sunrise clouds create a fairyland. Dayehai Lake: Alpine lake with deep blue water reflecting snow-capped mountains, great for reflection photography. Pomo Mountain: Legendary site where poet Li Bai drunkenly splashed ink to form the mountain, mottled ink patterns on giant rocks, ideal for cultural photography. 2. Photography Tips Sunrise time: 5:30 AM in summer, 7:00 AM in winter, arrive at Baxiantai one hour early to secure a spot. Recommended gear: Wide-angle lens for sea of clouds, telephoto lens for snow mountain details, tripod essential (strong winds at the summit require securing it). 6. Pitfall Avoidance and Precautions Altitude sickness: Summit elevation over 3,500 meters, avoid strenuous exercise, consider taking Rhodiola oral liquid in advance. Sudden weather changes: Mountain weather is unpredictable, it can snow even in summer, raincoat is more practical than umbrella. Environmental protection: No littering in the protected area, violators fined 500-2000 RMB. Cable car operation: Tianxia Cableway may close in winter due to wind, check scenic area announcements before traveling. Hiking safety: No guardrails on the route from Dayehai to Baxiantai, wear non-slip shoes, stay close to the group. 7. Seasonal Activity Recommendations Spring (April-May): Peach blossoms bloom at the foot, residual snow on the summit, suitable for light hiking. Summer (June-August): Summer resort, alpine rhododendrons bloom, stargazing at night. Autumn (September-October): Golden red birch forest, prime photography season. Winter (November-March): Magnificent snow scenery, but only open up to Xiaban Temple, professional gear required. Conclusion The beauty of Taibai Mountain lies in the magical experience of “four seasons in one day, different weather every ten miles.” Whether you take the easy route with the Tianxia Cableway or challenge the peak of Qinling at Baxiantai, it will satisfy your awe and curiosity for nature. Budget-wise, one-day tours cost about 400-500 RMB per person, two-day tours 600-800 RMB (including accommodation), offering great value. Keep a close eye on the weather before departure and bring necessary gear. May you have a soul-refreshing snow mountain journey at Taibai Mountain!