Honestly! Is it worth spending over a hundred yuan to see the giant golden Buddha? The real talk is all here

To be honest, if you just want to casually visit a temple and burn some incense, don’t come here. The ticket is expensive and it’s tiring. But if you happen to catch the moment right after the rain clears, just like you said in your material, then I have to say: it’s worth the ticket price. No exaggeration, the visual impact of Kuaiji Mountain Doushuai Tiangong ranks among the top temples in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Especially when the clouds and mist swirl after the rain, that purple-gold lotus building really looks like it’s floating in the sky. But! The number of steps here is no joke. If you want to take great photos, be prepared for “dead legs.” 📍 Navigation: Set your location to “Kuaiji Mountain Doushuai Tiangong Scenic Area Parking Lot” (you must park here; private cars can’t go up). 🎫 Tickets: About ¥100 for adults (includes Longhua Temple + Doushuai Tiangong), shuttle bus ¥15/person (must buy, unless you want to walk yourself to exhaustion). ⏰ Time: Recommended 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, best early morning after rain, allow 3-4 hours for the visit. 📷 Photo spots: Longhua Temple central axis (for depth shots), plaza at the foot of Tiangong (for dramatic upward shots), Twelve Zodiac Fountain (for reflections). A piece of advice: follow this order for the least effort and no backtracking: Parking lot transfer to shuttle bus ➡ get off at Longhua Temple ➡ Main Hall (worship) ➡ walk/ride up the mountain ➡ Doushuai Tiangong (main check-in spot) ➡ Seven-layer Treasure Wall (start climbing) ➡ summit for sea of clouds/panorama ➡ elevator down ➡ shuttle bus down the mountain Friends, this place is solemn and sacred, but to make your experience better, remember these tested tips: 1. Shoe rule: absolutely no high heels or hard-soled leather shoes! From Longhua Temple to Doushuai Tiangong, although there’s a shuttle bus, the core area is all steps, especially if you want to climb to see the giant golden Buddha at the top, you’ll have to climb several flights. The ground is slippery after rain, so wear comfortable, non-slip sneakers for safety. 2. Don’t foolishly buy water there: water and snacks on the mountain are heavily overpriced. It’s not about being ripped off, it’s just unnecessary. There’s a convenience store at the parking lot below the mountain. Pack two bottles of water and some snacks in your backpack. Wouldn’t it be better to save that money for a nice Shaoxing meal after coming down? 3. Dress wisely: this is a place of quiet cultivation and a photo paradise. It’s recommended to wear solid colors (white, black, gray) to contrast sharply with the golden, magnificent buildings. Avoid dressing too revealingly out of respect for the Buddhist temple and to prevent mosquito bites. 4. Don’t skip the shuttle bus: don’t think you’re fit enough to hike up. The winding mountain road is long, boring, and all asphalt with no scenery. Just buy the ¥15 round-trip ticket and save your energy for climbing the hundreds of steps at Tiangong. 5. Special reminder after rain: if you’re lucky to catch the clear sky after rain, be extra careful because the steps are the slipperiest then, especially the stone slabs. Don’t look at the scenery while walking, and don’t walk while looking at the scenery. Don’t sprain your ankle just because you want to admire the sea of clouds.