Secret Mountains | Tianzhu Cloud Sea × Lingshan Zen × Dajue River Rafting

🚗 [5-Day Hiking Route: Three Mountains Travel Guide] Day 1-2 Tianzhu Mountain: A Symphony of Granite and Cloud Sea At 4am, I groped my way into the South Gate of Tianzhu Mountain. The headlamp illuminated the granite steps, and the white noise of the mountain stream echoed in my ears. At 5:26am, I stood on the Qinglong Ridge viewing platform, watching the morning light pierce through the clouds. The Tianzhu Peak emerged from the mist like a giant pillar supporting the sky. The time-lapse video taken by my phone instantly became a hit on social media! In the afternoon, I ventured into the Mysterious Valley, wearing the new AR guide glasses provided by the scenic area. Virtual arrows flashed and guided me through the real caves. The 54 natural caves were connected to form an underground maze, and even a 6-year-old child played like an explorer. Day 3-4 Lingshan: A Collision of Brahma Music and the Milky Way I transferred to Lingshan Scenic Area in Wuxi, and was speechless at the sight of the compassionate gaze of the 88-meter-tall bronze Buddha. In the "Auspicious Ode" theater of the Brahma Palace, a 270-degree circular screen showed the epic story of Sakyamuni's enlightenment. When the glazed flying apsaras on the dome rotated with the music, the prayer beads of the uncle next door suddenly broke - I didn't know if it was shock or Zen. I stayed overnight at "Pingchangju" in Nianhua Bay, put on Hanfu and strolled through the night with a lantern. The lotus flowers performed by drones bloomed one after another above my head, and I instantly understood what "one flower, one world" meant. Day 5 Dajue Mountain: A Wet and Wild Carnival at Asia's No. 1 River Rafting On the last day, I experienced the freedom of adrenaline at Dajue Mountain in Jiangxi! I took a suspended cable car through the primeval forest, with a hundred-meter-deep valley under my feet. The rafting trip was 3.6 km long, with 38 drop points. When the rubber boat dived down, the waves hit my face, and screams mixed with the mountain wind echoed in the canyon. At the end point, I drank a bowl of ginger tea and realized that the GoPro had recorded my out-of-control "dark history". ⛰️ [Tianzhu Mountain Hardcore Guide] 🌅 Cloud Sea Photography Tips • Camp at the viewing platform on the west side of Liandan Lake at 5:30am and use a telephoto lens to capture the "Buddha's Light Piercing the Peak" • At 11:00am, when the sunlight shines directly into the Five-Line Sky Crevice in the Mysterious Valley, take a picture of the Tindal light sanctuary effect • Hidden spot: The small road behind the Tianchi Peak toilet, use the wide-angle lens of your phone to capture a frame of the cliff and the sea of clouds 🍜 Mountain Food Binge • Be sure to order "Bamboo Tube Cloud Tea" at the tea stall on the waist of Tianzhu Mountain. It costs CNY 10 with both tea and tube, which can be used as a water bottle for hiking • Book the vegetarian meal at Sanzu Zen Temple 1 day in advance. The stone fungus tofu pot with fern is so delicious that you will lose your eyebrows • Must try "Chengji Rice Dumplings" for supper in Qianshan city. The dried bean curd filling + chili sauce costs CNY 1.5/piece, and the carbohydrate happiness is full 🕉️ [Lingshan Zen Experience] 🙏 In-depth Cultural Easter Eggs • The pillars of the Brahma Palace hide mysteries - use the flash of your mobile phone to get close to the surface of the pillars, and you can see the full text of the micro-carved Diamond Sutra • Say the code word "I want to transcribe scriptures" to the scenic spot staff, and you can enter the Sutra Pavilion to experience transcribing scriptures with gold powder (limited to 10 people/day) • The lotus lanterns in "Five Lantern Lake" in Nianhua Bay are lit up every night at 19:30. It is said that writing wishes on a piece of paper and stuffing it into the wick will be especially effective 🏡 New Accommodation Options • Zen practitioners must stay at "Lingshan Retreat", and follow the master to meditate at the morning bell and evening drum • Families with children can choose "Paramita Hotel", with cute alpacas + children's Zen art workshop to free your hands • Couples can privately book the "One Flower One World" Inn, and the Tang-style pagoda shadow can be seen from the tatami room window 🌊 [Dajue Mountain Rafting Survival Guide] 🎢 Wet Equipment List • Quick-drying clothes + non-slip stream tracing shoes (say no to flip-flops!) • Mobile phone waterproof bag with neck strap + sports camera chest strap (record the screaming scenes from the first perspective) • There is a CNY 5 hot shower in the changing room at the end point. It is more affordable to bring your own travel-sized shampoo 📸 Photo-worthy Spots • When the cable car rises to an altitude of 800 meters, capture a panoramic view of the primeval forest "The Wizard of Oz" • Rainbow Bridge at the starting point of rafting, use GoPro to shoot through the glass plank road with a transparent boat bottom • The side door of the ancient temple Dajue Rock Temple, the ancient tree roots and the flying eaves in the same frame instantly turn into a martial arts movie 🎒 [2025 Three Mountains Travel Tips] 1️⃣ Transportation Joint Ticket: Save 30% by purchasing the "Anhui-Jiangxi High-speed Railway + Scenic Spot Shuttle Bus" package. Choose a window seat on the G7391 train for the Tianzhu Mountain-Lingshan section to have a view of the Yangtze River 2️⃣ Avoid the Crowds: Go to Dajue Mountain rafting on Wednesday morning, there is no need to queue in the afternoon when there are fewer people 3️⃣ Dressing Tips: Wear bright-colored windbreakers in Tianzhu Mountain (the sea of clouds background is more photogenic), prepare plain-colored Hanfu in Lingshan (can be rented in the scenic area), and bring quick-drying swimwear in Dajue Mountain 4️⃣ Recommended Gadgets: Folding tripod (essential for shooting starry sky/sea of clouds), mint nasal inhaler (to prevent motion sickness during rafting), reusable ice pack (for cold compress on rafting injuries) When I was gnawing on ginger candy and watching the playback video at the end of the Dajue Mountain rafting, I suddenly realized the true meaning of travel - the steepness of Tianzhu Mountain, the tranquility of Lingshan, and the wildness of Dajue Mountain are like the triple realm of life. Perhaps the magic of mountains and rivers is to teach us to communicate with the world in different dimensions 🌍✨