Things to do in Qingyang

I highly recommend Jiuhua Mountain! It's well-developed with mature facilities, making it a truly thriving tourist destination. I was lucky enough to witness the surging sea of ​​clouds and the sunset's glow bathing the mountains. The Ksitigarbha statue in the Dayuan Cultural Park was magnificent; standing beneath it was deeply moving. It offers both natural beauty and a profound Zen atmosphere, allowing you to both worship Buddha and enjoy the scenery—a truly worthwhile trip.

Being able to bring a dog on the cable car is commendable. It was very crowded that day due to the National Day holiday; we queued for an hour, but it was manageable after getting a number and exploring a bit more. There was heavy fog that day, so the scenery wasn't visible.

Dear Friend, please visit this scenic once in a lifetime at least, since it's free to enter the park and you can also enjoy the pilgrims trail from the front gate to the end of the park.. for my parents, we got this shuttle to shorten our route since it's close to climb to the foot of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on 16.50p.m.. please feel free to visit this Scenic once in a lifetime before it's too late to enjoy it.. I'm book ahead from Trip.com for easy access..

Jiuhua Street is where the main temples of Jiuhua Mountain are concentrated, including Qiyuan Zen Temple, Huacheng Temple, Sandalwood Zen Forest, Shang Zen Hall, Yueshen Hall, Dizang Zen Temple and many other temples and monasteries. If a detailed tour takes most of the day, you can have lunch at Jiuhua Street at noon. So, overall, it is still worth visiting.

This ancient village, built in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, is well-preserved and restored. With mountains and water, the main attraction is the winding stream, which has a charming atmosphere. Besides the commercial street just inside the north gate, the shops along the stream are quieter, fitting the style of an ancient town. Many are family-run restaurants serving local cuisine. Prices are neither cheap nor too expensive, with clearly marked prices and transparent pricing. There are also plenty of affordable noodle shops and various snacks and desserts. Enjoy your visit and eat to your heart's content.

Jiuhua Mountain's Tiantai and Huatai areas are primarily natural attractions. Tiantai's highest peak houses the Ksitigarbha Sutra worship site. About 500 meters below Tiantai Peak, there's an ancient sutra worship site with the legendary giant footprints. Tiantai and Huatai are connected, and the main attractions are at the peaks. Climb to the summit to admire the magnificent peaks. Once you reach Tiantai or Huatai, there's no need to rush down. Follow the signposts and hike along the way to visit both. There are also Phoenix Pine trees 200 meters from the Tiantai cable car, which are also a must-see on the hike up Tiantai Mountain. However, the ascent is long, so it's not recommended for families. The hike takes about 2-3 hours for young and middle-aged people. I chose to take the cable car up and hike down.

After entering from the north gate, the temple buildings rise in tiers, magnificent and beautiful. You need to climb steps, but they aren't very high, about the height of an 8-10 story building.

Huatai Scenic Area (main peak 1299 meters above sea level) is one of the main scenic areas of Jiuhua Mountain (Jiuhua Mountain is divided into five major scenic areas: Jiuhua Street, Min Garden, Tiantai, Huatai and Kecun Scenic Area). From a geographical point of view, Huatai is located in the center of the entire scenic area. The "natural sleeping Buddha" presented by Huatai makes the entire Jiuhua Mountain full of mystery and aura. The natural landscapes such as "Natural Sleeping Buddha", "God of Wealth Min Gong", and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva "Borrowing Land for Robes" and other major Buddhist classic stories all come from Huatai. It is the birthplace of Jiuhua Mountain's Buddhist history and culture, and there is even a saying that "Buddha is in Huatai"  

Baisui Palace is a famous temple in Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area. You can walk up the mountain on the mountain road next to the Jiuhua Mountain ticket gate, or take the Baisui Palace cable car a little further up. Both ways are acceptable. Baisui Palace is the highest point in Jiuhua Street, and you can overlook the entire Jiuhua Street. The environment is very good, and the temple enshrines a living Buddha.