Sanqing Mountain Scenic Area is located at the junction of Yushan County and Dexing City, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area, a World Natural Heritage, and a World Geopark. The total area of the scenic area is 229.5 square kilometers, and the main peak, Yujing Peak, has an altitude of 1,819.9 meters. It gets its name because the three peaks of Yujing, Yuxu, and Yuhua are just like the three Taoist deities of Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing sitting on the mountain top. Sanqing Mountain is famous for its "Five Wonders": grotesque peaks and rocks, ancient trees and famous flowers, flowing springs and flying waterfalls, sea of clouds and mist, and Taoist culture, and is known as "the First Immortal Mountain under Heaven".
History and Culture
The Taoist culture of Sanqing Mountain has a long history. Since Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty started to open up the mountain for alchemy, it has had a Taoist history of more than 1,600 years. Taoist temples began to be built and cultivation started in the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the Song Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty was the golden age of the development of Taoism on Sanqing Mountain. There were numerous Taoist temples all over the mountain, and the incense was very prosperous. There are more than 50 existing Taoist temples and ruins, among which ancient buildings such as Sanqing Palace, Longhu Hall, and Fenglei Pagoda are well-preserved and have high historical and artistic values.
The geological evolution history of Sanqing Mountain is as long as 1.4 billion years. After experiencing many geological tectonic movements, it has formed a unique granite peak forest landform. In 2012, Sanqing Mountain was included in the World Geopark List by UNESCO and became an important window to showcase the earth's evolutionary history.
In 2008, as an important part of China's Danxia landform, Sanqing Mountain was included in the World Heritage List. A large number of rare animal and plant resources are preserved in the scenic area, including 33 species of national key protected plants and 37 species of national key protected animals, making it an important base for biodiversity conservation.
Main Attractions
The Goddess of the East
It is the iconic landscape of Sanqing Mountain, with an altitude of 1,180 meters. It is a grotesque peak naturally formed by granite, which looks like a dignified and beautiful girl and is 86 meters high. When viewed from different angles, the image of the goddess changes variously, and it is known as "the First Wonder of Sanqing Mountain".
The Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain
It is a rare natural granite landscape in the world, with an altitude of 1,200 meters, a height of 128 meters, and a diameter of less than 7 meters. It looks like a giant python standing tall and bursting out of the mountain, with great momentum. According to the verification of geological experts, its formation has gone through more than 100 million years of geological evolution.
Sanqing Palace
It is a representative of the Taoist buildings on Sanqing Mountain. It was first built in the Song Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of 2,300 square meters. It is a granite building complex imitating the wooden structure. Inside the palace, the three deities of Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing are enshrined, and it is a sacred place for Taoist believers to worship.
Yujing Peak
It is the highest peak of Sanqing Mountain, with an altitude of 1,819.9 meters. The peak is flat, and an observation platform is built on it. Standing on the peak, you can overlook the panoramic view of Sanqing Mountain. When the sea of clouds is surging, it is like being in a fairyland, and it is the best place to watch the sunrise.
Sunshine Coast
It is a newly developed high-altitude plank road scenic area of Sanqing Mountain, with a total length of 3,600 meters and an average altitude of 1,600 meters. The plank road is built along the cliff, and walking on it is like walking in the air. You can enjoy the most magnificent peak forest landscape of Sanqing Mountain.
Delicacies
Sanqing Mountain Stone Frog
It is a kind of frog growing among the rocks in the streams of Sanqing Mountain. The meat is tender and delicious. The traditional cooking methods are stewing or braising in soy sauce. When cooked with mountain spring water, the soup is clear and the taste is mellow. It is a top-grade mountain delicacy.
Yushan Black Pig
It is a specialty of Yushan County and is free-ranged in the mountainous areas around Sanqing Mountain. The meat is firm and not greasy even though it has fat. Braised black pork is a traditional famous dish in the Sanqing Mountain area, with an appetizing aroma and a melt-in-the-mouth taste.
Sanqing Yunwu Tea
Growing in the cloud and mist belt above an altitude of 800 meters in Sanqing Mountain, the tea leaves are plump and the aroma is lofty and long-lasting. After brewing, the tea soup is light green and bright, the taste is fresh and sweet with a lingering aftertaste, and it has the effect of refreshing the mind.
Kudzu Starch Paste
It is a traditional health food in Sanqing Mountain, made from the powder of wild kudzu roots. It has a smooth taste, a slightly sweet and fragrant flavor, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing internal heat, and improving eyesight. It is deeply loved by tourists.
Ticket Information
Sanqing Mountain Scenic Area implements different ticket prices for the peak season (March 1st - November 30th) and the off-season (December 1st - the end of February of the following year). The peak season ticket is 120 yuan per person, and the off-season ticket is 100 yuan per person. Cable car tickets: The upward ticket of Jinsha Cableway is 70 yuan per person, and the downward ticket is 55 yuan per person; the upward ticket of Waishuangxi Cableway is 70 yuan per person, and the downward ticket is 55 yuan per person. Seniors over 60 years old, students, etc. can enjoy a 50% discount on tickets, and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge.
Itinerary Recommendations
A recommended two-day itinerary: On the first day: Take the Jinsha Cableway up the mountain → Visit the Nanqingyuan Scenic Area (The Goddess of the East, The Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain, etc.) → The Sunshine Coast High-altitude Plank Road → Check in at a hotel on the mountain; On the second day: Visit the West Coast Scenic Area → Sanqing Palace → Yujing Peak → Take the Waishuangxi Cableway down the mountain. If you have enough time, you can add one more day to visit attractions such as Yulingguan and Bingyudong.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From Shangrao, take the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to the Yushan Exit, and then drive along the Sanqing Mountain Tourism Highway to the scenic area.
- By train: Take a high-speed train to Shangrao Station or Yushan Station, and then transfer to the scenic area bus.
- By plane: The nearest airport is Shangrao Sanqing Mountain Airport, which is about 80 kilometers away from the scenic area.
- Transportation within the scenic area: Two cableways connect the foot of the mountain and the core scenic area, and the main scenic spots need to be visited on foot.
Must-visit Attractions
- The Goddess of the East - The iconic landscape of Sanqing Mountain, a 86-meter-high granite grotesque peak.
- The Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain - A rare geological wonder in the world, 128 meters high and with a diameter of less than 7 meters.
- Sanqing Palace - A Taoist building complex of the Ming Dynasty, the center of Taoist culture on Sanqing Mountain.
- Yujing Peak - The highest peak of Sanqing Mountain, with an altitude of 1,819.9 meters, the best viewing spot.
- Sunshine Coast - A high-altitude plank road at an altitude of 1,600 meters, with a total length of 3,600 meters.
Tour Tips
- The best tourist seasons are from April to June and from September to November, with pleasant weather and the best cloud and mist landscapes.
- Prepare comfortable hiking shoes, as there are many trails in the scenic area and they have a certain slope.
- The temperature difference on the mountain is large, so even in summer, you should bring a windproof coat.
- Book accommodation on the mountain in advance for convenience in watching the sunrise and the sea of clouds.
- Purchasing cable car tickets can save your energy and leave enough time to visit the core scenic area.
- The scenic area is large, and it is recommended to arrange a 2-3-day in-depth tour.
Notes
- The mountain road is slippery, so pay attention to safety when walking, especially after rain.
- Protect the geological remains and do not climb or carve on the rocks.
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and pay attention to fire prevention.
- Do not pick plants or catch wild animals casually.
- Pay attention to safety in the high-altitude plank road area and do not climb over the guardrail.
- The signal is weak in some areas, so it is recommended to download the tour guide map in advance.