Mianshan Mountain is 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. It has also been named Jieshan Mountain after Jie Zitui, a famous official in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC). The mountain is renowned as the location of both Buddhist and Taoist temples, and also famous for its unique natural scenery. Covering an area of 113.8 square miles (294.75 square kilometers), the highest peak of Mt. Mianshan is 8,420 feet (2,566.6 meters).

Map of Mianshan Mountain

Map of Mianshan Mountain

(Click to enlarge)

A thorough tour to this huge mountain takes one or two days. There are over 360 scenic spots scattered over 14 areas including Dragon Head Temple, Dragon Backbone Ridge, Princess Li Cave, Honeycomb Spring, Daluo Taoist Temple, Heavenly Bridge, One-Cup Spring, Zhu Family Hollow, Yunfeng Temple, Zhengguo Temple, Lord Jie Ridge, Qixian Valley, Ancient Vine Valley, and Water Wave Valley. The mountain is also the birthplace of the Cold Food Festival (the day before Qingming Festival), with an exhibition hall showing the local traditions of this time-honored Chinese festival. The following is an introduction to the most famous sites that tourists should be sure to visit.

Yunfeng Temple and Baofu Rock

Yunfeng Temple was built during the Kingdom of Wei Period (220 – 265). Located in the 'arms' of Baofu Rock, it also called Baofu Temple. Baofu in Chinese means holding the belly. The rock got its name because it looks exactly like this posture, holding about 200 palaces in its arms. Hailed as the 'Only Cave Holding the Temple', Baofu Rock is 197 feet (60 meters) in height, 591 feet (180 meters) in length and 164 feet (50 meters) in depth. Many Buddhist figures are in the palaces for people to pay homage to. Many stone tablets and sculptures can be seen there, dating from the Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties (618 – 1644). There are numerous bells hanging on the cliffs, enabling people to pursue blessings in a traditional way.

Entrance Archway of Mianshan Mountain

Entrance Archway of Mianshan Mountain

Qixian Valley, Mount Mianshan

Qixian Valley

Daluo Taoist Temple

Daluo Taoist Temple hangs on the Lion Mountain with a height of 361 feet (110 meters). In Taoism, the heaven contains 36 levels. Of these, the highest level is called Daluo. Therefore, Daluo Temple means the highest Asgard. The total area of the complex is 36,000 square yards (30,100 square meters) while the main construction covers an area of 12,000 square yards (10,000 square meters). Known as the Greatest Taoist Temple in the world, Daluo Taoist Temple has many painted sculptures made in the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. There is a natural cave on the Lion Mountain named White Cloud Cave, because clouds come out from the cave during the summer. White Cloud Nunnery is next to the cave with stone inscriptions of Diamond Sutra, which dates from the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907).

Qixian Valley

Qixian Valley is a winding gorge with one-line sky. The narrow passages, jagged rocks and streams create a mysterious and secluded environment. Visitors need to climb more than ten ladders to go through the valley. The ladders are made of wooden boards. One end of each is embedded in the cliff face while the other is unsupported and appears to hang in the sky. As there is no handrail, visitors need to hold onto the rocks to pass the narrow valley. There are many unique plants growing on the vertical precipices, attracting numerous butterflies.

Steep Mianshan Mountain

Steep Mianshan Mountain

Water Wave Valley, Mt. Mianshan

Water Wave Valley

Honeycomb Spring

Honeycomb Spring hangs on the cliffs with many stalactites. The water drops tinkle down into the pool, which sounds like a melody played by strings. Many poets came to this place, leaving numerous poems praising the Honeycomb Spring, and giving the spring a strong ambience of literature.

Qingming Cold Food (Hanshi) Culture Hall

In olden times, the Cold Food Festival was held annually to commemorate Jie Zitui on the day he died. The use of fires was forbidden, so people only ate cold food. The day after the Cold Food Festival was Qingming Festival. Nowadays, these two festivals are combined as one event. Using high-tech methods like touchable screens and electronic interactive activities to reproduce the real scene, Qingming Cold Food Culture Hall demonstrates the historical development and folk customs of the two festivals, such as tomb-sweeping, sacrificing, spring outing, and sticking willow branches. 

Transportation

The mountain is 23 miles away from Pingyao County, and 97 miles from Taiyuan. With the opening up of Beijing-Pingyao and Pingyao - Xi'an High Speed Railways, it is very convenient to get to the scenic area from Beijing and Xi'an.

1. From Pingyao or Taiyuan:

Take trains in Pingyao Railway Station or Taiyuan Railway Station to Jiexiu Railway Station. Get out of the station and take Tourism Bus to the scenic area.

Take coaches in Pingyao Coach Station, or Taiyuan Jiannan Bus Station to Jiexiu. Then take Tourism Bus to the scenic area.

2. From Beijing or Xi'an:

Take high-speed trains in Beijing West Railway Station or Xi'an North Railway Station to Jiexiu East Railway Station. Get out of the station and take the Special Line to Jiexiu Bus Station, and then take Tourism Bus to the mountain.