Shenxianju Scenic Area

Shenxianju Scenic Area serves as the core zone of Xianju National Park, a national-level scenic spot and a national AAAAA tourist attraction. In ancient times, it was known as Mount Tianmu, also called Weiqiang Mountain. The fantastical mountain scenery depicted in Li Bai’s Tang-dynasty poem Song of a Dream Visit to Mount Tianmu with a Farewell Poem refers precisely to Shenxianju. Baidu Encyclopedia has officially verified and approved the entry "Mount Tianmu — Shenxianju (Weiqiang Mountain)". This designation represents a geographical heritage bestowed by nature and an objective, rigorous record preserved in historical texts for thousands of years. Numerous supernatural scenes described by Li Bai in the poem — Rainbows form my robes, wind serves as my steeds; clouds of immortals descend in swarms. Tigers strum zithers, phoenixes pull carriages; celestial beings stand thick as hemp stalks — all find their real-life counterparts within Shenxianju, stunning every visitor who witnesses them. On the mountain cliff stands an inscription left by He Shu'e, county magistrate during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, reading "The No.1 City of Mist and Rosy Clouds". It praises Shenxianju as a land veiled in swirling mist and glowing clouds, boasting unrivaled scenic beauty under heaven.

Boasting one-of-a-kind geological structures, Shenxianju hosts the world’s largest cluster of volcanic rhyolite landforms. Every mountain, stream, cliff, cave, rock and peak forms an exquisite unique scene, collectively forming six iconic wonders: Guanyin Peak, Tathagata Rock, Mount Tianmu Summit, sea of clouds, cascading waterfalls and tadpole script carvings. The scenic area is split into two major sections: the South Sea Zone and the North Sea Zone. Eight renowned new sights have been named here: Benevolent Sails of Xiyan, Mist Shrouded Painted Screens, Buddhist Chants of the Buddha Sea, Green Dripping Cliffs, Sunset Glow over Lichong Village, Spring Waves Stirred by Wind, Tadpole Script Heavenly Text, and Listening to Mountain Streams in Danzhu. The northern and southern fringes of the scenic area showcase classic southern Chinese canyon landscapes, where forests and mountain springs intertwine. The region wins visitors over with grotesque rock formations, powerful waterfalls, secluded valleys, dense caves, crystal-clear water and enchanting mist, featuring thousands of towering peaks and an overwhelmingly grand vista. Visitors can take the North Sea Cable Car uphill and the South Heaven Cable Car downhill, traveling several kilometers along cliff walkways hundreds of meters above the valley floor. The trail sequentially covers six themed paths: the Bodhi Path, Prajna Path, Karma Path, Guanyin Path, Eagle Flight Path and Non-Action Path. Along the way, melodious birdsong echoes, and fresh vistas unfold with every step, making visitors feel as if wandering through a scroll painting; even steep slopes barely register as hardships. The concentration of negative oxygen ions within the scenic area is extraordinarily high, averaging 21,000 per cubic centimeter and reaching a peak of 88,000 per cubic centimeter, earning it the well-deserved title of a natural oxygen bar. Leisure brings immortality. Wandering here allows travelers to seek inner peace, reflect on their true selves and attain unconstrained joy.

In recent years, Shenxianju has leveraged its unparalleled geographical advantages to host a series of distinctive sporting events. In 2014, highline slacklining made its debut at Shenxianju. Brave highline athletes strung a one-inch-wide soft rope between peaks beside Guanyin Peak, turning the mountain into the venue for the First Global Highline Masters Tournament. In 2015, the Second Global Highline Challenge expanded its scale, inviting 11 foreign competitors — a record high for China — staging a fashionable sporting event of international standards.

The 3rd Shenxianju Global Highline Challenge in 2016 was upgraded to become the world’s premier highline competition, building upon the success of previous tournaments. In 2017, the 4th Highline Challenge returned to the public spotlight with brand-new freestyle highline performances and a record number of participants, delivering a heart-stopping visual feast for audiences. Starting in 2014, Shenxianju has hosted the China-South Korea Mountaineering Conference annually, successfully integrating sports events with tourism. These gatherings have deepened cultural exchanges between Chinese and South Korean citizens. Shenxianju’s remarkable popularity among South Korean tourists has become a benchmark case for inbound tourism in Taizhou. South Korea ranks as Xianju’s top source of overseas visitors, with over 30,000 South Korean tourists traveling here each year.

On July 16, 2017, Ferrata — China’s first experiential rock climbing project in a national AAAAA scenic area — was completed and opened to the public at Shenxianju. Designed personally by Mr. Corinne Klein, Deputy Consul of the French Consulate in Chengdu, mountain development attaché of the French Embassy and international outdoor sports specialist, the project encompasses multiple functional zones: the world’s first giant bouldering training ground, a picnic area, Phase I adult ferrata route, Phase II youth ferrata route, main rock face rappelling, waterfall rappelling, rock climbing and lakeside leisure facilities. Upon its opening, the Shenxianju ferrata project drew countless visitors seeking new thrills, emerging as a new growth engine and major highlight for the scenic area. Its completion carries great significance for fueling the development of the local outdoor sports industry in Xianju.

Shenxianju perfectly balances stunning natural landscapes and profound cultural heritage on one hand, and a world-class outdoor tourism paradise with international flair on the other. With favorable winds filling its sails, Shenxianju strides confidently to the forefront of global tourism, destined to blaze an innovative development path integrating sports and tourism. Embracing the world with a broad vision and boundless passion, it welcomes all outdoor enthusiasts and young, daring spirits. Through these signature events and outdoor projects, Shenxianju aims to build exclusive premium sports-tourism brands unique to itself, elevate its national and international reputation, serve as a showcase for China’s outdoor sports, and evolve into a world-class sports tourism destination. It strives to become a true paradise for outdoor recreation and a pioneer among China’s AAAAA scenic spots in the integrated development of sports and tourism