Is Longhu Mountain worth visiting? What is it like?

Longhu Mountain is the birthplace of Taoism in China and the ancestral shrine of the Heavenly Master School. It is also listed as one of the Seventy-two Blessed Lands of Taoism. During the heyday of Taoism in history, ten grand Taoist palaces, eighty-one Taoist temples, fifty Taoist monasteries and ten hermitages were built here, reflecting its remarkable prosperity. Today, most of these ancient buildings have fallen into ruins, and only the Heavenly Master Mansion remains well-preserved.

Similar to Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, Longhu Mountain features typical Danxia landforms. It has been designated as a World Geopark and a World Natural Heritage Site. Tianmen Mountain is its highest peak, standing at an altitude of 1,300 meters. Major scenic spots here include the Upper Qing Palace, Heavenly Master Mansion, Immortal Rocks & Water Rocks, Cliff Tombs, Elephant Trunk Mountain, Row of Guardian Rocks, Solitary Peak and Mazu Rock. A bamboo raft cruise along Luxi River, with stunning mountain views on both banks, is also a wonderful experience.

Most attractions of Longhu Mountain line the two sides of Luxi River from north to south in this order: Elephant Trunk Mountain → Xianshui Rock → Mosquito-Free Village → Zhenyi Temple → Shangqing Ancient Town (Upper Qing Palace). You can tour all core highlights in one day if you travel at a brisk pace. That said, a two-day trip is recommended to fully explore the scenery and culture.

Located in Shangqing Ancient Town, this was the residence of successive Heavenly Masters. Originally built at the foot of Longhu Mountain, it was later relocated to Shangqing. The first Heavenly Master, Zhang Daoling, was said to be the eighth-generation descendant of Zhang Liang. He refined elixirs on Longhu Mountain for three years until they were successfully made. The Taoist sect he founded has been passed down to this day, and later generations respectfully call him the Heavenly Master.

Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, the mansion has over 500 rooms. Its magnificent pavilions and halls are resplendent and elegant, connected by winding paths and corridors. Towering ancient trees dot the grounds, creating a serene and picturesque environment.

It sits on the east bank of Luxi River, with its south gate a short distance from Taohua Islet. A gigantic natural stone elephant rises among the mountains. Its huge trunk seems to descend from the sky and plunge deep into the earth. Exquisitely shaped and imbued with a mystical vibe, it is known as the No.1 Divine Elephant under Heaven.

A flat plank walkway runs along the mountainside, allowing visitors to admire the rock formation from different angles. Compared with the Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin, this one looks more powerful, with an extraordinarily lifelike straight trunk.

The hanging coffins in the cliff caves of Xianshui Rock are shrouded in mystery. The scenic area puts on regular coffin-lifting performances daily (10:00 – 16:00, one show every two hours, for reference), demonstrating how ancient people placed coffins into caves on sheer precipices.

Tourists watch the show from the bank of Taohua Islet, while the performance takes place on the opposite cliff, presenting a thrilling sight. Since the phrase for "lifting coffins" shares the same pronunciation as "getting promoted" in Chinese, many visitors come here to pray for good fortune. Bamboo rafts moor on the river. About ten minutes before the coffin-lifting show, there is a cormorant fishing performance, showcasing the fishing and hunting lifestyle of the ancient Yue people.

You can take a bamboo raft from Shangqing Wharf. Along the way, you will see the famous "Ten Unique Sights" as well as the hanging coffin performances. At the end of the Twenty-Four Rocks stands Shuiyan, a large riverside cave that can hold hundreds of people. The clear river flows in front of the cave, and its overhanging roof stretches out above the water, bringing a slight sense of thrills to visitors standing at the entrance.

Sailing west along Luxi River by bamboo raft, you will pass more than a hundred peaks within seven li. The most famous ones are the Twenty-Four Rocks collectively called Xianshui Rock. Crystal-clear streams wind around grotesque peaks rising from blue water. The breathtaking scenery earns this place the nickname "Little Li River".

The most practical way to tour Longhu Mountain is to combine shuttle bus rides, walking and raft drifting. For a one-day tour of major sites: take the shuttle bus from the Tourist Center to Zhenyi Temple, then continue to Shangqing Ancient Town about 10 kilometers away. After that, head back against the tourist route to return to the starting point.