How to Visit Tianzhu Mountain – Complete Travel Guide

Located in Qianshan County, Tianzhu Mountain holds numerous honors including one of China’s first key national scenic areas, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a national geopark, a national civilized forest park, and one of China’s Top Ten Famous Mountains. It was designated the "Southern Sacred Mountain" by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

Tianzhu Mountain features 42 peaks covered with lush pines, green bamboo, grotesque rocks, exotic caves, cascading waterfalls and deep pools. It is also the sacred venue for the Third Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, with the Third Patriarch Temple still standing at the foot of the mountain.

Tianzhu Mountain has long been a celebrated cultural mountain since ancient times. During the Spring and Autumn Period, it belonged to the fiefdom of the State of Wan, which gave Anhui Province its short name "Wan". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty climbed Tianzhu Mountain in Qianshan to offer sacrifices and named it the Southern Sacred Mountain. Taoism regards Tianzhu Mountain as the 14th Heavenly Grotto, the 57th Blessed Land, and the Central Mountain among China’s Five Guardian Mountains. The Second and Third Patriarchs of Chan Buddhism once resided and practiced here.

Literati and officials including Li Bai, Su Dongpo, Bai Juyi, Huang Tingjian and Wang Anshi all regarded Tianzhu Mountain as an ideal place to spend their twilight years. Over 400 cliff stone carvings and a great many literary masterpieces left by them are preserved on the mountain.

Tianzhu Mountain boasts distinct scenery all year round and is accessible for travel in every season, with spring, summer and autumn being the best visiting periods.

Peak season: 150 RMB per person Off-season: 110 RMB per person

7:00 – 17:30

Qianshan County, Anqing City

Local dishes and snacks of Tianzhu Mountain are mostly made from pollution-free wild ingredients and farm produce. Signature dishes: Stewed Native Chicken with Stone Mushrooms, Deep-fried Small River Fish, Braised Pork with Wild Starch Balls, Sweet Snow Lake Lotus Root, "No.1 Pot Under Heaven", Steamed Pork Noodles, Tianzhu Mountain Vermicelli, etc. Snacks: Glutinous Rice Happiness Balls, Zhaner Cakes, Soy Milk Tofu Skin, Sesame Candy, Mini Malt Sugar, etc.

Premium specialties: Tianzhu Sword Hair Tea series, Shu mat, bonsai, root carving, stone mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, bracken, flower mushrooms, honey oranges, trichosanthes seeds, chestnuts, ginger, kiwifruit and more