Fanjingshan Travel Guide: Top Things to Do, Best Time & How to Get There

Mount Fanjing, also known as Fanjingshan, is one of Guizhou Province's most stunning natural and spiritual destinations, teeming with biodiversity and featuring numerous sacred sites. This wonder is a must-see for anyone interested in nature, Chinese culture, and outdoor activities. Read on to learn how you can visit this impressive place and what to do while you're there.

The Red Cloud Golden Summit of Fanjingshan

Basic Information About Fanjingshan

Cheng'en Temple on Fanjing Mountain

Mount Fanjing is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Guizhou, full of karst rock formations, incredible animal and plant species like the Guizhou Snub-nosed Monkey, and bamboo groves. It also has great spiritual importance as the place where the Future Buddha found enlightenment.

You'll find sky-high temples at the top of Mount Fanjing, which are open to the public and accessible by climbing the mountain or taking the cable car partially up and hiking the rest of the way.

• Location: Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Tongren, China
• Altitude: The highest peak reaches 2,474 meters, or 8,116 feet
• Recommended Visiting Duration: At least 5 hours
• Ticket Price: 298 RMB for adults, 198 RMB for students, the price including scenic entrance, round trip bus, and round trip cable car 
• Shuttle Information: Guiyang to Fanjingshan 98 RMB, one way/299 RMB round trip
  
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Best Time to Visit

We recommend visiting between March to May (spring) and September to November (autumn) for clear skies, great views, and plenty of opportunities to take photographs. June to August is the rainy season, and the trail can be slippery, making the hike more difficult. Also, you're less likely to see the scenery clearly during these months.

During the spring months, you'll see some of Fanjingshan's famous foliage in bloom, including rhododendrons, azaleas, and orchids. The autumn months bring the changing of the leaves, and you can see beautiful landscapes of red, orange, and green leaves.

Top Things to See in Fanjingshan

There are plenty of amazing things to see and do at Mount Fanjing. These top favorites are sure to make your visit a memorable one. We can help put together a personalized itinerary that suits your needs as well.

Red Cloud Golden Summit (Hongyun Jinding)

Red Cloud Golden Summit, also known as Hongyun Jinding in Mandarin Chinese, is one of the highlights of Fanjingshan and the best spot to get panoramic views of the surrounding scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset when the blanket of clouds surrounding the mountain is illuminated.

It also features the iconic twin temple peaks and dramatic cliffs, making it the highlight of most Mount Fanjing visits. You can either hike to the summit or take the cable cars up to the Upper Cableway Station, which is about a 1.5-2 hour walk to the Red Golden Summit.

Red Cloud Golden Summit is most famous for its epic temples: Maitreya Hall and Sakamuni Hall, which are joined by a small stone bridge. Accessing the Red Cloud Golden Summit requires advance reservation, and there are QR codes for booking at Mushroom Rock and Chengen Temple (Pudu Square). During peak seasons, visitors might need to queue for 2-3 hours to reach the summit.

We recommend going to Old Golden Summit, also known as Lao Jinding, first, as you'll find fewer tourists. It's also at a relatively higher elevation, and you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hongyun Jinding from a unique angle.

Mushroom Rock

Mushroom Rock is a sandstone formation that's 10 meters, or 32 feet, high and looks just like a mushroom with a massive brim and thin stalk. If you decide to climb to Red Cloud Golden Summit, you'll pass it on your way up, or you can take the cable car partially up. Mushroom Rock is about a 45-minute walk from the cable car's Upper Station. It's a great spot to take photos and enjoy a quick water and snack break before your ascent further up the mountain.

Chengen Temple

Fanjingshan's Chengen Temple is a few hundred feet lower than the Red Cloud Golden Summit temples and is nicknamed the "Upper Tea Hall". It is a fabulous example of early Ming Dynasty architecture and a peaceful place to visit and truly take in the spiritual depth of Mount Fanjing.

Chengen Temple occasionally serves free porridge around 11:30 a.m., so if you're lucky, you'll enjoy a warm meal when you arrive.

How to Climb Mount Fanjing

Map of hiking on Fanjingshan

If you want to climb Mount Fanjing, you have several options. You can climb from either the West Gate or the East Gate side, where you have the option of taking the cable car to reduce your active climbing time.

• East Gate: We recommend that most visitors take the East Gate route. The East Gate is the most popular route up the mountain and will take you past highlights like Mushroom Rock and Chengen Temple. You can take the cable car to reduce your climbing time.
• West Gate: This route is far less popular, so you're likely to run into fewer crowds and see more wildlife on your way. You'll see the Huguo Temple and Guoran Temple on your way up. This route has no cable car and has an elevation gain of 1,600 meters. It takes 3-4 hours to reach the top and involves climbing over 8,000 steps. As it's quite strenuous, we don't recommend taking this route unless you're an experienced hiker.

Cable Car Option

Take the half-hour 3.5 kilometer (2-mile) cable car journey to the top, then walk 750 meters to reach Mushroom Rock. The cable car option is a good choice for those who don't want to make the serious trek to the top. From Mushroom Rock, you can hike to Red Cloud Golden Summit.

How to Get There

You can get to Fanjingshan in several different ways: by train, air, or car. We recommend that you consider booking a tour with our private guide and driver service. You'll enjoy complete convenience and a more personalized experience.

• Train: A high-speed train runs from Guiyang to Tongren City. The train journey takes 1.5-2 hours. From there, you'll need to transfer to a car or bus to get to the scenic area, which takes 1 hour.
• Air: Fly into Tongren Fenghuang Airport and rent or hire a car to drive you 1 hour to the mountain. We can help with these logistics.

Where to Stay

A scenic hotel at the foot of Fanjingshan

There are plenty of hotels and homestays near Mount Fanjing, which will come in handy if you want to get an early start on your day. Book in advance during the high season to make sure you get a room.

Additionally, you can stay in Tongren, which is just over 1 hour from Fanjingshan and offers a variety of accommodations for all budgets and needs. We're happy to give you suggestions and even help book your reservations.

Travel Tips

Keep these travel tips in mind when visiting Fanjingshan to make the most of your time there.

• Visit the local food street at the base of the mountain. It's absolutely perfect for a meal before or after your visit.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes with good tread, and bring hiking poles if you plan to climb to the summit.
• Bring plenty of water while you're exploring the mountain.
• Wear lightweight layers and bring an umbrella or raincoat, as the weather can, and does, change at the summit. It's also cooler at the summit, and a light jacket will come in handy.
• The sun is intense at high altitudes, so wear sunscreen and bring a sunhat and glasses for extra protection.

Have a Unique Natural Experience at Fanjingshan

Fanjingshan is a renowned sacred and natural site, with incredible rock formations, sky-high temples, and beautiful scenery. You'll enjoy spectacular panoramic views, holy sites, and the wonder of the natural world while you're there. Let us help you make your trip to Fanjingshan extraordinary. Visit our contact page or email trip@odynovotours.com and get in touch today.