Things to do in Mount Qingcheng

Çin'in Sichuan eyaletinde yer alan Qingcheng Shan (Qingcheng Dağı), Taoizmin doğduğu kutsal merkezlerden biri olarak sarp tepeleri, yoğun yeşil ormanları ve antik tapınaklarıyla büyüleyici bir dağ cennetidir. Sisler altındaki yürüyüş parkurlarında doğayla baş başa kalmak ve Daoist felsefesinin huzurlu atmosferini solumak için keşfedilmesi gereken eşsiz bir kültürel ve doğal mirastır!

There are a few options you can take when you are at the park, I chose to take the cable car up, and walk back down. This was a bit of a mistake on my part 🫩 as I was not wearing the best footwear! In saying this, I only would’ve seen some amazing sites because I chose to walk down. Taking the cable car both ways can limit what you’re seeing to the top of the mountain, which if you are short on time is best. The Laojun pavilion at the summit is incredible, as is all the taoist temples dotted around the mountain. When you walk through them, hear the gong and smell the incense and candles it helps bring you peace with the beautiful scenery. The walk down was mostly gone but some sections are steep and potentially slippery (hence wear the right shoes!). Definitely worth the visit if you are heading to the Dujiangyan area and want to connect with nature.

Qingcheng Mountain's back mountain is truly a summer paradise! The streams murmur along the way, the waterfalls in Wulonggou are magnificent, and Cuiying Lake is emerald green. When you get tired, you can rest in the pavilions, enjoying the cool breeze. The stone steps are well-maintained, the signs are clear, and the restrooms are clean. I recommend starting from Tai'an Ancient Town, taking the Baiyun Cableway to the summit, and then hiking down – this saves energy and allows you to see all the highlights. Don't miss the cured pork and fermented rice noodles at the foot of the mountain. It gets a bit crowded on weekends, so I suggest starting early. Overall, a fantastic experience, perfect for a family trip!

The last stop on the reverse Sichuan-Western mini-loop was Qingcheng Mountain. We hiked in the morning and soaked in hot springs in the afternoon – a truly wonderful experience. The hot springs were quite quiet on weekdays, though there were a lot of mosquitoes. I'd suggest considering installing those mosquito-killing lamps that are so popular in Hangzhou scenic areas these days; that would be perfect.

I stayed at the Cloud Smart Hotel for three days, and it truly felt like being enveloped in gentle comfort. The smart design throughout the room was innovative and practical, the room was elegantly and cleanly furnished, and the bedding was so soft it felt like sinking into a cloud. The staff were friendly and attentive in every way. All the fatigue from my journey was completely healed here, and I'll definitely choose this hotel again for my next trip. [rose emoji]

The most delightful surprise of the trip was Dujiangyan! Unlike many historical sites that can only be viewed, this is a water conservancy project that is still in use today. Standing at the Qin Yan Tower overlooking the entire Minjiang River diversion, and listening to the explanation of the principles of the 4:6 water distribution and 2:8 sediment removal, one truly appreciates the greatness of Li Bing and his son. Strolling along the river, shaded by ancient trees and with a cool river breeze, the Anlan Suspension Bridge spans the rushing Minjiang River, the roaring water below providing a truly immersive experience. After visiting the ancient weir during the day, we stayed in Dujiangyan in the evening to wait for the South Bridge to light up. The "Blue Tears" night view truly lived up to its name; the lights reflected on the flowing river were dreamlike and beautiful. The West Street in the ancient city offers a wide variety of snacks. The overall pace of the trip can be slowed down, offering a complete experience of cultural history, natural scenery, and nighttime fireworks. It's suitable for both family trips and solo travel; a must-do when visiting Chengdu!

The electric shuttle buses at Qingcheng Mountain are good, and the queues are relatively short. However, the cable car wait is too long; during the May Day holiday, the wait can be at least an hour. There are far too few women's restrooms at Qingcheng Mountain, so the wait can be very long. It's also advisable not to drink too much water.

So glad we chose to go to panda valley instead of the research base in the city! The panda valley wasn’t crowded AT ALL in the afternoon, and even thought we went at 1pm and people said the pandas usually sleep at 10am we did encounter the sleeping ones in public sleeping on logs (so cute!) but a few munching on lunch. Even saw some red pandas hanging on trees! The hike brought great views as well, overall super successful trip and afterwards can hit up the ancient city nearby it and the city where the giant selfie panda is walkable to the ancient city

The ancient town of Tai'an in Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain was severely damaged in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, but after more than ten years, it has now been fully restored. It is still a nice place to go to the mountain to escape the heat in the summer and is worth recommending and visiting.

Shangqing Palace on Mount Qingcheng is the highest (approximately 1180 m) ancient Taoist temple on the mountain, and the epitome of Qingcheng's serene beauty. It offers multiple experiences, including watching the sunrise, viewing the sea of ​​clouds, and filming scenes similar to those in the TV series *Journey to the West*, earning it the reputation of "the Taoist temple closest to heaven." Located on the eastern slope of Pengzu Peak on the front of the mountain, it is about 500 m from the summit, Laoxiao Peak, and can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot or by cable car from the upper station. Must-see Highlights: 1. Magu Pool: Legend has it that the fairy Magu bathed in this pool, which never dries up even in droughts. The ancient trees reflected in the pool create a truly ethereal scene for photos. 2. Mandarin Duck Wells: Two wells, one square and one round, are connected by a hidden spring. Legend says they were dug by the Queen Consort of Shu. The water is sweet and refreshing. 3. Stone Carvings of Zhang Daqian's Dunhuang Murals: The palace houses stone carvings of portraits of Zhang Daqian, including "Queen Mother of the West," "Magu," and "Lady Huarui," painted during his four years of residence in Qingcheng. These paintings are of extremely high artistic value. 4. "First Peak of Qingcheng" Cliff Inscription: The stone walls on both sides of the mountain gate are inscribed with "Fifth Famous Mountain Under Heaven" and "First Peak of Qingcheng" by Huang Yunhu of the Qing Dynasty. A must-see for photos. 5. Laojun Pavilion (Laoxiao Peak behind the palace): Climb the stone steps for another 10 minutes to reach the summit, Laojun Pavilion. Enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the Chengdu Plain and the Minjiang River, best viewed at sunrise and amidst the sea of ​​clouds. 6. Journey to the West Photo Spot: The scene in the 1986 TV series *Journey to the West* where Sun Wukong learns martial arts after becoming an apprentice was filmed on the platform in front of Shangqing Palace. You can take photos there yourself. Shangqing Palace is the top cultural and scenic spot at the "Peak of Qingcheng." Allow an hour to leisurely explore Magu Pond and Yuanyang Well, then climb Laojun Pavilion to see the sea of ​​clouds. Arriving early or late allows you to enjoy a truly divine perspective!