Things to do in Jiuhua Mountain

The peaks resemble lotus blossoms, shrouded in mist and clouds; Jiuhua Mountain in the rain looks like a traditional Chinese ink painting. The Tiantai and Huatai platforms offer expansive views, and the plank roads connecting the peaks are perfect for taking photos. However, heavy fog on rainy or foggy days is a bit of a disappointment; it's recommended to visit on a sunny day for a better experience.

Being able to bring a dog on the cable car is commendable. It was very crowded that day due to the National Day holiday; we queued for an hour, but it was manageable after getting a number and exploring a bit more. There was heavy fog that day, so the scenery wasn't visible.

Dear Friend, please visit this scenic once in a lifetime at least, since it's free to enter the park and you can also enjoy the pilgrims trail from the front gate to the end of the park.. for my parents, we got this shuttle to shorten our route since it's close to climb to the foot of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on 16.50p.m.. please feel free to visit this Scenic once in a lifetime before it's too late to enjoy it.. I'm book ahead from Trip.com for easy access..

After entering from the north gate, the temple buildings rise in tiers, magnificent and beautiful. You need to climb steps, but they aren't very high, about the height of an 8-10 story building.

Huatai Scenic Area (main peak 1299 meters above sea level) is one of the main scenic areas of Jiuhua Mountain (Jiuhua Mountain is divided into five major scenic areas: Jiuhua Street, Min Garden, Tiantai, Huatai and Kecun Scenic Area). From a geographical point of view, Huatai is located in the center of the entire scenic area. The "natural sleeping Buddha" presented by Huatai makes the entire Jiuhua Mountain full of mystery and aura. The natural landscapes such as "Natural Sleeping Buddha", "God of Wealth Min Gong", and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva "Borrowing Land for Robes" and other major Buddhist classic stories all come from Huatai. It is the birthplace of Jiuhua Mountain's Buddhist history and culture, and there is even a saying that "Buddha is in Huatai"  

Jiuhua Mountain's Tiantai and Huatai areas are primarily natural attractions. Tiantai's highest peak houses the Ksitigarbha Sutra worship site. About 500 meters below Tiantai Peak, there's an ancient sutra worship site with the legendary giant footprints. Tiantai and Huatai are connected, and the main attractions are at the peaks. Climb to the summit to admire the magnificent peaks. Once you reach Tiantai or Huatai, there's no need to rush down. Follow the signposts and hike along the way to visit both. There are also Phoenix Pine trees 200 meters from the Tiantai cable car, which are also a must-see on the hike up Tiantai Mountain. However, the ascent is long, so it's not recommended for families. The hike takes about 2-3 hours for young and middle-aged people. I chose to take the cable car up and hike down.

The Baisui Palace Scenic Area located in the front mountain of Jiuhua Mountain includes Baisui Palace, Dongya Zen Temple, Huixiang Pavilion and other scenic spots. You can choose to take the cable car or walk to go up and down the Baisui Palace, which is more convenient. The Baisui Palace cable car is a ground track, which is very safe and fast. After going up, you can see the natural reclining Buddha, so you need to choose a sunny day to see it. If it is a rainy day, it will be blocked by clouds and fog and you can't see it directly.

Jiuhua Street is an old street with local characteristics. The characteristic here is that it is surrounded by countless temples, which makes it particularly quiet and otherworldly. There are some local goods for sale in the old street, as well as some snack bars, etc. There are not many people, which adds to its quietness.

Tiantai Temple, also known as Dizang Temple, is located on the top of Tiantai Peak in Jiuhua Mountain, with an altitude of 1,306 meters. It is not only the highest altitude in Jiuhua Mountain, but also the highest ancient temple in Anhui. Tiantai Temple is located in the depression between Tiantai Peak and Yuping Peak, facing north and south, and consists of three groups of residential palaces. The layout is very ingenious, almost integrated with the mountain.

One of the must-visit places in Jiuhua Mountain, the temple dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is said to be one of the birthplaces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It is usually very popular, the management is in place, and the health code is strictly checked when entering and leaving