Things to do in Tiantai County

Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area is a combined scenic area consisting of Tiantai Mountain Waterfall Scenic Area and Qiongtan Xiangu Scenic Area, connected by a glass bridge (Guoqing Temple Scenic Area and Shiliang Scenic Area are in two other directions). If you want a less strenuous visit but want to see both the Waterfall Scenic Area and Qiongtan Xiangu, you can take a bus from the visitor center to Qiongtan Xiangu (buses depart every half hour on the hour). Then, enter from the main gate of Qiongtan Xiangu and walk up to the Heavenly Ladder (this section is flat with few steps and can be completed in half an hour). Then, take the Heavenly Ladder to the highest peak of Tiantai Mountain, which is the location of the glass bridge connecting the two scenic areas. After crossing the glass bridge, you'll find the entrance to the Waterfall Scenic Area on the mountain. The path to the exit of the Waterfall Scenic Area is all downhill (it also takes about an hour and a half to walk). If you only want to visit the Waterfall Scenic Area and don't want to climb the mountain, you can take a bus directly from the visitor center to the entrance of the Waterfall Scenic Area at the glass bridge (be sure to ask the staff at the visitor center where to take the bus, as I didn't see any signs and only realized there was a direct bus up and down the mountain when I arrived at the glass bridge). Entering the scenic area from here and walking towards the exit of the Great Waterfall is the most energy-efficient way to see all the scenery of the Great Waterfall area. It's unacceptable that such a well-developed scenic area as Tiantai Mountain has so few signs indicating how to navigate it, and several staff members I asked along the way didn't know either.

This waterfall, with its relatively large drop, is quite rare and worth seeing. The mist spraying from below is very refreshing, and the thunderous sound is quite impressive. Don't miss the boardwalk along the mountain behind the waterfall area.

A specially booked 2-hour in-depth guided tour was well worth the wait. The guide, deeply knowledgeable about the thousand-year-old cultural heritage of Guoqing Temple, eloquently recounted the temple's founding by Master Zhiyi and the aesthetic beauty of its ancient architecture, brick by brick. The two-hour tour allowed for a leisurely walk through the entire temple grounds, away from the crowds, offering a tranquil and immersive experience. Shedding the superficiality of a rushed tour, the guide helped participants understand the profound meaning of "If the temple is established, the country will be at peace." The gentle and unhurried explanation provided a healing and Zen-like journey, highly recommended.

It's definitely worth a visit. I recommend going counter-clockwise. First, take a taxi to the upper entrance; it's basically all downhill from there, which is great for those with average heart and lung capacity. Otherwise, you'll have to climb up steps like the one in picture four, with hardly any flat sections. Once you reach the bottom, you'll see a beautiful lake and can also visit the waterfall, which involves a short climb and isn't tiring. Then you can head back down.

Guoqing Temple is a must-visit in Zhejiang Province! If you are into Buddhist culture, you should consider visiting. This temple has a tremendous peace and deep history of over 1400 years. The temple area requires not more than an hour to explore.

We drove there ourselves; the mountain road was winding, but the scenery along the way was beautiful. The area is vast, with a bit of a stream-tracing feel, and the entire valley is very quiet and natural. The scenery is pleasant, and there are small shops along the way selling agricultural products and instant noodles where you can sit and rest. Their dried sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and oranges were all delicious. However, I still preferred their bamboo shoot and bean curd soup; it was very flavorful, reasonably priced, and the auntie was very welcoming. Continuing further in, you can see the Shiliang Waterfall. The waterfall is natural and beautiful, not particularly spectacular, but still a good place for sightseeing and relaxation.

The layout of the three courtyards and nine halls is very clear. It comprises a former residence, temple, garden, and pavilions, forming a scenic spot. The plum blossoms were beautiful, their petals falling onto the lake surface, creating a unique scene. I also gained a comprehensive understanding of Ji Gong's life.

Take the free shuttle bus from the visitor center to the lower entrance of Qiongtan Xiangu Valley. Walk for about half an hour to reach the elevator entrance. The path is scenic with few steps and mostly flat. Take the highest elevator in East China for 30 seconds to reach the summit.

Very clean! Arrived before the holiday. The crowds in the old street dispersed around 9 PM. There's a takoyaki (octopus balls) vendor nearby; the price wasn't higher just because it's in the old street—6 for 10 yuan. There's also a Jiang Ji night-time steamed bun shop nearby, which is also good. However, there's road construction near the old street, making travel inconvenient. Also, the rooftop bus is free!

I came on May 3rd, having escaped the overcrowded Guoqing Temple. The scenic area wasn't too crowded, allowing for a leisurely stroll and appreciation of the scenery. However, it's easy to get lost and stray onto hiking trails, which become increasingly dangerous. There weren't many azaleas, but the winding mountain road leading to the scenic area was more interesting. Experienced drivers who enjoy driving on mountain roads should definitely check it out.