100 Mountains Project - Fanjing Mountain

📍Fanjing Mountain Fanjing Mountain is a Buddhist sanctuary and nature reserve, and the only Maitreya Bodhisattva sanctuary among China's five great Buddhist mountains. It is the main peak of the Wuling Mountains, with an altitude of 2,572 meters. It is located at the junction of the three counties of Yinjiang, Jiangkou, and Songtao in Tongren, Guizhou Province. It is known as a "pure land of the gods" and a paradise on earth. 🌄Fanjing Mountain Highlights 1⃣ Red Cloud Golden Summit: At an altitude of 2,336 meters, the summit is surrounded by red clouds and auspicious mist at sunrise and sunset, making for a spectacular sight. The summit is divided into two parts, and the weather is unpredictable, so seeing it is a matter of luck. 2⃣ Mushroom Stone: Standing 10 meters tall, this stone is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, resembling a mushroom. This natural wonder is a stone pillar that pierces through the clouds. It looks like it could fall at any moment, but it has stood tall for 1.4 billion years. 3⃣ Ten Thousand Volumes: Located near Mushroom Stone, the entire mountain is layered and stacked in an orderly manner, making for a beautiful sight. 4⃣ Old Golden Summit: This summit is opposite Red Cloud Golden Summit. Sometimes, the view is clear for miles, while other times, it is shrouded in clouds, constantly changing. 5⃣ Ten Thousand Meter Sleeping Buddha: This natural Buddha statue is formed by Red Cloud Golden Summit and Phoenix Mountain. It is about 10,000 meters long and is considered the largest in the world. 6⃣ Phoenix Mountain: At an altitude of 2,572 meters, this is the highest peak of Fanjing Mountain. There is a stone at the top that resembles a phoenix spreading its wings, hence the name. 🚶‍♂Tour Routes East Route (Jiangkou County, Heiwanghe Gate): Scenic area entrance → Take the scenic area shuttle bus (about 20 minutes) → Yuao → Take the cable car (about 10 minutes) → Cable car viewing platform → Forest boardwalk (about 30 minutes) → Mushroom Stone → Jiuhuang Cave → Worship Platform → Old Golden Summit (round trip about 60 minutes) → Worship Platform → Pudu Square → Red Cloud Golden Summit (round trip about 40 minutes) → Pudu Square → Cheng'en Temple → Jingxin Pool → Wanbao Rock → Cable car upper station → Yuao → East Gate. West Route (Yinjiang County, Huguo Temple Gate): Scenic area entrance → Take the scenic area shuttle bus (about 20 minutes) → Mianxu Ridge → Walk to Worship Platform (about 2.5 hours) → Old Golden Summit (round trip about 60 minutes) → Mushroom Stone → Pudu Square → Red Cloud Golden Summit (round trip 40 minutes) → Pudu Square → Cheng'en Temple → Jingxin Pool → Cable car upper station → Yuao → East Gate. West Route Up, East Route Down: The entire route is 5.6 km, with stone paths or wooden boardwalks. It is suitable for early morning departures to enjoy the beautiful scenery with fewer people. Take the cable car and shuttle bus for an easy return. 🎫Tickets Peak Season (March 1 - November 30) Ticket Prices: Ticket CNY 100, Shuttle Bus CNY 20, One-way Cable Car CNY 70, Round-trip Cable Car CNY 140. Off-peak Season Ticket Prices: Ticket CNY 90, Shuttle Bus CNY 20, One-way Cable Car CNY 70, Round-trip Cable Car CNY 140. 🚖Transportation Tips 1⃣ Plane: The nearest airport to Fanjing Mountain is Tongren Fenghuang Airport. You can take the "Zhizhi Chuanfei" route from Xingyi to Tongren. The original 7-hour drive is now only 1 hour. You can be in Wanfenglin in the morning and fly to Fanjing Mountain in the afternoon. It's very convenient. 2⃣ High-speed Train: Tongren has Tongren Station and Tongren South Station. Tongren Station is closer to Fanjing Mountain. It is recommended to take a high-speed train to Tongren Station and then take a bus to Fanjing Mountain. 3⃣ Public Transportation: Tongren Airport has a direct tourist line to Fanjing Mountain, with a ticket price of CNY 50. There are only two departures per day. There are long-distance bus stations next to Tongren Station and Tongren South Station, with direct buses to Jiangkou County and Fanjing Mountain. 📝Tips To climb Fanjing Mountain, you need to take a 30-minute sightseeing bus to the cable car station, then take a 15-minute cable car ride to the mountainside, and then walk for about 20 minutes to reach Red Cloud Golden Summit. The journey is difficult, so remember to wear sports shoes for easy climbing. In addition to Red Cloud Golden Summit, Mushroom Stone and Old Golden Summit also require climbing, so be prepared. The temperature at the summit is low, so remember to bring a windproof jacket and a disposable raincoat in case of weather changes. Some sections of the road are almost vertical, so the elderly and children should be extra careful.