Seriously underrated free 5A scenic spot! This winter, I discovered the world's best in Zhejiang
As a travel blogger who has been around Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai for three years, I consider myself well-traveled. But when I stepped into Kaihua, Quzhou, a place called "Gen Gong Fo Guo" (Root Palace Buddha Kingdom), I was genuinely "shaken." It might be the most low-key and overlooked 5A scenic area in all of Zhejiang, but its uniqueness and grandeur absolutely deserve the title of "The World's Number One Wonder Park."
The best part — it’s free to visit now until the end of March next year (except during the Spring Festival)! This in-depth guide, which I compiled after three visits, is a must-have.
📍 Basic Information: Why Gen Gong Fo Guo?
- Address: Kaihua County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province
- Status: The world’s only root culture-themed tourist area, National 5A Scenic Spot
- Main Attractions: Tens of thousands of Buddha statues and artworks carved from millennia-old tree roots, blending Buddhist culture, root carving art, and garden aesthetics.
- Free Admission Period: November 2024 - March 31, 2025 (excluding Spring Festival holidays; please verify before traveling)
- Recommended Visit Duration: At least 4 hours (the park is huge, so allow plenty of time)
❄️ What makes it so special?
1. Fewer crowds and pristine scenery, excellent experience: Even during holidays like National Day and New Year’s Day, visitors are far fewer than at other popular 5A scenic spots. You can quietly appreciate every piece of art and take photos without anyone else in the frame.
2. The pinnacle fusion of art and faith: This is not just a root carving exhibition hall; it combines nature’s masterful work (giant tree roots) with human devotion and craftsmanship (Buddhist statues) to create a grand, spiritually rich artistic Buddha kingdom.
3. Garden landscapes blending north and south: Small bridges and flowing water are the essence of Jiangnan, but the majestic ancient-style architecture makes you feel like you’re in a northern imperial forest. In autumn and winter, the colorful trees complement the buildings beautifully, creating breathtaking scenes.
🗺️ Efficient Essential Route (tested over 3 times)
Key advice: Enter from the [North Gate]! This is the key to avoiding crowds and upgrading your experience.
- Reason: The North Gate is a side entrance; most tour groups and visitors enter from the South Gate. Starting from the North Gate gives you an immersive "reverse exploration" feeling with very few people around.
Recommended route:
North Gate → Children’s Fun Garden → Opera Stage → Huaxia Root Carving Art Museum → Drunken Scenery Garden (including glass plank road) → Drunken Root Pagoda → Arhat Hall → Root Carving Buddha Kingdom → Green Plum Garden → South Gate
Note: This route is one-way. If you want to return to the North Gate to pick up your car, you need to retrace your steps. If entering and exiting from the South Gate, you can follow the reverse order.
✨ Five Must-See Highlights (missing them means missing out)
1. Children’s Fun Garden - Enter a magical alien world
- This is a lighthearted start to your journey. Dinosaurs, giraffes, the twelve zodiac animals... various animal root carvings are vivid and fantastical, making for visually striking photos, like stepping into a fantasy world made of tree roots.
2. Huaxia Root Carving Art Museum - A cultural corridor through millennia
- The museum houses many root carving masterpieces themed on Chinese history and culture. The building’s flying eaves and upturned corners, combined with autumn red leaves, create a stunning scene—an excellent spot for photos in traditional Hanfu attire.
3. Drunken Root Pagoda - The landmark overlooking the Buddha kingdom
- Nearly 80 meters tall, this Tang and Song dynasty-style ancient pagoda is the park’s highest point and spiritual symbol. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the entire Buddha kingdom. Inside, surprises await on every floor, with numerous exquisite Guanyin-themed root carvings.
4. Root Carving Buddha Kingdom and Arhat Corridor - The ultimate soul-stirring hall
- The heart of the heart! Inside the main hall stands a towering Shakyamuni Buddha carved from a giant thousand-year-old tree root (weighing over 40 tons), solemn and compassionate, instantly breathtaking. Nearby, the Arhat Corridor features hundreds of arhats in various poses and vivid expressions, as if telling different stories. Its scale and craftsmanship are unparalleled worldwide.
5. Green Plum Garden (Yunhu Chanxin) - Serene poetry in winter
- If you visit in winter, over 800 bonsai plum trees in the garden blend beautifully with the classical landscaping, filling the air with subtle fragrance—a perfect place for solitude and reflection.
🚗 Transportation and Accommodation Guide
How to get there
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Gen Gong Fo Guo Cultural Tourism Area," the most recommended way.
- High-speed rail/bullet train:
- Arrive at "Kaihua Station," then take a taxi about 10 minutes to the park.
- Arrive at "Quzhou Station," transfer to the Kaihua shuttle bus (about 1 hour) to Kaihua, then taxi to the park.
Kaihua Cuisine (a must for foodies)
This small town’s food is equally amazing, affordable, and delicious:
- Kaihua Qi Cake: A rice cake similar to pizza, known as the "Eastern pizza," a must-try breakfast.
- Kaihua Clear Water Fish: Fish raised in pond fresh water, tender meat with no muddy taste.
- Kaihua Green Snails: Snails living in clear streams, delicious and recommended by the documentary "A Bite of China."
Accommodation Suggestions
Kaihua County is small with many affordable lodging options. Staying anywhere in the county town makes it convenient to visit the park.
📌 Ultimate Tips for Visiting
1. Wear comfortable shoes: The park is built on a mountain and is vast. You’ll walk the entire time, so comfortable sneakers are essential.
2. Bring a power bank: Every step is scenic, and you won’t stop taking photos, so your phone battery will drain quickly.
3. Reserve a whole day: Plan at least 4-5 hours to see the highlights without rushing. A full day is ideal for a thorough experience.
4. Maintain reverence: This is a sacred place of art and faith. Please speak softly and take care of the exhibits.
5. Combine with nearby attractions: If you have time, visit other Kaihua spots like Qianjiangyuan National Park and Xiashan Ancient Residences for a 2-3 day weekend getaway.
Standing before that giant root-carved Shakyamuni Buddha, looking up, I saw not just an artwork but a frozen millennium of time—a perfect fusion of nature and faith, embodying Eastern wisdom. The silence and awe in that moment made all the travel fatigue worthwhile.
If you’re tired of crowds and crave a deep cultural journey that touches your soul, come to Gen Gong Fo Guo this free winter. It will surely be the most unique and profound memory of your Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai travels.
Friendly reminder: The free admission policy and park opening details may be slightly adjusted. Please confirm final information through official channels like the "Gen Gong Fo Guo Cultural Tourism Area" WeChat public account before your trip. Have a great journey!
Gen Gong Fo Guo