Things to do in Qingyang

Jiuhua Mountain, the sacred site of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, is definitely worth a visit. I've been fortunate enough to visit Jiuhua Mountain several times; their tourism is constantly being upgraded, and the experience is always quite good. There are direct tourist buses to the mountain from the high-speed rail station for 50 yuan. This is a very convenient option for round trips.

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.

Jiuhua Street is where the main temples of Jiuhua Mountain are concentrated, including Qiyuan Zen Temple, Huacheng Temple, Sandalwood Zen Forest, Shang Zen Hall, Yueshen Hall, Dizang Zen Temple and many other temples and monasteries. If a detailed tour takes most of the day, you can have lunch at Jiuhua Street at noon. So, overall, it is still worth visiting.

Worth a visit. I went in mid-September during the off-season, driving alone. I stayed overnight in the scenic area; the evenings and mornings are the best for taking photos. Take your time strolling around, walk along the river, and rest whenever you get tired. Enjoy a plate of golden, crispy fried fish with a bowl of thick, unsweetened soy milk – very satisfying. There's a fairly large restaurant at the far end of the main street; the owner was very considerate and didn't seem impatient at all, even though I was traveling alone. She reduced my portion size and gave me a discount, ensuring I didn't waste any food. Thumbs up! 👍👍

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.

Baisui Palace is a famous temple in Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area. You can walk up the mountain on the mountain road next to the Jiuhua Mountain ticket gate, or take the Baisui Palace cable car a little further up. Both ways are acceptable. Baisui Palace is the highest point in Jiuhua Street, and you can overlook the entire Jiuhua Street. The environment is very good, and the temple enshrines a living Buddha.

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"  

While looking for delicious food, traveling to enjoy the beautiful natural landscape is also a goal for food lovers. Explore food, pursue delicious food, pursue new stores Qingyuan Mountain Scenic Area. Qingyuan Mountain is a 5A-level landscape with beautiful natural scenery, surrounded by green trees, fresh air, and red flowers around green trees, adding beautiful scenery, making people feel relaxed and relieved. After climbing Qingyuan Mountain, you can have a cup of Qingshe Tieguanyin tea at the top of the mountain, and then pair it with some snacks to relieve the fun of climbing.