Located 68 km from Dujiangyan City of the Sichuan province, Mount Qingcheng (Chinese name: Qing Cheng Shan) stands with a height of 1,260 meters above sea level. Because of the relaxing sound of nature in the mountain such as water running, birds singing, and winds blowing, the Qing Cheng Mountain is being admired as one of the most peaceful on earth under heaven. It contains 36 peaks and Laojun Pavilion is the highest one, which can be seen easily from the foot of the mountain. Qingcheng mountain has 80 caves (8 big and 72 small) and 108 scenic views. (Photo by © Brad Hostetler via Flickr)

Mount Qingcheng Sections

Mount Qingcheng is composed of two parts, the posterior and the anterior parts. The posterior part is the Rear Mountain that features a breathtaking and peaceful natural scenery with a total area of 100 square km. The anterior part, on the other hand, is the Front Mountain, which is the main attraction of Qingcheng.  It covers a total area of 15 square km and it is where the many historical and cultural ruins are located like the Jianfu Palace, Shangqing Palace, and Tianshi Celestial Cave.

The Mount Qingcheng in History

The mountain became a tourist area for the public since  1982. Due to its stunning natural beauty, it has won several national tourist titles and categorized as a 5A tourist area in the year 2000.

With a history of more than 2,000 years, Mount Qingcheng has famously birthed Taoism. An emperor of the Han Dynasty came to the mountain to study Taoism and later found his Taoist way in the fifth cave. Therefore, the palaces and towers such as the Jianfu Palace, Zushi Palace, Laojun Pavilion, and others were constructed around the fifth cave, making it the heart of the area.

One of the great masters of Taoism, Zhang Daoling, also known before as Zhang Ling, went to the mountain and created the earliest sect of Taoism, the Wu Dou Mi Dao. He was then recognized as the father of Taoism.

It was during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that Du Guangting, a famous Taoist, came to the mountain. He later became one of the great masters of Taoism who made significant contributions to the Taoism development.

Artists And Scholar Who Visit The Mount

Many artists and scholars are attracted to Mount Qingcheng because of its seclusion. Du Fu, the well-known poet during the Tang Dynasty, visited the mountain once and wrote down one of his famous verses to give praise to the tranquility of the mountain.

One of the famous contemporary Chinese artists moved to live in Qingcheng Mountain during the 1960s. He was captivated by the magnificent natural views of the mountain, which became his subjects for his paintings. He even drew a map of the area for all the locals and tourists to see. He called the place “a sanctuary of green trees, tranquil silences, and natural beauty”.

Mount Qingcheng Attractions

Jianfu Palace

As the mountain’s visitors begin to climb up the Qingcheng Mountain, they will discover the Jianfu Palace. The palace was initially constructed during the Tang Dynasty and took 18 years to complete. The current building that stands there was constructed during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It has been restored several times over the years. Today, the palace is composed of two temples and three compounds, which are all surrounded by lush ancient vegetation. A lucid stream is found in front of the Jianfu Palace, which adds more beauty to the whole setting.

The Natural Picture

If you go west of the palace, about one km away, you will be presented with a wooden pavilion that erects between an abundance of trees and steep rocks. Many visitors who had been to the pavilion felt like they are in a large natural painting. The Natural Picture pavilion is located on top of a ridge, 893 meters above sea level. It was built during the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875-1909) in the Qing Dynasty era, which has a shape of a decagon. The pavilion overlooks the Jianfu Palace and the Tian Shi Cave.

Shang Qing Palace

Originally built during the Jin Dynasty (265-420), the Shang Qing Palace is the highest palace in the park. It was reconstructed during the Tang Dynasty and again reconstructed a few times thereafter. Many artifacts are housed in the palace over the years and it has been the home of thought and tranquility for several generations.

Laojun Pavilion

Located on the first peak of the mountain, the Laojun Pavilion has an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level covering a base area of 400 square meters. Its levels were built with an octagonal shape to concur with Chinese beliefs. Many statues made by different sculptors and artists over the years are located here in the pavilion. Each of the statues is carved with intricate details that made it extremely life-like.

Yuan Ming Palace

The Yuan Ming Palace has a courtyard flawlessly designed with flowers, plants, water, and bamboos. It was during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that it was built. The palace is a masterpiece where the guests can experience a kind of tranquility that is hard to find anywhere else.

Tianshi Cave

The Tianshi Cave was initially constructed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and later completed by the Ming Dynasty. On its three sides, you can find the mountains and on the last side, you can see the water. It is an oasis for many Taoists because of its splendor and stillness.

Zushi Palace

Close to the Tianshi Cave, you can find the Zushi Palace that was founded during the Tang Dynasty. It is a famous sanctuary for poets as it gives them inspirations in writing their masterpieces. It also became an escape for the Tang Dynasty princess Yu Zhen. It’s said that she comes here under the beauty of statues, inscriptions, and sacred pictures. In fact, it’s where she felt immortal; therefore, it’s a place of legends and stories.

Chao Yang Cave

Located on the east side of the Qingcheng Mountain, Chao Yang Cave can accommodate one hundred people at once. Huang Yun Ge of the Qing Dynasty once lived here. He wrote about his daily musings and the beauty of the place. There were also painters who would come to the cave to think and paint.

More about Mount Qingcheng Tourist Area

Du Jiang Yan Town

A town called Du Jiang Yan is located at the backside of the Qingcheng Mountain. It has an area of 100 square km and has a distance of 70 km from Chengdu. It was once a mountain paradise situated in the town. Wo Long is on the northwest of Du Jiang Yan. Besides, Zhao Gong Mountain is located in the north of the town and Qingcheng Mountain can be found in the east

The town is placed in the middle of many old mountains, tombs, and scenes that are well-known worldwide. If you visit Mount Qingcheng, having a side trip to the town will definitely make your trip more satisfying. Staying in town for a couple of days is also a good idea for convenience.

Special Dishes

For food lovers, Mount Qingcheng has special dishes that the locals offer to their guests. For instance, Bai Guo Chicken, which is a thick white soup, has a smell that would entice your appetite. There are also places in the mountain that offers fruit and vegetable pickling wherein ancient methods are still applied. Dong Tian Gong Tea is the famous tea of Qingcheng Mountain which can be tasted while eating the authentic Chinese dishes in the area.

Tourist Guide

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This site has worldwide popularity as it’s inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. We will be grateful if you add your information to the above text using the comment section. Besides, your questions in the comment section will be replied as early as possible by our professional guides.