Fanjingshan | Mount Fanjing - UNESCO World Heritage Epic Site

The mountain was named "Fanjing", an abbreviation of Fantianjingtu, a Buddhist term which means "Brahma's Pure Land". Whether Fanjingshan was Buddha's dwelling place or not, it is a real pure land to 4,395 species of plants and 2,767 of animals, including many of the endangered.

UNESCO recognizes Fanjingshan as a site considered to have "outstanding universal value". Since 1978, the Fanjingshan national nature reserve has been established and ran for years, sheltering those wonderful creatures there.

▶ 3 Days Classic Fanjingshan Tour

Natural Habitat for Various Species

The isolated Wuling Mountain Range is known as "the gene database of China" due to its rich biodiversity. The region has 2,000 types of plant, 31 of which are endangered, and 19 threatened animal species roam these forests.

Among the Wuling mountains, Fanjingshan is a rugged terrain of primary forest, with a National Nature Reserve covering a total area of 567 square kilometers (219 sq mi), which is a conservation area for primitive vegetation of the mid sub-tropic alpine region of western China.

A great number of endangered and endemic flora and fauna species inhabit there, such as the elusive golden monkey, the Fanjingshan fir, the Chinese giant salamander, forest musk deer, and Reeve's pheasant. Due to the high humidity at Fanjingshan, it also shows an extraordinary richness in mosses.

One of those endangered animals is the endemic grey snub-nosed monkey. Scientists know very little about them with no more than 750 surviving till today - much rare than pandas.

The hope is that the UNESCO World Heritage status will help to preserve these species.

Sacred Mountain of Buddhism

Fanjingshan or Mount Fanjing has been a sacred and tranquil site for Buddhists since the Tang Dynasty (618AD-907AD), ranking just behind the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism.

It is believed by a number of Buddhism believers that Fanjingshan is a spot in which one can reach their spiritual enlightenment as Maitreya Buddha did.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368AD-1644AD), 48 Buddhist temples were built on the mountain, many of which have since been destroyed. For those still remained, they are significant sites for Buddhist worshippers around the world.

The influence of Buddhism reached Fanjingshan by the Tang dynasty (618AD-907AD). The local chronicles record the construction of some temples in the area and more temples were built in the Song and Yuan dynasties (960AD-1368AD).

Since Buddhism greatly prospered during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China (1368AD-1912AD), many other temples were constructed in the golden summit area of Fanjingshan.

After decades of Buddhism Renaissance after the damages, Fanjingshan Buddhist Cultural Park was opened in 2010. A Golden Hall that houses a five-meter-tall statue of the Maitreya Buddha was made of gold weighting 250 kilograms and thousands of gems. It is the largest gold Maitreya statue in the world.

The Thumb-like peak is described by UNESCO as an "island of metamorphic rock in a sea of karst", believed to have been formed somewhere between 2 million and 65 million years ago. For everyone else, one of the main appeals of visiting Fanjingshan is the stunning views from the summit. Or rather, summits - there are three up there. The Red Clouds Golden Summit is the representative one, about 2336 meters above sea level. The whole crest is upright like a thumb, as if the hill's encouragement for all the ambitious hikers. There is a steep vertical ascent of 100 meters to the top with a marvelous bridge connecting two Buddhist temples on each peak, which is known as the Fanjingshan Temple. During sunset/sunrise, the whole summit is enveloped with overhead red-tinted clouds, and Red Cloud, Hongyun in Chinese also means Good Luck (Pinyin:Hongyundangtou 鸿运当头), and the summit was named after it.

Mushroom Stone (Pinyin: Mogushi 蘑菇石)

The whole stone pillar is big on the top and small at the bottom, vividly formed like a mushroom. It is about ten meters high and elegant, seemingly inclined to fall in gale. However, for more than one billion years, it has been standing there still and hit by the rainstorms, summer heat and winter snow year after year, which is the essence of what Buddhism says about "Remain unbiased" in every circumstance.

Many painters and photographers have created countless masterpieces with its image. Now the mushroom stone is the landmark of Fanjingshan, and has begun to be known by the world.

Old Golden Summit (Pinyin: Laojinding 老金顶)

At an elevation of 2,494 metres, the Old Golden Summit is located near the mushroom stone, which is the highest scenic site of Fanjingshan. On the top of Old Golden Summit is a temple dedicated to Buddha Dipamkara. For the special rock texture, the ancients could see their own reflection under the moonlight, which could be used as a mirror, so it is also called "Moon Mirror Mountain".

Cheng En Temple (Pinyin: Chengensi 承恩寺)

Cheng En Temple is located between the two summits with scarlet walls and black tiles. It is the main building of Fanjingshan Temple Group and one of the four Royal temples in Fanjingshan. Cheng En Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368AD-1644AD), then destroyed in the war. After the restoration and reconstruction generation after generation at the same ancient site, the temple group has been brought back from the ancient memory again.

Wanbao Rock (Pinyin: Wanbaoyan 万宝岩)

Wanbao Rock is the geological epic of Fanjingshan Mountain, showing the evolution of its vicissitudes: 1.4 billion years ago, it used to be part of the ocean. Because of the continuous crustal movement, Fanjingshan was gradually created and stretches over 700 miles. Wanbao Rock is the original rock raised from the sea bed at that time. It is cemented by various pebbles, a large number of rare metals and fossils, and shells. The rock shines under the sun as if there are gems inlaid. Wanbao means thousands of treasures in Chinese and they are actually treasures from the sea.

Book-Shaped Rocks (Pinyin: Wanjuanshu 万卷书)

Book-shaped Rocks are sitting near the mushroom stone. These rocks are seemingly piles of books spreading out of order, when looked from a distance. There are also natural gaps between each stack of books. According to a Chinese legend, the ancient monk, Xuanzang returned from the Buddhist center in the west and brought back some treasured scriptures. As he passed by at Fanjingshan, a stack of Buddhist scriptures scattered from his luggage, and these magic scriptures became piles of book-shaped rocks right after they hit the ground.

Fleecy Ridge (Pinyin: Mianxuling 棉絮岭)

With fluffy clouds covered nearly all year round, the ridge is named after it. Here you can witness one of the great wonders at Fanjing Mountain - a sleeping Buddha stretching far for thousands of meters. Standing at Fleecy Ridge and looking out, the peaks and valleys forms the outline figure of a reclining Buddha. For thousands of years, the local people worshipped it as a great Buddha as they saw it.

Meteorological Wonders

There are two unique meteorological wonders at Fanjingshan: the Sea of Clouds and the Light of Buddha. The former one, that is, when the mountains are bathing in the mist with clouds floating around, which forms the sea of clouds. According to statistics, the average number of days when cloud sea appearing in Fanjingshan reaches over 180 days, and more frequently the cloud sea happens in summer and comparatively rarer in autumn and winter. And Buddha light also belongs to a natural phenomenon called "Brocken Spectre". If it happens, you may also see a rainbow ring in the distance between the mountains. It is related to the refraction of light, which in the past was interpreted as the presence of Buddha, a blissful omen for Buddhists.

(Please note: Red Clouds Golden Summit and Old Golden Summit may be closed during bad weather days of heavy snow, icy road, rainstorm, etc. Please keep up with the weather forest of Fanjingshan to plan your trip there!)

Most Popular Tour to Visit Fanjingshan:

▶ 7 Days Zhangjiajie to Fanjingshan Unbelievable Nature Tour

It is neither too hot in summer in nor no cold in winter, no gale blowing, or no sand storming. The average annual temperature is 13.1-14.7 degrees Celsius. Among them, the hottest days occur in the late July, and the average temperature is 25.3 degrees Celsius; the coldest nights approach in February, and the average temperature is 2 degrees Celsius. Rainfall season is intense from May to October. If tourists travel at this time, the weather of Fanjingshan is changeable, raincoats, umbrellas are necessary travelling items. Fanjingshan has its attractive sights all year round. Every season brings different beauty to the tourists.

▶ Learn More about: Fanjingshan Weather & Seasons

Spring (March-May)

ISpring can be the best season to visit Fanjingshan. It is in light green with colorful wild flowers lying around, and next to the Dong minority villages at the bottom of mount Fanjing is a golden field of rapeseed flowers. While the temperature at the top is about 10 degrees lower than the bottom of Fanjingshan. If you go atop during this time, it is recommended to bring a thick windproof coat with you. Flaming rhododendron blooms all over the mountains in April. Breathing the fresh air, roaming around in the blazing rhododendron field, you will be content for what the beauty of nature brings you.

Summer (June-August)

Summer can be a nice season travelling Fanjingshan. Because of the abundant rainfalls which bring a lot fog, the cloud sea occurs the most frequently in summer around the top area. The peaks are hiding in the mist, and vague scenery is under a veil, which makes the mountain more mysterious. When the other part of China may still groan in the scorching summer air, it is a good choice to come here in July and August. Step by step, Hike atop to the crest, enjoying the sound of the gurgling spring, watching the changing scenery of yours. The tranquility and peace are found in the air. However, brief thunderstorms occur more frequently in that season.

Autumn (September-November)

Autumn comes in the early September, when is also a highly recommend time to traveling there, and the colors such as light yellow, red and brown are added on the mountains and become richer than just green. It's not as cloudy as it is in summer. But pleasant and fresh weather help to offer you good mood for a trip.

Winter (December-February)

After winter from November, Fanjingshan gradually turned dark green, and the number of visitors to Fanjingshan gradually decreased. However, somehow on one day when it suddenly snows, the lifeless mountain is covered in white. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, the scenery was particularly impressive with a kind of pure and flawless beauty. If you would like to go uphill, thicker winter coats are needed. Occasionally, you may encounter the friendly Dong people and get to have a chance to see how they celebrate the Lunar New Year and enjoy the delicious food of the Spring Festival.

Best Time to Visit Fanjingshan

In terms of weather and seasonal condition, the best time to visit is from March to November, particularly in spring and autumn seasons. However, please note the cableway and summit areas might not be open, when there is thunderstorm or heavy snow,, so it is necessary to check out the calendar and weather forecast when planning your Fanjingshan tour. Always try to avoid visiting Fanjingshan during Chinese holidays such as the Chinese National Days (the beginning of October) and the Labor’s Day (the beginning of May). It is also very crowded during July and August (China's school summer holiday).

To protect the natural environment and for the sake of travelling security, it is NOT allowed to stay at the mountain during the night or hike up after 2pm. The two cableway stations built on hillsides will be out of service after 4pm. Please mind your travelling schedules before your leaving for Fanjingshan.For tourists in different physical condition, there are mainly 3 recommended travelling routes: (Most people visit Fanjing Mountain from the Heiwan River Entrance.)

South Route - (with cableway but more people, In-depth Hiking)

-Start: Heiwan River Entrance, Jiangkou County 江口县黑湾河山门

Option 1 - Ride a cable car (Highly Recommended)

1.Fanjingshan Ticket Price

Peak Season (March 1st to November 30th): 100 RMB per person for adults

Off-Season (December 1st to end of February): 90 RMB for adults

2. Scenic Bus Fare

20 RMB per person for adults (one-way)

10 RMB per person for adults (one-way)

3. Cableway Fare

140 RMB per person for adults (Round-trip Ticket); 70 RMB (one-way)

Location: Fanjingshan Scenic Area, Jiangkou Country, Tongren, Guizhou 554408 贵州省铜仁市江口县梵净山村

Fanjingshan is located in the southwest of China, northeast of Guizhou Province, abutting the border between Guizhou and Hunan Province. It's about 70-80km’s driving distance to Tongren city downtown. There is an airport and 2 Train stations in Tongren and these transportation junctions connect Tongren to a number of major cities in China.

▶ Learn More about: Fanjingshan Transportation

How to Get to Tongren

By Air

Tongren Fenghuang Airport (Pinyin: Tongren Fenghuang Jichang 铜仁凤凰机场)

-Location: Daxing Town, Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Tongren, Guizhou Province 贵州省铜仁市松桃苗族自治县大兴镇

-Distance: It's about 87km to Fanjingshan Scenic Area (1h 20min by car) and 21km to the city center (40min).

-Flights to Tongren: Though there are almost none international flights to Tongren, the airport is still quite effective serving passengers from Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Guiyang, Kunming, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, etc.

By Bullet Train

Tongren South Railway Station (Pinyin: Tongren Nanzhan 铜仁南站)

-Location: Yixin Village, Dalong Town, Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Tongren, Guizhou Province 贵州省铜仁市玉屏侗族自治县大龙镇一心村

-Distance: It's about 117km to Fanjingshan Scenic Area (2h by car) and 63km to the city center (1h by car).

-Bullet Trains to Tongren: Serving as the only bullet train station in Tongren, it hosts bullet trains bounding from Guiyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Kaili, Changsha, Shanghai, etc.

By Normal Train

-Location: Qingshui Avenue, Tongziao, Bijiang District, Tongren, Guizhou Province 贵州省铜仁市碧江区桐梓坳清水大道

-Distance: It's right in the city center, and 78km to Fanjingshan Scenic Area (1h 30min by car).

-Normal Trains to Tongren: A lot of the major cities located in the south such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Ningbo, etc., operate normal trains to Tongren.

Tongren to Fanjingshan

Though there are always taxi waiting outside the airport and train stations, the taxi driver may not be willing to drive you there or they would charge you higher price (400RMB at least) since the long distance to Fanjingshan, so taking a taxi to Fanjingshan is not that recommendable. However, there are still some buses keeping running between stations and Fanjingshan and ticket price is also reasonable.

Bus Info

Tongren Airport to Fanjingshan Scenic Area

-Departing Time: it varies in different season, according to the actual flight schedules.

-Frequency: 2 times a day (Monday to Sunday)

-Ticket Price: about 50 RMB per person

Tongren South Railway Station

-Departing Time: 10:50am

-Frequency: 1 time a day (Monday to Sunday)

-Ticket Price: about 56 RMB per person

Tongren Railway Station

-Departing Time: 10:30am

-Frequency: 1 time a day (Monday to Sunday)

-Ticket Price: about 36 RMB per person

▶ Learn more about: How to get to Fanjingshan from Tongren | How to Get to Fanjingshan from Guiyang