Jinfo Mountain is located in Nanchuan District, Chongqing City, China. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area and a World Natural Heritage. The planned area of the scenic spot is 441 square kilometers. Jinfo Mountain has a typical tableland karst landform, consisting of 108 peaks from three mountains: Jinfo, Baizhi, and Qingba. The main peak, Fengchuiling, is 2,251 meters high and is the highest peak of the Dalou Mountains. Here, the mountain terrain is peculiar, the mountain body is steep, and there are rich natural landscapes such as sheer cliffs, strange peaks, karst caves, canyons, ecological stone forests, springs, and waterfalls. There are also magnificent meteorological landscapes such as ice and snow, clouds, and sunsets. The scenic area is rich in animal and plant resources, including national key protected plants such as the silver fir, known as the "giant panda among plants", as well as national key protected animals such as the white-cheeked black leaf monkey and Guizhou golden monkey.
History and Culture
The Buddhist culture of Jinfo Mountain has a history of over a thousand years. Buddhist temples were established in the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist culture thrived during the Ming and Qing dynasties, declined during the Republic of China period, and revived at the end of the 1980s. Nowadays, it is a well-known Buddhist holy land in the Sichuan-Chongqing-Guizhou region.
During the Song Dynasty, Longyan City on Jinfo Mountain was built from the third year to the fourth year of Baoyou in the reign of Emperor Lizong (1255 - 1256). In the sixth year of Baoyou, the Mongolian Great Khan Mengge led an army to attack Sichuan. The vanguard troops attacked Longyan City twice but were defeated by the defending soldiers. The Song army successfully resisted the Mongolian army, and the defending generals were rewarded by the emperor. The Longyan City ruins cover an area of 2,400 square meters and are now a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit in Chongqing.
Caves such as the Gufo Cave on Jinfo Mountain are rich in sulfates and nitrates. There are historical traces of "boiling nitre" that can be traced back to 700 years ago, providing evidence for the manufacture of gunpowder in China.
In the 1940s, the Jinfo Mountain area served as one of the logistics bases for the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, providing guarantees for the production and research and development of medicines, air raid warnings, etc. for the war.
Main Attractions
Longyan City
It is located on Mazui Rock in Sanquan Town and is as famous as Diaoyucheng in Hechuan. It is a famous city that resisted the Mongols. It was built in the third year of the Baoyou reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1255), with the ruins covering an area of 2,400 square meters. There are more than 60 meters of city walls remaining, and secret passages and gun holes are set up. About 30 meters below the stone arch city gate, there is an ancient cliffside stele. It is 3.5 meters high, 4.2 meters wide, with 257 characters, and the diameter of each character is 0.14 meters. The inscriptions on the stele describe the process of the Song army building the city and winning the battle against the Mongolian army at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Jinfo Temple
Located in the northwest direction of the scenic area, it is a temple with Tang-style architecture and one of the largest in the southwest region. The original site is located southeast of the Zhongshan Platform on the mountain top. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and is the first of the four famous temples on Jinfo Mountain. In 2014, it was relocated and rebuilt to hold a consecration ceremony southwest of Fenghuang Temple. It covers a total area of more than 10,000 square meters and has buildings such as the Bell and Drum Tower, Tianwang Hall, Mahavira Hall, Seven Buddha Hall, and the Sutra Repository. It is a well-known Buddhist holy land in the Sichuan-Chongqing-Guizhou region.
Jinping Peak
Also known as Zhuanzhuan Rock, it is the most spectacular area of the karst peak cluster landform on Jinfo Mountain. It stretches for dozens of miles, with a base rock of 300 meters at the lower end, hanging in the air for 100 meters, and the main peak at the top is uneven and in strange shapes. When viewed from a distance, it is like a towering pen holder, so it is also known as Bijia Mountain. When viewed from different angles, it can be a peak standing upright, a ridge stretching horizontally, or a screen formed by stacking. When viewed from the side, it is like a majestic mountain eagle ready to spread its wings and fly.
Delicacies
Series of Fangzhu Bamboo Shoots
Fangzhu bamboo shoots are known as the "king of bamboo shoots" and grow in high-altitude areas between 1,400 and 2,238 meters above sea level. They are tender in texture and crisp in taste. There are various cooking methods, such as stewed pig's trotter with Fangzhu bamboo shoots, bacon hot pot with Fangzhu bamboo shoots, beef and vegetable hot pot with Fangzhu bamboo shoots, dry pot with Fangzhu bamboo shoots, and a whole bamboo feast.
Series of Mutton Dishes
The mutton in Jinfo Mountain is tender and not gamy, and it is an excellent choice in winter. There is roasted whole lamb, with a crispy outer skin and tender and juicy meat; Jinfo Mountain medicinal mutton hot pot, with a clear and rich milky white soup and a fragrant smell; mutton hoof hot pot with Fangzhu bamboo shoots, with soft and glutinous mutton hooves and a delicious taste when paired with Fangzhu bamboo shoots.
Hongyun Bull Head Feast
It is an intangible cultural heritage in Nanchuan District. The bull head is carefully cooked, soft and glutinous, and has a strong sense of ceremony. It can be paired with spicy and pickled vegetable hot pots and various dipping sauces, with diverse ways of eating.
Snacks and Soups
There is Youcha, made by boiling tea leaves, lard, and peanuts, also known as "Ganjin Soup"; Yangyu Kongfan, a characteristic high-mountain food, combines potatoes and rice with a soft and glutinous taste; there are also Shaopi barbecue, Xiaohe rice noodles, etc. Xiaohe rice noodles adopt traditional manual stone grinding technology, are paired with special products of Nanchuan, Magu rice or Guichao rice, and are made with natural spring water from Jinfo Mountain, with a smooth and Q-bouncing taste and a long aftertaste.
Admission Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan, and the sightseeing bus ticket is 20 yuan (generally required for those entering from the West Gate). People below 1.2 meters (excluding 1.2 meters), those under 6 years old (including 6 years old), those over 65 years old, military personnel, and journalists are free of charge. Students and minors have half-price tickets. For those over 65 years old entering from the West Gate, the package ticket (excluding the ticket + bus + ropeway) starts from 100 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area, "金佛山旅游", to obtain the latest news or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
From Monday to Friday, it is open from 8:30 to 17:30 (ticket sales stop at 15:30); on Saturdays and Sundays, it is open from 8:30 to 17:30 (ticket sales stop at 16:00); during Chinese legal holidays, it is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (ticket sales stop at 16:00). The opening hours of the ski resort are affected by weather and other factors, and it is recommended to consult in advance by phone.
Tour Routes
Hiking enthusiasts can enter from the West Gate; those who like self-driving tours can enter from the South Gate, but a passage ticket of 200 yuan per car is required at the South Gate, and the parking area is limited; the North Gate is the most traditional route. Recommended routes include entering from the West Slope - taking the bus - taking the ropeway - Qianniuping - Gufo Cave - Yaochiba - Cloud Walkway - Swallow Cave - Golden Turtle Facing the Sun - taking the ropeway - taking the bus - exiting from the West Slope; or following the route of the West Slope Visitor Center of Jinfo Mountain → Bitanyougu → Shuangye Bridge → Mo Huitou → Golden Turtle Facing the Sun Observation Deck → Swallow Cave → Yaowang Pool → Taking the ropeway bus to the West Gate.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From the main urban area of Chongqing, take the Yu-Xiang Expressway - Nanchuan Interchange - Nanwan Expressway - Get off at the West Exit of Jinfo Mountain - West Gate of Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area.
- Public transportation: Tourists in the main urban area can take a bus from Chongqing Sigongli Transfer Transportation Hub Station or Chongqing Caiyuanba Bus Station to Nanchuan, and then transfer to a bus to Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Jinfo Temple: A large-scale temple with Tang-style architecture in the southwest region, with a long history and profound Buddhist cultural heritage, covering a total area of more than 10,000 square meters.
- Jinping Peak: The karst peak cluster landform is spectacular, stretching for dozens of miles, and it has different shapes when viewed from different angles. It is one of the iconic landscapes of Jinfo Mountain.
- Longyan City: A famous city that resisted the Mongols, with great historical significance. The existing ruins are well-preserved, allowing people to feel the atmosphere of ancient wars. The ruins cover an area of 2,400 square meters.
Tour Suggestions
- If you want to enjoy the rhododendrons, you can go there in late April. The flowering period is from mid-April to the end of May.
- There are places to stay in the scenic area, but if you stay in a hotel in Tianxing Town, which is one kilometer outside the scenic area, you can soak in hot springs at night.
- There are some sections in the scenic area without material supply points, so it is recommended to bring some snacks and water.
- Arrange two days for the tour to fully appreciate the beauty of the scenic area.
Precautions
- Pets are prohibited from entering the scenic area.
- Pay attention to the announcements on the official website or WeChat public account of the scenic area. For example, from November 25, 24, to February 28, 25, the section from Shuangye Bridge to Golden Turtle Facing the Sun (the second half) was fully closed; from December 6, 24, to February 28, 25, the section from Bitanyougu to Shuangye Bridge (the whole journey) was fully closed.
- Some sections in the scenic area are steep, so pay attention to safety and follow the signs in the scenic area.
- Pay attention to keeping warm when going in winter, and bring anti-slip equipment. If there is bad weather, understand the countermeasures of the scenic area in advance.