Mianshan (Mian Mountain) Scenic Area is located in Mianshan Town, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, as well as a famous historical and cultural mountain in China and a sacred site of the Quanzhen School, the mainstream of Taoism. The scenic area is characterized by the deep integration of natural landscapes and cultural landscapes, integrating Buddhist culture, Taoist culture, and Jie Zitui's Cold Food culture. It boasts rich landscapes such as ancient temple groups, inscriptions, grottoes, and plank roads. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 40 square kilometers, with an altitude ranging from 740 meters to 2566 meters, and the core scenic area covers 18 square kilometers. There are more than 30 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including halls, pavilions, and terraces, among which over 20 are religious buildings. Some of them have retained their original architectural style after restoration. Mianshan has a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%, with steep mountains and diverse landscapes in four seasons. It not only features natural landscapes of exotic pines and strange rocks but also has profound historical and cultural heritage, known as the "Jiuzhaigou in the North" and "Hometown of China's Cold Food and Qingming Culture".
Historical Culture
The core of Mianshan's historical culture stems from the allusions of Jie Zitui's "cutting flesh to serve the monarch" and "burning to death in Mianshan". During the Spring and Autumn Period, when Jin prince Chong'er was in exile, his follower Jie Zitui once cut flesh from his thigh to feed him. After Chong'er regained the throne (known as Duke Wen of Jin), Jie Zitui did not seek fame or fortune and retired to Mianshan with his mother. To force him out, Duke Wen ordered the mountain to be set on fire, and Jie Zitui and his mother died hugging a tree. Duke Wen was deeply grieved and ordered that no fire be lit and only cold food be eaten on the day Jie Zitui died, thus forming the "Cold Food Festival", which later merged with the Qingming Festival. Mianshan therefore became the birthplace of the Cold Food and Qingming culture.
Religious culture holds an important position in Mianshan's history. Since the Northern Wei Dynasty, Mianshan has gradually become a sacred place for practitioners of Buddhist Zen and Taoist Quanzhen School. Many eminent monks and Taoists practiced here in successive dynasties, leaving numerous temples and Taoist temples. Among them, Buddhist temples such as Yunfeng Temple and Zhengguo Temple were first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty and have undergone multiple renovations in the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Most of the existing buildings are relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the temples preserve precious cultural relics such as Tang Dynasty painted sculptures and Ming Dynasty murals. In terms of Taoism, there are existing Taoist temples such as Daluo Palace in Mianshan, which is an important activity site of the Quanzhen School, reflecting the coexistence and integration of Buddhist and Taoist cultures in Mianshan.
Mianshan's military culture is also unique. Due to its dangerous terrain, it has been a strategic place for military strategists in all dynasties. There are remains of ancient plank roads, fortresses, and other military sites on the mountain. Among them, the "Tianqiao" (Sky Bridge) plank road, built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, is over 300 meters long and hangs over the cliff. It is both a transportation artery and a defensive work, witnessing the wisdom of ancient military defense. In 1940, the Eighth Route Army carried out guerrilla warfare here, leaving traces of revolutionary struggles.
Main Attractions
Daluo Palace
Daluo Palace is the largest Taoist architectural complex in Mianshan. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in 1998. It covers an area of 30,000 square meters with a construction area of 10,000 square meters. It has 13 floors and is 110 meters high. Built against the mountain, it is magnificent and known as "the first Taoist temple in the world". The palace enshrines statues of Taoist gods such as Sanqing and Jade Emperor, with exquisite sculptures and rich murals. Among them, the "Eight Trigrams Diagram" and "Sixty Jiazi God Statues" are featured landscapes. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the entire Mianshan, which is a model of the combination of Taoist culture and architectural art.
Yunfeng Temple
Yunfeng Temple, formerly known as Baofu Temple, was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is located under the Baofu Rock of Mianshan and gets its name because the Baofu Rock in the temple can accommodate thousands of people. The temple covers an area of 5,000 square meters, and the existing buildings were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, including the Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall. The temple preserves cultural relics such as Tang Dynasty painted sculptures and Ming Dynasty inscriptions, among which the "Kongwang Buddha" statue is 10 meters high and is a work of the Tang Dynasty. Outside the temple, there is the "Tianqiao" plank road, which is over 300 meters long and less than 1 meter wide, hanging over a hundred-meter cliff. It was a military transportation artery in the Northern Wei Dynasty and is now a popular spot for tourists to experience thrilling landscapes.
Zhengguo Temple
Zhengguo Temple is located in the middle of Mianshan and was first built in the Tang Dynasty. It is famous for preserving 12 mummified statues of monks. These statues were made by mummifying the bodies of eminent monks after their death in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which have remained uncorrupted for hundreds of years and are rare relics of Buddhist mummy culture in China. The temple covers an area of 3,000 square meters, and the existing halls were rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. There are also Tang Dynasty ancient cypresses and Ming Dynasty murals in the temple. Among them, the "Three-Body Buddha" murals are bright in color and smooth in lines, with high artistic value.
Qixian Valley
Qixian Valley is said to be the place where Jie Zitui and his mother lived in seclusion. It is 3 kilometers long, with jagged rocks and gurgling streams in the valley, known as "Nine Bends and One Line of Sky". The valley is equipped with suspended plank roads and suspension bridges. Tourists need to walk along the plank roads through the canyon, and can enjoy landscapes such as the "Statues of Jie Zitui and His Mother" and "Candle Peak" along the way. The valley is densely vegetated, with an average temperature of 23℃ in summer, making it a good place for summer vacation and leisure, and vividly showing the natural environment where Jie Zitui lived in seclusion.
Longtou Temple
Longtou Temple is the first temple at the entrance of Mianshan. It was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, originally named Tayantou, and got its name because the mountain shape resembles a dragon's head. The temple covers an area of 2,000 square meters, and the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, including the Heavenly King Hall and Mahavira Hall. There is a "Tang Cypress" in the temple, which is about 1,300 years old, 20 meters high, and 3.5 meters in circumference, with luxuriant branches and leaves. Outside the temple, there is the "Wangfeng Pavilion", from which you can overlook the main peak of Mianshan, and it is a landmark landscape of entering Mianshan.
Cold Food Square
Cold Food Square is located in the core area of Mianshan, covering an area of 12,000 square meters. It is an important place to commemorate Jie Zitui and inherit the Cold Food culture. In the center of the square stands a 9.9-meter-high statue of Jie Zitui, surrounded by relief walls reflecting the customs of the Cold Food Festival, which show traditional activities such as "no fire", "tomb sweeping", and "spring outing" in detail. Every Qingming Festival, the "Cold Food Culture Festival" is held in the square, including sacrificial ceremonies and folk performances, attracting a large number of tourists to participate.
Food
Mianshan Cold Food Feast
Mianshan Cold Food Feast originated from the allusion of Jie Zitui's ban on fire. It mainly consists of cold food and vegetarian food, representing the local characteristic food culture. The feast includes dishes such as cold food porridge, sesame slices, and Zitui cakes. Among them, Zitui cakes are made of jujube paste and flour, shaped like ears, symbolizing the story of Jie Zitui "cutting flesh to serve the monarch". In the restaurants in the scenic area, a simple Cold Food Feast costs about 60-80 yuan per person, allowing you to experience the traditional custom of "no fire and eating cold food" and feel the connotation of Cold Food culture.
Jiexiu Sausage
Jiexiu Sausage is a traditional snack around Mianshan. It is made of buckwheat flour, steamed and cut into strips, which can be eaten cold or stir-fried. Cold sausage is mixed with vinegar, mashed garlic, chili oil and other seasonings, with a smooth taste; stir-fried sausage is mixed with garlic sprouts and chili, with a strong aroma. It is sold in snack stalls in the scenic area and restaurants in Jiexiu urban area, with a price of about 5-8 yuan per serving, and is a favorite daily food of local people.
Mianshan Oil Cake
Mianshan Oil Cake is made of yellow rice flour wrapped with jujube paste or red bean paste, fried until golden. The outer skin is crispy, and the filling is sweet. In the snack shops of Mianshan Scenic Area, a portion of oil cakes (4 pieces) costs about 8-10 yuan, often served as breakfast or dessert. It is a traditional food during local festivals, implying "promotion step by step".
Surrounding Food - Pingyao Beef
Pingyao Beef is a specialty of Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, about 80 kilometers away from Mianshan, and is a delicious food worth tasting around Mianshan. It is made of local yellow cattle as raw materials, through pickling, brining, boiling and other processes, with tender meat, ruddy color, and mellow taste. In the specialty stores of Pingyao Ancient City and Mianshan Scenic Area, vacuum-packed Pingyao Beef costs about 80-120 yuan per catty, and is a popular choice for tourists to give as gifts to relatives and friends.
Tickets
Ticket price: 160 yuan per person (including transfer ticket).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "绵山风景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted according to the season: from April 1 to October 31 (peak season), it is open from 8:00 to 18:00 (admission stops at 17:00); from November 1 to March 31 of the next year (off-season), it is open from 8:30 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:00). All scenic spots in the scenic area have the same opening hours as the scenic area, and the last bus time of the sightseeing bus is 1 hour before closing. The opening hours may be extended on holidays (such as the Spring Festival and Qingming Festival), and the specific hours are subject to the announcement of the scenic area on that day.
Tour Route
Suggested tour route: On the first morning, enter from the scenic area entrance, take a sightseeing bus to Longtou Temple (visit for 30 minutes) to visit the Tang Dynasty ancient cypresses and temple buildings; then go to Daluo Palace (visit for 1.5 hours), climb to the top to overlook the whole view and feel the Taoist culture; have lunch in the restaurant near Daluo Palace. In the afternoon, go to Yunfeng Temple (visit for 2 hours) to experience the Tianqiao plank road and visit Baofu Rock and Tang Dynasty painted sculptures; then go to Zhengguo Temple (visit for 1 hour) to appreciate the mummified statues and Ming Dynasty murals.
On the second morning, take a sightseeing bus to Qixian Valley (visit for 1.5 hours), walk through the canyon along the plank road to enjoy the natural landscape; then go to Cold Food Square (visit for 1 hour) to learn about Cold Food culture; taste the Cold Food Feast at noon. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit other scenic spots (such as Zhujiaao and Guteng Valley) or buy local specialties according to the time, and end the trip. The total recommended tour time is 2 days. If time is tight, you can give priority to visiting the three core scenic spots: Daluo Palace, Yunfeng Temple, and Qixian Valley, which can be completed in 1 day.
Transportation
- Tourist bus: There are direct tourist buses from Jiexiu Railway Station to Mianshan, with one departure per hour from 7:00 to 17:00 every day, taking about 30 minutes, and the fare is 5 yuan per person; Jinzhong Passenger Transport Terminal also has buses to Mianshan, with one departure every 2 hours from 8:00 to 16:00 every day, taking about 1.5 hours, and the fare is 20 yuan per person.
- Self-driving: The parking lot of the scenic area covers an area of about 15,000 square meters, which can accommodate 500 small cars, and the parking fee is 10 yuan per time (unlimited time). Starting from Jiexiu urban area, drive south along Mianshan Tourist Line for about 10 kilometers; starting from Taiyuan, drive south along Beijing-Kunming Expressway (G5) to Jiexiu Exit, then turn to Mianshan Tourist Line, with a total distance of about 130 kilometers and a driving time of 2 hours.
- High-speed rail + bus: Take the high-speed rail to Jiexiu East Station, transfer to Jiexiu No. 302 bus to Jiexiu Railway Station after exiting the station, and then transfer to a tourist bus to Mianshan. The high-speed rail from Taiyuan to Jiexiu East Station takes about 40 minutes, and the bus ride takes about 1 hour in total, with a total cost of about 50 yuan per person.
- Tourist special line: Tourist distribution centers in cities such as Taiyuan and Xi'an have direct tourist special lines to Mianshan, with driving times of 2.5 hours and 5 hours respectively. The round-trip ticket price including the entrance ticket is about 260 yuan per person, which can be booked online in advance.
Must-visit Attractions
- Daluo Palace: 110 meters high with 13 floors, it is one of the largest Taoist architectural complexes in China. You can climb to the top for viewing and feel the Taoist culture, with a visiting time of about 1.5 hours.
- Yunfeng Temple: It has a 300-meter-long Tianqiao plank road and Baofu Rock that can accommodate thousands of people. The Tang Dynasty painted sculptures in the temple are precious cultural relics, representing the combination of nature and humanity, with a visiting time of about 2 hours.
- Qixian Valley: A 3-kilometer-long canyon plank road with streams and strange rocks along the way, it is the core area to experience natural landscapes and Jie Zitui's seclusion culture, with a visiting time of about 1.5 hours.
Tour Suggestions
- There are many mountain roads and plank roads in the scenic area. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and carry a walking stick (available for rent at the entrance of the scenic area, 10 yuan per stick).
- There are many tourists in the peak season (April-October). It is recommended to buy tickets online 1 day in advance to avoid on-site queuing; the Cold Food Culture Festival is held during the Qingming Festival, with a large number of people, so it is necessary to plan the trip in advance.
- The temperature difference between day and night in the mountainous area is large. Even in summer, it is necessary to carry a thin coat; some roads may be icy in winter, so it is recommended to wear crampons (available for purchase in the scenic area, 20 yuan per pair).
- It is recommended to hire a guide (cost within 100 yuan for 5 people or less) to explain the historical background at scenic spots such as Daluo Palace and Yunfeng Temple. The explanation time is about 3 hours to deepen the tour experience.
- There are many accommodation options in the scenic area, ranging from economy guesthouses (about 150-200 yuan per night) to star hotels (about 400-600 yuan per night). It is recommended to book in advance, especially during holidays.
Notes
- The Tianqiao Plank Road is narrow and steep, with no guardrails on some sections. When visiting, hold the handrails firmly, do not chase or frolic, and those with acrophobia should proceed with caution.
- Smoking and the use of open flames are prohibited in the scenic area, especially in forested areas and temple compounds. Violators will be fined 500-2000 yuan.
- Photography, touching of statues and cultural relics are prohibited in religious sites. Visitors must observe etiquette and maintain silence.
- Carry drinking water and dry food with you. Catering prices in the scenic area are relatively high (for example, mineral water is 5 yuan/bottle, boxed meals are 30 yuan/portion), and there are no catering points in areas such as Qixian Valley.
- Keep the sightseeing bus pass safe, as it can be used for multiple rides. Keep your mobile phone fully charged, as the signal is weak in some areas. It is recommended to download an offline map in advance.
- In summer, there may be heavy rains or landslides in mountainous areas. Pay attention to the weather forecast, and in case of bad weather, follow the instructions of the scenic area staff and evacuate in a timely manner.