Simian Mountain Scenic Area is located in the southern part of Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. The scenic area covers an area of 213.37 square kilometers, with an altitude of 1000 - 1500 meters. It gets its name because it is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is famous for its "strange mountains, unique waters, red rocks, and profound culture". It belongs to the northern wing of the Dalou Mountains in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and has well-developed Danxia landform landscapes. Affected by the subtropical monsoon, the climate is warm and humid, and the forest coverage rate exceeds 95%, giving birth to the largest and best-preserved subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest belt at the same latitude in the world. The complex and changeable terrain has formed a large number of waterfalls. Among them, Wangxiangtai Waterfall is the wide waterfall with the largest single-drop height found in China so far.
History and Culture
Simian Mountain has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It is a typical Danxia landform, and its formation can be traced back to the Jiaoguan Formation strata in the Late Cretaceous period, 96 million to 65 million years ago. With the Himalayan orogeny, the earth's crust has been continuously squeezed, forming many mountains. Later, through the cutting of running water and gravitational collapse, the current landscape has gradually been formed. In addition, the famous love story of "Love Ladder" also took place here. Liu Guojiang hand-carved 6,208 stone steps for his wife and it is known as one of the "Top Ten Classic Love Stories in China", adding a romantic cultural color to Simian Mountain.
Main Attractions
Wangxiangtai Waterfall
Wangxiangtai Waterfall is 158 meters high and 48 meters wide, which is the waterfall with the largest single-drop height in China. There is a light show at night, forming the "Colorful Waterfall", which is the only light waterfall that can be viewed at night in the world.
Landiyan Danxia Mural
The Landiyan Danxia Mural is the largest Danxia red cliff in Asia, 376 meters long and 127 meters high. Paired with the 89-meter-high Landiyan Waterfall, it forms the wonder of the "Red Cliff and White Silk".
Honghai Scenic Area
Honghai Scenic Area is an alpine lake at an altitude of 1,200 meters. You can take a boat to the boundary stele between Chongqing and Guizhou. Mandarin ducks and egrets often inhabit the lake.
Love Ladder
The Love Ladder is 6,208 stone steps hand-carved by Liu Guojiang for his wife, witnessing their love, and it is a good place for couples to check in.
Delicacies
Simian Mountain Old Smoked Pork
Simian Mountain Old Smoked Pork is smoked by farmers and is often stir-fried with bamboo shoots. The average cost per person is about 40 yuan.
Stone Slab Glutinous Rice Cakes
The stone slab glutinous rice cakes are freshly made and sold. They are crispy on the outside and glutinous on the inside, costing 5 yuan each.
Jiangjin Rice Puffs
Jiangjin Rice Puffs are a century-old traditional snack, crispy and sweet, and can be used as a souvenir, costing about 20 yuan per box.
Admission Tickets
During the peak season (February - October), the ticket price is 90 yuan per person, and during the off-season (January, November - December), the ticket price is 60 yuan per person. The sightseeing bus ticket in the scenic area is 40 yuan, the boat ticket of Longtan Lake is 30 yuan, and the boat ticket of Dahonghai is 45 yuan. People over 65 years old, active-duty military personnel, disabled people, and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge; students and people aged 60 - 64 enjoy a 50% discount.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area, "四面山旅游", to obtain the latest news or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are from 00:00 to 23:59. However, some attractions in the scenic area may have different opening hours. For example, some waterfall scenic areas may be temporarily closed due to weather and other reasons. It is recommended to consult the scenic area in advance.
Tour Routes
The following are some recommended tour routes:
Route 1 (Two-day tour): On the first day, Tourist Center → Wangxiangtai Waterfall (2 hours, take photos of the "First Heart Under Heaven") → Take a boat in Longtan Lake (30 yuan per person); in the afternoon, take a hike at the Landiyan Danxia Mural (1.5 hours) → Take a boat in Honghai Scenic Area to the boundary stele between Chongqing and Guizhou (45 yuan per person). On the second day, hike on the Love Ladder (6,208 steps, about 3 hours) → Zhongshan Ancient Town (Ming and Qing Dynasty old streets, traditional workshops) → Baisha Ancient Town (Yangtze River Wharf culture) → Return journey.
Route 2: Bolin Fu Family Interchange - Huilongzhuang Scenic Area - North Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Longtan Lake - Wangxiangtai - Honghai - Zhenzhu Lake - Landiyan - Shuikousi route.
Route 3: Simian Mountain Interchange - North Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Longtan Lake - Wangxiangtai - Honghai - Zhenzhu Lake - Landiyan - Shuikousi route.
Route 4: Siping Interchange - East Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Honghai - Wangxiangtai - Zhenzhu Lake - Landiyan - Shuikousi - Longtan Lake.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from the main urban area of Chongqing, passing through the Ring Expressway and Yu-Lu Expressway, transfer to the Simian Mountain Expressway at the Diaojia Interchange and go directly to the Simian Mountain Scenic Area, which takes about 2 hours in total. The scenic area has a parking lot, and the parking fee is 5 - 20 yuan per day.
- Public transportation: There are direct buses to Simian Mountain Scenic Area at Longtousi Bus Station/Liberation Monument Bus Station in Chongqing. The one-way ticket price is 60 yuan, with one departure per day at 7:30. You can also take the high-speed rail to Jiangjin North Station first and then transfer to the bus from Jiangjin Passenger Transport Center to Simian Mountain, which takes about 2.5 hours and the ticket price is 20 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Wangxiangtai Waterfall: It is the waterfall with the largest single-drop height in China, 158 meters high and 48 meters wide. The light show at night forms the "Colorful Waterfall", with a unique landscape.
- Landiyan Danxia Mural: It is the largest Danxia red cliff in Asia, 376 meters long and 127 meters high, forming the wonder of the "Red Cliff and White Silk" with the Landiyan Waterfall, which has great ornamental value.
- Honghai Scenic Area: It is an alpine lake at an altitude of 1,200 meters. You can take a boat to the boundary stele between Chongqing and Guizhou. The lake has beautiful scenery with mandarin ducks and egrets often inhabiting it.
- Love Ladder: The 6,208 stone steps witness a touching love story and it is a good place for couples to check in and feel the romantic love.
Tour Suggestions
- The scenic area is large. It is recommended to spend 2 days or more to fully experience the charm of the scenic area.
- The waterfall area is slippery. It is necessary to wear non-slip shoes; prepare a raincoat during the rainy season and take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures in summer.
- The hiking route is long. You can carry a light backpack and a water bottle to replenish water and store items at any time.
- The temperature difference between morning and evening in the mountainous area is large. Even in summer, it is recommended to carry a thin coat.
Precautions
- Comply with the rules and regulations of the scenic area, take good care of the environment, and do not litter. Waste should be sorted and thrown.
- When visiting attractions such as waterfalls, pay attention to safety. Do not climb the railings and do not approach dangerous areas.
- Some attractions in the scenic area may have restrictions on age, physical conditions, etc. Understand the relevant information before visiting.
- Respect the local customs and traditions, especially the folk customs of the Tujia ethnic group. Do not randomly photograph unlicensed ritual activities.