Tianlong Mountain (Tianlongshan) Scenic Area is located in Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, about 36 kilometers from the city center. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a provincial-level scenic spot integrating natural scenery, Buddhist culture, and grotto art. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 17.98 square kilometers, with the main peak at an altitude of 1,700 meters. It gets its name because the mountain range winds like a soaring dragon. The scenic area centers on the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes and integrates landscapes such as the Jinci Ancient Architectural Complex, Longshan Taoist Grottoes, and Xuanweng Mountain. Among them, the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes are a key national cultural relics protection unit and are regarded as an important part of China's three major grotto art treasures, alongside the Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes. The forest coverage rate of the scenic area exceeds 80%, and the climate is cool, with an average summer temperature 5-7℃ lower than that in the urban area, making it a famous summer resort and cultural tourist attraction around Taiyuan.
Historical Culture
The history of Buddhist culture in Tianlong Mountain can be traced back to the Eastern Wei Dynasty. During the Northern Qi Dynasty, it became a royal Buddhist sanctuary. Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang built Tianlong Temple (now Shengshou Temple) here and had grottoes excavated. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the construction of the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes reached its peak, especially in the Tang Dynasty. With the support of the royal family, a large number of Buddha statues with distinctive characteristics of the times were carved, forming the "Tianlong Mountain style" of statue-making, which is famous for its plump figures, smooth lines, and exquisite carving. It had a profound impact on Buddhist art in East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.
The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes currently have 25 caves, over 500 statues, and abundant remains such as reliefs, caissons, and murals. However, in the 1920s, the grottoes were extensively looted, with more than 200 statue heads and components stolen and taken overseas, now scattered in museums in Europe, America, Japan, and other countries. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the grottoes have undergone multiple protection and restoration projects. In recent years, through international cooperation, some lost cultural relics have been returned. The "Exhibition of the Return of the Buddha Head from Tianlong Mountain Grottoes" in 2021 attracted widespread attention and became an important case of cultural heritage protection. Shengshou Temple, the main existing ancient building in the scenic area, was first built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, and the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It houses precious cultural relics such as Tang Dynasty steles and Song Dynasty iron Buddha statues.
Main Attractions
Tianlong Mountain Grottoes
The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes are the core attraction of the scenic area, distributed on the southern slopes of the East and West Peaks. There are 8 grottoes on the East Peak, 13 on the West Peak, and another 4 scattered in the surrounding mountainous areas. The excavation of the grottoes began in the 4th year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty (542) and continued through the Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties. Among them, Cave 9 (the Great Buddha Cave) is the largest. The main Buddha, 11 meters high, sits cross-legged on a Mount Sumeru throne, representing the masterpiece of Tang Dynasty statues. With a plump face and smooth drapery lines, it embodies the artistic pursuit of "expressing spirit through form". The "Flying Apsaras" relief in Cave 2 and the Bodhisattva statues in Cave 10 are renowned for their exquisite shapes. In 2020, after digital restoration and protection projects, the scenic area opened some grottoes with restrictions. Visitors can view Caves 3, 4, 5, and 8 up close via a glass plank road, and learn about the history of stolen cultural relics and their return through multimedia guides.
Shengshou Temple
Shengshou Temple is located at the foot of the East Peak of Tianlong Mountain. It is the oldest ancient architectural complex in the scenic area, covering an area of about 8,000 square meters. Facing south, it consists of a mountain gate, the Main Hall, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Bell Tower, and Drum Tower. The Main Hall in the temple is an architectural work of the Ming Dynasty, with a width of five bays and a depth of three bays, featuring a single-eave gable and hip roof. Enshrined in the hall are the "Horizontal Trinity Buddhas", with statues of the Eighteen Arhats on both sides. The temple preserves the "Stele of Tianlong Mountain Shengshou Temple", which was erected during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty and records the historical evolution of the temple. A Song Dynasty iron-cast Guanyin statue, about 2 meters in height and weighing 5 tons, has a dignified appearance and is a rare large-scale iron Buddha statue in North China. In front of the temple stands a thousand-year-old cypress, with a trunk circumference of 5 meters. It is said to have been planted during the Northern Qi Dynasty, with lush branches and leaves, witnessing the rise and fall of the temple.
Tianlong Mountain National Forest Park
Tianlong Mountain National Forest Park covers most of the scenic area, mainly consisting of coniferous and broad-leaved forests, with over 300 species of vegetation, including Chinese pine, Oriental arborvitae, wild peach, and wild apricot. In spring, flowers bloom in profusion; in autumn, the mountains are covered with colorful leaves, presenting different scenery in each season. The park has mountain roads and walking trails with a total length of about 15 kilometers, connecting major attractions. Among them, the "Tianlong Mountain Tourist Expressway" is known as the "Cloud Highway", with some sections being viaducts and tunnels, winding through the mountains. Driving or walking on it, you can overlook the scenery of the Taiyuan Basin, making it a popular spot for photographers. The park is also home to wild animals such as pheasants, hares, and squirrels, with an excellent ecological environment.
Liuzhi Valley
Liuzhi Valley is located on the west side of the West Peak of Tianlong Mountain. It is a natural canyon about 3 kilometers long, named after the legend that Liu Xiazhi, a leader of the slave uprising during the Spring and Autumn Period, once carried out activities here. There is a gurgling stream in the valley, with steep cliffs and jagged rocks on both sides, featuring natural landscapes such as "One-Line Sky" and "Echo Wall". Hiking up the trail in the valley leads to the West Peak Grottoes. Along the way, there are rest pavilions and viewing platforms, making it suitable for hiking. When rain is abundant in summer, several small waterfalls form in the valley, creating a cool and pleasant atmosphere; in winter, icefalls take shape, which are crystal clear and present a unique scene. At the entrance of the valley, there is the "Liuzhi Culture Exhibition Hall", which displays historical legends related to Liu Xiazhi and local folk customs.
Jinci Temple
Jinci Temple is located about 10 kilometers northeast of Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area, the most famous ancient architectural complex in Taiyuan, forming a "landscape + culture" tourist linkage route with Tianlong Mountain. Jinci Temple was first built in the Western Zhou Dynasty to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founder of the Jin State. Most of the existing buildings were built during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with the Hall of the Holy Mother, the Fish Pond Flying Beam, and the Offering Hall as the core. Among them, the Song Dynasty maid statues in the Hall of the Holy Mother and the cross-shaped stone bridge of the Fish Pond Flying Beam are masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture and sculpture. Jinci Temple and Tianlong Mountain belong to the Taiyuan West Mountain Cultural Belt, and tourists often visit them together to fully experience the historical and cultural heritage of Taiyuan.
Cuisine
Taiyuan Tounao
Taiyuan Tounao (also known as "Eight Treasures Soup") is a traditional breakfast in the area around the scenic spot and in Taiyuan City. It is simmered with ingredients such as astragalus, mutton, lotus root, Chinese yam, galangal, etc., and is eaten with "maohe" (a type of baked bread). It has the effect of nourishing and strengthening the body. Legend has it that it was created by Fu Shan, a medical scientist in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, to nourish his mother's health, and later became a specialty food of Taiyuan. At the time-honored restaurant "Qingheyuan" in Jinyuan District (about 20 kilometers from the scenic spot), a bowl of Tounao is priced at about 25 yuan. It is usually served in the early morning and is suitable for consumption in autumn and winter to replenish energy for mountain climbing and sightseeing.
Guoyou Rou (Fried Pork with Sauce)
Guoyou Rou is a classic Shanxi dish, commonly found in farm stays near Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area. It uses pork tenderloin, sliced, coated with batter, fried, then stir-fried with fungus, winter bamboo shoots, and cucumber slices. It has a golden color, soft outside and tender inside, with a moderate salty and fresh taste. The key to Guoyou Rou is controlling the heat to ensure the meat slices are not dry or greasy. A serving of Guoyou Rou in restaurants around the scenic area is priced at about 45 yuan, often eaten with Shanxi braised noodles or rice, a popular dish among tourists, reflecting the characteristics of Shanxi cuisine that "salty and fragrant are the main, sweet and sour are auxiliary".
Guanchang (Buckwheat Jelly)
Guanchang is a traditional snack in Taiyuan, available in village markets at the foot of Tianlong Mountain. It is made from buckwheat flour, mixed with water into a paste, steamed, then cut into pieces, and can be eaten cold or stir-fried. Cold Guanchang is served with vinegar, garlic water, and chili, refreshing and delicious; stir-fried Guanchang is stir-fried with bean sprouts and chives, with a chewy texture. A serving of Guanchang is priced at about 8 yuan, a daily snack for local people and an economical choice for tourists to experience local flavors, with the fragrance of buckwheat complementing the sour and spicy seasonings.
Tickets
A one-day pass is 110 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "晋祠天龙山景区官微" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are: peak season (April 1 to October 31) 8:00-18:00, last entry at 17:00; off-season (November 1 to March 31 of the next year) 9:00-17:00, last entry at 16:00. The grotto area is closed for maintenance every Monday (except legal holidays). It may be temporarily closed in case of extreme weather (such as heavy rain, strong wind), subject to the announcement of the scenic area.
Tour Routes
One-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area entrance before 9:00 a.m., take the scenic area sightseeing bus (10 yuan one-way) to the West Peak Grotto Area, visit major caves such as Cave 9 (Great Buddha Cave) and Cave 2 (Flying Apsaras Relief), learn about the statue art and history through guides, taking about 2 hours; at 11:30, go to Shengshou Temple, visit the ancient architectural complex, Tang Dynasty steles, and Song Dynasty iron Buddha to experience Buddhist culture, taking 1 hour; have lunch at "Tianlong Mountain Villa" in the scenic area, tasting local dishes such as Guoyou Rou and wild vegetable dumplings; at 13:30 p.m., hike in Liuzhi Valley, enjoy the canyon scenery, reach the viewing platform on the top of the West Peak to overlook the panorama, taking about 2 hours; return to the scenic area entrance at 16:00 to end the trip.
Linkage route: Visit Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area on the first day and stay in Jinyuan District at night; on the second day, go to Jinci Temple (about 30 minutes by car), visit the Jinci Ancient Architectural Complex in the morning, visit the Jinci Museum in the afternoon to learn about the history of the Jin State, and return to Taiyuan urban area in the evening, fully experiencing the natural and cultural landscapes of the West Mountain Cultural Belt.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Taiyuan urban area, go along West Central Ring Road, Taigu Expressway to Jinyuan District, then turn to Tianlong Mountain Tourist Expressway to reach the scenic area directly, with a total distance of about 36 kilometers and a driving time of 1 hour; the scenic area parking lot charges 10 yuan per time (for small cars), and some sections of the tourist expressway are one-way, so pay attention to traffic signs.
- Public transportation: Take bus 308 from Taiyuan Gymnasium Station to Jinyuan Station (1.5 hours, 3 yuan), then transfer to the special minibus from Jinyuan to Tianlong Mountain (departing at 9:00 and 10:00 daily, 40 minutes, 10 yuan); or take the tourist direct bus from Taiyuan South Station (departing at 8:30 daily, including tickets and transportation, priced at about 120 yuan per person).
- Internal transportation in the scenic area: Traffic control is implemented in the scenic area. Private cars must be parked in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. Visitors need to take the scenic area sightseeing bus to travel between attractions. The sightseeing bus pass is 30 yuan per person (round trip), allowing unlimited rides at various stops.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Tianlong Mountain Grottoes: 25 caves with over 500 statues, especially the 11-meter-high Great Buddha in Tang Dynasty Cave 9 and the Flying Apsaras Relief in Cave 2, representing the artistic peak of the "Tianlong Mountain style", an important evidence for studying Chinese Buddhist art.
- Shengshou Temple: A Buddhist temple first built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, with an 8,000-square-meter ancient architectural complex, preserving cultural relics such as Tang Dynasty steles and Song Dynasty iron Buddhas, an important place to understand the history of Buddhist development in Tianlong Mountain.
- Liuzhi Valley: A 3-kilometer-long natural canyon with streams, cliffs, and vegetation forming an original ecological landscape, with moderately difficult hiking routes, suitable for experiencing mountain wildness and natural beauty.
Travel Suggestions
- The best seasons to visit are May-June (when flowers are in full bloom) and September-October (when the weather is clear and crisp). In summer, bring sun protection products and mosquito repellent; in winter, some roads may be icy, so wear non-slip shoes.
- The grotto statues have rich details. It is recommended to rent an electronic guide (20 yuan per unit) or hire a scenic area guide (50 yuan per time for less than 10 people) to gain a deeper understanding of their artistic value and historical background, avoiding a hurried visit.
- Dining suggestions: There are few dining options in the scenic area, so you can bring your own dry food; or go to Jinyuan District for meals, recommending time-honored restaurants on "Jinyuan Old Street". In addition to Tounao, you can also try snacks such as "Yangzage" (mutton offal soup, priced at about 15 yuan per bowl).
- Photography suggestions: Take photos of grotto statues when the light is soft in the early morning (abiding by the rule of no flash), take photos of streams and reflections in Liuzhi Valley before 10 a.m., and take photos of sunsets and mountain silhouettes on the viaduct of the Tianlong Mountain Tourist Expressway in the evening.
- If interested in cultural heritage protection, pay attention to the scenic area's "Digital Grotto" project, experiencing virtual tours of closed caves through VR equipment to make up for the regret that some caves are not open.
Notes
- Touching statues, graffiti, and using flash photography are prohibited in the grotto area. You must abide by the principle of "protection first" and cooperate with staff management.
- Some sections of the hiking trail in Liuzhi Valley are steep. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring drinking water (prices in the scenic area are relatively high), and beware of mosquitoes and snakes in summer.
- The climate in the scenic area changes greatly. Even in summer, bring a thin coat; in winter, it is cold and some roads are closed, so it is recommended to check the opening status in advance.
- The tourist expressway has many curves. Drive carefully and obey traffic instructions when self-driving; public transportation has few schedules, so confirm the return time in advance to avoid being stranded.
- Respect local religious customs. Dress appropriately when entering Shengshou Temple (no shorts or short skirts), keep quiet, and do not touch Buddha statues and offerings at will.