Guanzhai Mountain Scenic Area is located in Liancheng County, Longyan City, Fujian Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The total area of the scenic area is about 123 square kilometers, with the main scenic area covering 82.65 square kilometers. It belongs to the typical monoclinal Danxia landform, boasting more than seventy Danxia stone wall groups, more than sixty Danxia red cliffs, as well as unique geomorphological landscapes such as flowing water erosion canyons, single-sided mountain clusters, year-round unfrozen tianchi (heavenly lakes), and water erosion grooves. The scenic area integrates "mountains, waters, rocks, springs, and temples", combining sightseeing and leisure, sports, and scientific research and popularization functions. It contains ancient academies built since the Song Dynasty, such as "Yangzhi Pavilion" and "Qiu's Academy", and preserves more than 40 cliff inscriptions, where cultural and natural landscapes complement each other.
History and Culture
According to the Liancheng County Annals, the development history of Guanzhai Mountain can be traced back to the establishment of Liancheng County in the third year of Shaoxing in the Song Dynasty (1133), with a history of more than 800 years. It was called "Dongtian Stone" in the Song Dynasty and "Lianfeng Mountain" in the Yuan Dynasty. In the twenty-fourth year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty (1364), Ma Zhouqing, the acting county magistrate, led a thousand people to open stone roads, beginning its status as a tourist resort. During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the government built an academy on the mountain top, after which literati and scholars flocked here, leaving a large number of cliff inscriptions, such as the two characters "Guanzhai" inscribed by Huang Gongfu in the Ming Dynasty and the inscription "First View of the Upper Reaches" by Hanlin Zhu Yang during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, making Guanzhai Mountain a cultural mecca in western Fujian.
Shimen Lake in the scenic area was excavated in the Tang Dynasty and is one of the earliest water conservancy projects in Liancheng. Fayun Temple, built in the Yuan Dynasty, was once the Buddhist center of western Fujian, preserving precious cultural relics such as Ming Dynasty bronze Buddhas. The "Qiaochang Shanfang" Academy, built in the Ming Dynasty, was the study place of the Confucian scholar Qiu Rui, witnessing the prosperity of the imperial examination culture in western Fujian.
Main Attractions
Main Peak of Guanzhai Mountain
The main peak of Guanzhai Mountain, at an altitude of 661 meters, is named for its resemblance to an ancient xiezhi (a mythical animal) crown and is the core area of the Danxia landform.The summit features vivid rock formations like "Lingzhi Peak" and "Five Sisters Stone" on the peak are vivid and lifelike. The Ming Dynasty cliff inscriptions "Guanzhai" are 3.7 meters high and 4.2 meters wide, serving as the iconic landscape of the scenic area. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the Liancheng Basin with a broad vision, making it an excellent spot for watching sunrises.
Shimen Lake
Shimen Lake has a water area of about 0.7 square kilometers, artificially excavated in the Tang Dynasty, with 12 natural landscapes in the lake. Taking a boat tour, you can see Danxia reflections such as "Elephant Playing in Water" and "Saddle Peak". The "Gate of Life" landscape on the lake shore, over 10 meters high, is a rare water erosion cave in the Danxia landform, known as the "Oriental Female Reproductive Totem". Qing Dynasty water conservancy inscriptions are preserved around the lake, recording the history of ancient water control.
Zhu'an Stockade
Zhu'an Stockade is a military stockade built in the late Qing Dynasty to resist wars, at an altitude of 660 meters. The "Heavenly Wall" in the stockade is a Danxia stone wall more than 100 meters high and more than 300 meters long, with grand momentum. The "Longevity Star Stone", 39 meters high, resembles an old man and is a rare giant stone figurine in the Danxia landform. The "Twin Sword Peaks", two stones standing side by side, are more than 80 meters high, like sharp swords unsheathed, making it an ideal venue for rock climbing.
Jiulong Lake
Jiulong Lake covers an area of about 3.2 square kilometers, composed of 9 lake bays, with an 18-kilometer shoreline. The "Nine Dragons Presenting Auspiciousness" landscape in the lake is formed by the reflection of 9 Danxia peaks in the water. By boat, you can visit attractions like "Crocodile Entering the River" and "Tortoise Exploring Water". The lake area has a forest coverage rate of 92%, inhabiting more than 30 species of birds such as egrets and mandarin ducks, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Delicacies
Liancheng White Duck Soup
Liancheng White Duck is the only medicinal duck breed in China, with a breeding history of over 700 years. Stewed with local spring water, the White Duck Soup features clear broth and tender meat, rich in 18 kinds of amino acids and more than 10 trace elements, enjoying the reputation of "more nourishing than soft-shelled turtle". Authentic recipes can be tasted at restaurants around the scenic area, such as "Guanzhai Mountain Restaurant", with an average consumption of about 60-80 yuan per person.
Dengzhan Cake
A traditional snack in Liancheng, made by grinding rice and soybeans into a paste, adding fillings such as pork, shrimp, and mushrooms, and deep-frying. The finished product is shaped like a lamp, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fragrant smell. The "Old Liancheng Snack Shop" at the scenic area entrance is a time-honored brand, about 5-8 yuan per portion, which goes better with hot and sour soup.
Liancheng Sweet Potato Dried
Made from local red-hearted sweet potatoes, it has a golden color, soft and waxy texture, a sugar content of 28%, and is rich in vitamin A and dietary fiber. It was once a tribute in the Qing Dynasty and now has multiple varieties such as "sweet type" and "candied type". It is sold in all speciality stores in the scenic area, about 15-20 yuan per catty, making it an excellent gift for relatives and friends.
Admission Tickets
The admission ticket is 115 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "冠豸山景区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open year-round from 08:00 to 17:30 (stopping admission at 16:30), and extended to 18:00 (stopping admission at 17:00) during legal holidays and summer vacation (July 1 - August 31). The last boat of Shimen Lake departs at 17:00, and Zhu'an Stockade stops receiving visitors after 16:00 due to rock climbing project restrictions.
Tour Routes
Recommended classic route: In the morning of the first day, visit the main peak of Guanzhai Mountain (Lingzhi Peak → Five Sisters Stone → Cliff Inscriptions → Peak Viewing Platform), and in the afternoon, take a boat tour of Shimen Lake (Gate of Life → Elephant Playing in Water → Saddle Peak); in the morning of the second day, go to Zhu'an Stockade (Heavenly Wall → Longevity Star Stone → Twin Sword Peaks), and in the afternoon, visit Jiulong Lake (Nine Dragons Presenting Auspiciousness → Crocodile Entering the River → Tortoise Exploring Water), with the whole journey taking about 2 days and 1 night. Those with limited physical strength can choose a one-day tour of the main scenic area + Shimen Lake and take the scenic area sightseeing car (10 yuan per person one-way) to save energy.
Transportation
- High-speed Railway: Take the Gan-Rui-Long High-speed Railway to "Guanzhai Mountain Station", and after exiting the station, take the tourist dedicated line bus (5 yuan/person, every 20 minutes) directly to the scenic area visitor center.
- Airplane: Xiamen Gaoqi Airport and Fuzhou Changle Airport both have flights to Liancheng Guanzhai Mountain Airport. After landing, take the airport bus (15 yuan/person) to the county seat, and transfer to a taxi (about 20 yuan) to the scenic area.
- Self-driving: From Fuzhou and Xiamen, take the Chang-Shen Expressway and Xia-Rong Expressway to the Liancheng exit, and drive about 15 kilometers along the Guanzhai Mountain Tourism Avenue to reach the scenic area. The parking lot charges 10 yuan per day.
- Bus: Take bus routes 1 and 2 in Liancheng County to the "Guanzhai Mountain Scenic Area" station, with a journey of about 15 minutes and a fare of 2 yuan/person.
Must-visit Attractions
- Main Peak of Guanzhai Mountain: The core of the Danxia landform, overlooking the Liancheng Basin from the top and viewing the "Guanzhai" cliff inscriptions. The best visiting time is around sunrise (5:30-6:30 in summer, 6:30-7:30 in winter).
- Shimen Lake: Take a boat to admire water erosion landscapes like the "Gate of Life", with Danxia reflections and clear water. The boat ticket includes a guide explanation, and the tour takes about 1.5 hours.
- Heavenly Wall of Zhu'an Stockade: A Danxia stone wall more than 100 meters high, requiring 1.5 hours to hike to the top. The "Motian Ridge" stone steps on the way are steep (75-degree slope), a must-visit for experiencing Danxia exploration.
- Jiulong Lake: Nine lake bays connect Danxia peak clusters. By boat, you can watch birds inhabiting up close. It is recommended to visit from 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning when the light is soft and suitable for photography.
Tour Tips
- In summer, it is hot and rainy. It is recommended to carry sunscreen and rain gear and wear non-slip sports shoes. In winter, there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening, so a coat is needed.
- The stone steps of the main peak of Guanzhai Mountain are steep (some sections have a slope exceeding 60 degrees). Elderly tourists and children are advised to travel in groups, and patients with heart disease should climb the "Sky Ladder" section with caution.
- Shimen Lake cruise tickets need to be purchased 30 minutes in advance. Group tourists can make an appointment for a chartered boat (300 yuan/boat, limited to 10 people). Zhu'an Stockade rock climbing projects need to be reserved 1 day in advance (fee: 80 yuan/person).
- Restaurants in the scenic area are concentrated near the visitor center. It is recommended to taste Liancheng white duck soup and Dengzhan cake, with an average consumption of 50-70 yuan per person. Bringing your own snacks can save costs.
Notes
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. The Danxia landform is a geological heritage, and it is strictly forbidden to carve rocks or pick vegetation.
- When the Shimen Lake cruise is sailing, life jackets must be worn, and do not stand or play in the water. The "Longevity Star Stone" viewing platform in Zhu'an Stockade is a suspended plank road, and those with acrophobia should be cautious.
- The last tourist dedicated line bus from Guanzhai Mountain Station to the scenic area is at 18:00. If missed, take a taxi (about 30 yuan). Do not park self-driving cars in non-designated areas to avoid being towed.
- During the rainy season (May-June), some mountain roads are slippery. It is recommended to travel with a guide or in a group. In winter (December-February), the "Tianchi" may freeze, so pay attention to anti-slip.
- It is recommended to purchase tickets 1 day in advance during holidays.