Shenxianju Scenic Area is located in Baita Town, Danzhu Township and Tianshi Town of Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national scenic spot, and a national geopark. The total area of the scenic area is about 15.8 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering approximately 10.4 square kilometers. It features a unique geological structure, belonging to the world's largest cluster of volcanic rhyolite landforms. Renowned for its magnificence, steepness, strangeness, seclusion, clarity, and elegance, it has formed six wonders: "Guanyin (Avalokitesvara), Tathagata, Tianmu Peak, Sea of Clouds, Waterfalls, and Tadpole Scripts". The negative ion content in the scenic area is extremely high, averaging 21,000 per cubic centimeter and reaching a maximum of 88,000 per cubic centimeter, thus earning it the reputation of a "natural oxygen bar". The scenic area has two entrances/exits, south and north, connected by Nantian Cableway and Beihai Cableway, with total lengths of 202 meters and 2116 meters respectively, providing convenience for tourists' visits.
Historical Culture
Shenxianju, formerly known as Tianmu Mountain in ancient times, is also called Weiqiang Mountain. The fantastical and beautiful scenery depicted by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai in his poem "Farewell to Tianmu Mountain in a Dream" originated from this mountain. According to historical records, Weiqiang Mountain (Tianmu Mountain) belongs to the Kuocang Mountain system, with its main peak, Daqinggang, reaching an altitude of 1271 meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, He Shue, the county magistrate of Xianju, inscribed "The First City of Mist and Clouds" to praise the place for its spectacular clouds and mist, which are unparalleled in beauty across the world.
The Tadpole Cliff in the scenic area retains the mysterious "Tadpole Scripts of Heavenly Books". The cliff face is covered with artificially carved strange symbols such as sun patterns, moon patterns, insect patterns, and fish patterns. According to the records in the "Xianju County Chronicles" of the Wanli period and the Guangxu period, during the Yixi years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Zhou, the Tingwei (a judicial official), once "built a flying ladder to copy them with wax, but failed to understand their meaning". The meaning of these symbols remains an unsolved mystery to this day.
In 1998, Shenxianju (Xiyan Temple Scenic Area) was officially developed and opened to the public. In May 2002, it was listed as a "National Scenic Spot". In September 2013, the new Shenxianju Scenic Area, upgraded and built with an investment of 150 million yuan by the Xianju County Government, opened to the outside world. In 2015, the scenic area was rated as a "National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction" and became an important tourist destination in the eastern Zhejiang region.
Main Attractions
Guanyin Peak
Guanyin Peak is the largest naturally formed Guanyin statue in the world, with an altitude of 919 meters, which coincides with the number of Guanyin's lunar calendar ordination day (the 19th day of the ninth lunar month). It is a landmark landscape of Shenxianju. The peak is shaped like Guanyin with hands clasped, looking dignified and standing among the peaks. When surrounded by clouds and mist, it appears even more holy and solemn, and is known as "the symbol of compassion between heaven and earth".
Buddha Peak
Buddha Peak is one of the three major peaks in Shenxianju, named for its resemblance to the sitting Sakyamuni Buddha, with an altitude of 919 meters as well. The outline of the peak is clear, and the proportion of the head and body is coordinated, as if overlooking all living beings. It echoes with Guanyin Peak from a distance, forming a unique landscape of "coexistence of Buddhism and Taoism".
Nantian Summit
Nantian Summit is the largest and most spectacular platform barrier landscape in the scenic area. It is formed by a huge rock lifting from northeast to southwest, surrounding a kilometer, with a huge cliff as high as over 300 meters. The viewing platform is designed with elements of a spaceship and an ocean liner, implying "sailing far" and "smooth sailing". Standing on the platform, you can overlook the canyon and sea of clouds in 360 degrees, with a wide view and stunning scenery.
Ruyi Bridge
Ruyi Bridge spans the east-west canyon, consisting of three staggered and undulating streamlined bridge decks. The upper layer is a hollow iron plate, and the lower layer is a glass plank road, with a vertical height of over 140 meters and a total length of about 100 meters. The shape of the bridge is integrated with the natural landscape, like a jade ruyi hanging in the air. Walking on it, you can have a panoramic view of the scenery below, with both thrills and beauty.
Yuanmeng Bridge
Yuanmeng Bridge is a double-span half-through suspension bridge, with a length of 215 meters, a width of 3 meters, and a suspended height of 120 meters. The bridge deck is paved with anti-corrosion wood, and safety guardrails are installed on both sides, connecting the mountain bodies on the east and west sides. It serves as an important passage linking the core scenic area and is deeply loved by tourists due to the implication that "those who walk across Yuanmeng Bridge will have all their dreams come true".
Wenxian Bridge
Wenxian Bridge is an ancient stone arch bridge. The bridge body is made of cobblestones, with ferns growing in the stone crevices. The arc of the bridge hole is soft and natural, full of ancient charm and wild interest. The bridge is named after the legend that "mortals can ask about the whereabouts of immortals when crossing the bridge". It is an excellent place to take ancient-style photos. Under the bridge, there is a gurgling stream, and the surrounding trees are lush, showing the beauty of tranquility.
Tadpole Cliff
Tadpole Cliff is located deep in Weiqiang Mountain. The cliff face is covered with mysterious "Tadpole Scripts of Heavenly Books", with patterns including symbols such as sun, moon, insects, and fish, covering an area of about 300 square meters. Since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, countless scholars have tried to decipher their meaning, but it remains unsolved to this day, casting a mysterious veil over Shenxianju. There is a viewing platform under the cliff, where tourists can observe these thousand-year-old inscriptions at close range.
Lianhua Platform
Lianhua Platform is located in Nantian Valley, opposite Guanyin Peak across the valley. The platform is shaped like a blooming lotus, with an area of about 50 square meters. It is the best place to view Guanyin Peak. From this angle, Guanyin Peak seems to be sitting on the lotus platform, hence the name "Lianhua Platform". At sunrise, the sun shines on the peak, and the light and shadow change, like a fairyland.
Xitian Gate
Xitian Gate is the largest natural stone gate in Shenxianju, about 150 meters wide and 200 meters high, with steep cliffs on both sides, shaped like a heavenly gate opening. Inside the gate is a 1600-meter-long skyscraper canyon, with streams, waterfalls, and exotic pines densely covered in the valley. Walking through it, you can feel the dangerous momentum of "one man guards the pass, ten thousand men cannot pass".
Cuisine
Xianxia Xiaolongbao (Fairy and Chivalry Steamed Dumplings)
Xianxia Xiaolongbao is served in the Yujian Xianxia Theme Restaurant at the head of Nantian Bridge. It uses local pork as filling, with thin skins like paper and delicious soup. Each cage contains 8 dumplings, priced at 28 yuan. The dumplings are small and exquisite in shape, matched with tableware with the theme of "flying with a sword", making you feel like you are in a fairy and chivalry world when eating. It is a popular internet-famous food for checking in.
Xianju Jiaotou Noodles (Xianju Topped Noodles)
Xianju Jiaotou Noodles is a local traditional pasta, available in the Yujian Xianxia Theme Restaurant, priced at 18 yuan per bowl. The noodles are made of local wheat, chewy and smooth. The toppings can be selected from dried bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat, pickled cabbage with shredded pork, poached eggs, etc., matched with the soup base made of bone broth, which is fresh and flavorful, and deeply loved by tourists.
Bayberry Sparkling Rice Wine
Bayberry Sparkling Rice Wine is produced in the Bayberry Manufacturing Bureau of Shenxianju Peach Garden. It is made from Dongkui bayberry, a specialty of Xianju, and glutinous rice, fermented and then added with sparkling water. It has a sweet and slightly sour taste with the fragrance of bayberry, priced at 15 yuan per cup. It is a good summer refreshment and one of the local characteristic souvenirs.
Shenxianju Latte
Shenxianju Latte is the signature drink of Nantian Summit Cafe. It uses Arabica coffee beans ground on site, matched with fresh milk, and the latte art on the surface incorporates the pattern of Shenxianju peaks, priced at 38 yuan per cup. Sitting in the cafe, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Nantian Summit through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the aroma of coffee and the natural scenery complement each other.
Wheat Cake
Wheat Cake is a traditional snack in Xianju, available in Nantianyuan Restaurant, priced at 10 yuan each. The outer skin is made of whole wheat flour, crispy and delicious after being baked over charcoal fire. The fillings include flavors such as pickled vegetable with minced meat, brown sugar with sesame, etc. The filling is full, with a moderate salty and sweet taste, easy to carry, and is a convenient food during mountain climbing.
Shibing Tong (Food Cake Roll)
Shibing Tong is a characteristic food in Taizhou area, priced at 25 yuan per serving in Nantianyuan Restaurant. It uses a paper-thin wheat cake skin to wrap more than ten kinds of ingredients such as fried noodles, eggs, dried tofu, bamboo shoots, etc., rolled into a tube shape for eating. It has a rich taste and balanced nutrition. It is said to have been created to commemorate the anti-Japanese pirate hero Qi Jiguang, with both deliciousness and historical significance.
Tickets
Ticket price: 99 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "神仙居景区" on WeChat to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted in different periods: Winter time (November 1 - April 30 of the next year) is 7:30 - 17:00, and ticket sales and admission stop at 15:00; Summer time (May 1 - October 31) is 7:00 - 17:30, and ticket sales and admission stop at 15:30. On holidays (such as Spring Festival, National Day), the opening time will be advanced to 6:30, and the specific time is subject to the official announcement of the scenic area. The operation time of the cableway is the same as the opening time of the scenic area, and the departure time of the last bus is 17:00 (winter time) and 17:30 (summer time).
Tour Route
Recommended tour route: Enter from the South Gate, take the Beihai Cableway (65 yuan per person for upward trip) to go up the mountain, pass through Puti Road, Banruo Road, Yinyuan Road in turn, and enjoy Buddha Peak and Guanyin Peak; then go to Ruyi Bridge and Nantian Summit to experience the high-altitude landscape; then pass through Guanyin Road, Feiying Road, Wuwei Road to visit Tadpole Cliff and Wenxian Bridge; finally take the Nantian Cableway (55 yuan per person for downward trip) to go down the mountain. The whole journey is about 5 kilometers, taking 3-4 hours. If entering from the North Gate, you can tour in the reverse direction, taking the Nantian Cableway up the mountain and the Beihai Cableway down. Those with good physical strength can choose to climb the mountain on foot. It takes about 2.5 hours from the South Gate to the top of the mountain, and about 3 hours from the North Gate to the top, and you can enjoy more original ecological scenery along the way.
Transportation
- Public transportation: There are direct tourist special lines from Xianju County Bus Station to Shenxianju Scenic Area, departing from 6:30 to 17:00 every day, about every 30 minutes, with a 40-minute drive, and the fare is 10 yuan per person; you can also take Xianju No. 5 bus to Baita Town, then take a taxi to the scenic area (about 5 kilometers, costing 15 yuan).
- Tourist special line: A tourist through train from Taizhou urban area (Jiaojiang) to Shenxianju Scenic Area has been opened, departing from Jiaojiang Passenger Terminal at 7:00 every day and returning at 16:30, with a 1.5-hour drive, and the round-trip fare is 80 yuan per person.
- Self-driving: Starting from Hangzhou, take Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway and Changtai Expressway to exit at Xianju, then drive along Shenxianju Avenue for about 20 kilometers to reach, with a total journey of about 2.5 hours; the parking fee standard of the scenic area is 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars, with about 1500 parking spaces.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from Xianju County to Shenxianju Scenic Area costs about 50 yuan, with a 30-minute drive; taking a taxi between the South and North Gates of the scenic area costs about 20 yuan, with a 10-minute drive.
Must-visit Attractions
- Guanyin Peak: A giant naturally formed Guanyin statue with an altitude of 919 meters, it is a landmark landscape of Shenxianju. It is particularly spectacular when matched with the sea of clouds at sunrise. The recommended shooting time is 6:30-7:30 (summer time).
- Ruyi Bridge: A 140-meter high-altitude glass bridge with a unique shape, it is an internet-famous check-in place in the scenic area. It is recommended to go there on non-holidays to avoid the peak hours (10:00-11:30, 14:00-15:30).
- Nantian Summit: A 300-meter high cliff viewing platform with 360-degree panoramic view, where you can enjoy the canyon, sea of clouds, and peaks at the same time. It is the best place to shoot the sunset, and the sunset time is about 18:00 (summer time).
- Tadpole Cliff: The location of the mysterious tadpole scripts, the ancient inscriptions from the Eastern Jin Dynasty remain unsolved, suitable for history and culture lovers. It takes about 30 minutes to reach along the trail, 1.2 kilometers away.
Travel Suggestions
- Best season: Spring (March-May) when azaleas are in bloom, and autumn (October-November) with clear skies are the best times to visit; summer (June-August) can be a summer resort, but you need to beware of showers; winter (December-February) occasionally has snow scenes, with few people and quietness.
- Equipment to carry: Wear non-slip sports shoes (there are many gravels on mountain roads), a light coat (the temperature difference on the top of the mountain is large, about 5-8℃); carry a backpack, water (1.5 liters is recommended), energy food (such as chocolate); photography enthusiasts can bring a wide-angle lens and a tripod (for shooting sea of clouds and sunrise).
- Catering choices: The average consumption of restaurants in the scenic area is about 30-50 yuan per person. It is recommended to dine in Nantian Summit Cafe and Yujian Xianxia Theme Restaurant; you can also bring your own dry food and eat in the rest area next to Wenxian Bridge, which has a quiet environment.
- Accommodation recommendations: There are Shenxianju Junlan Resort Hotel (1 kilometer from the South Gate, with an average price of 600 yuan per night) and Baita Town homestays (with an average price of 200-300 yuan per night) around the scenic area. If you want to shoot the sunrise, it is recommended to choose accommodation near the scenic area.
- Time arrangement: It is recommended to enter the park before 9:00 for a one-day tour to avoid group tourists; if you plan to shoot the sunrise, you need to reach the viewing platform before 6:30, and you can consult the scenic area for the sunrise time of the day in advance.
Notes
- Running and jumping are prohibited in the glass plank road and suspension bridge areas. High-heeled shoes and spiked shoes are not allowed to enter, and those with acrophobia are advised to take a detour.
- The weather in mountainous areas is changeable. Check the weather forecast before departure and carry rain gear with you. There are likely to be thunderstorms in the afternoon in summer, so avoid staying in open areas.
- When hiking, follow the principle of "don't walk while enjoying the view, don't enjoy the view while walking". Do not deviate from the trail without authorization. There is no mobile phone signal in some areas of the scenic spot, so it is recommended to travel with a companion.
- Protect the ecological environment: do not pick plants or feed wild animals. Garbage must be put into designated trash cans. Smoking and the use of open flames are prohibited in the scenic area.
- There are many tourists during holidays, and the queuing time for cable cars can be 1-2 hours. It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours (such as on working days or entering the park before 7:00 a.m. on holidays), or purchase cable car priority tickets in advance through the official public account.
- Some sections in the scenic area are steep. Elderly people over 60 years old, children, and the weak are advised to take the cable car to avoid excessive fatigue. People with diseases such as heart disease and hypertension should enter high-altitude areas with caution.
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area: do not climb unopened cliffs or peaks. The scenic area is closed at night, and staying overnight is prohibited to avoid danger.