Simian Mountain is located in the southern part of Jiangjin District, Chongqing, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers an area of 213.37 square kilometers, with an altitude ranging from 1000 to 1500 meters. It gets its name because the mountains are surrounded on all sides, and it is famous for its "strange mountains, exotic waters, red stones, and profound culture". It belongs to the remaining veins of the northern wing of the Dalou Mountain in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and has well-developed Danxia landform landscapes. Influenced by the subtropical monsoon, the climate is warm and humid, with a forest coverage rate of over 95%, nurturing the largest and best-preserved subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest belt at the same latitude in the world. The complex and varied topography has formed a large number of waterfall groups, among which the "Wangxiangtai Waterfall" is the widest waterfall with the largest single drop discovered in China so far.
Historical Culture
Simian Mountain has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It has a typical Danxia landform, whose formation can be traced back to the Late Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation stratum from 96 million to 65 million years ago. With the Himalayan orogeny, the crust continued to squeeze, forming many peaks, which were then gradually shaped into the present landscape through water erosion and gravitational collapse. In addition, the famous love story "Love Ladder" also took place here. Liu Guojiang manually chiseled 6208 stone steps for his wife, which 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 a landmark attraction of Simian Mountain. Standing 158 meters high and 48 meters wide, it is one of the waterfalls with the largest single drop in China, earning it the title of "the First High Waterfall of China". The waterfall cascades down from the top of the Danxia red cliff, creating a spectacular scene reminiscent of "waterfalls flying down three thousand feet". During the rainy season, its maximum flow can reach 50 cubic meters per second. The viewing platform at the foot of the waterfall is about 50 meters away, allowing visitors to feel the grandeur of the misty spray up close. Walking along the plank road to the bottom of the waterfall, one can see the naturally formed "World's First Heart" stone beach, with a clear heart-shaped outline, forming a unique "heart and waterfall in harmony" landscape together with the waterfall. At night, a light show is held at the waterfall, showcasing the scenery of the four seasons and love stories through 3D projection technology, and the visiting hours are extended until 22:00.
Tudiya (Land Rock)
Tudiya is the core area of the Danxia landform in Simian Mountain. The rock wall is 376 meters long, 127 meters high, and covers an area of about 48,000 square meters. It gets its name because the rock wall naturally forms a pattern of "Land God". The rock wall is colorful, showing various colors such as red, yellow, and purple. Among them, the "Red Cliff and Dan Rock" landscape is the most spectacular, and it is one of the best-preserved Danxia landforms in China. There is Tudiya Waterfall at the bottom of the rock wall, which is about 89 meters high and 25 meters wide. The waterfall flows along the rock wall, forming a "curtain hanging on the rock wall" scene. The scenic area has built viewing platforms and plank roads beside the rock wall, with a total length of about 1.2 kilometers. Along the way, there are popular science signs introducing the formation principle of the Danxia landform.
Honghai (Flood Sea)
Honghai is composed of Da Honghai (Big Honghai) and Xiao Honghai (Small Honghai), forming a natural lake with a total area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers, an average water depth of 12 meters, and a maximum depth of 50 meters. Da Honghai stretches 6,850 meters in length and 60-200 meters in width, with an expansive lake surface. Its banks are covered with dense vegetation, providing a habitat for waterfowls such as mandarin ducks and wild ducks. Xiao Honghai, about 1,600 meters long, features a winding watercourse with steep cliffs on both sides, creating a "twisting and turning like intestines" landscape. Visitors can explore the lake by taking a cruise ship (15 meters in total length, with a capacity of 30 passengers), and the voyage takes about 1.5 hours. Along the way, they can enjoy attractions like the Huiqianyan Cliff Murals and the Monkey Garden. A circular lakeside trail, approximately 10 kilometers in total length, is built along the lake shore, making it suitable for hiking.
Longtanhu (Dragon Pool Lake)
Longtanhu is the highest lake in Simian Mountain, with an altitude of 900 meters, a lake surface area of about 0.7 square kilometers, and 3 small islands in the lake connected by arch bridges. The lake shoreline is about 5 kilometers long, surrounded by primeval forests. The lake water is clear to the bottom, with a visibility of 3-5 meters, and is rich in crucian carp, common carp and other fish. The scenic area has set up a fishing area (charged at 30 yuan/person/day) and a boating area (pedal boat 40 yuan/hour, battery boat 60 yuan/hour) by the lake. There are more than 10 rest pavilions beside the lake shore trail. On the west side of the lake, there is a canyon about 2 kilometers long, named "Tongtiangu" (Heaven-reaching Valley), with gurgling streams in the valley. The average temperature in summer is 3-5℃ lower than that in the lake area.
Love Ladder
Love Ladder is 6208 stone steps manually chiseled by Liu Guojiang for his wife, witnessing their love and being a popular check-in place for couples.
Zhenzhuhu (Pearl Lake)
Zhenzhuhu is an alpine lake formed by accumulated water from waterfalls, with an area of about 0.3 square kilometers. It gets its name because there are a large number of cobblestones at the bottom of the lake, which look like scattered pearls when the sun shines. The source of the lake is Zhenzhutan Waterfall (Pearl Beach Waterfall), which is about 40 meters high and 15 meters wide. The water impacts the rocks to form strings of water droplets, like scattered pearls. The vegetation on the lake shore is mainly bamboo forests, covering an area of about 200 mu. In spring, bamboo shoots break through the soil, presenting a pleasant scenery. The scenic area has built a wooden plank road along the lake, with a total length of 800 meters. At the end of the plank road is the "Waterfall Viewing Platform", where you can overlook the whole view of Zhenzhutan Waterfall. The surrounding area of Zhenzhuhu is the best area for bird watching in Simian Mountain, and more than 30 species of birds such as egrets and thrushes have been recorded.
Tour Routes
The following are some recommended tour routes:
Route 1 (Two-day Tour): On the first day, Visitor Center → Wangxiangtai Waterfall (2 hours, take photos of the "World's First Heart") → Take a boat on Longtanhu (30 yuan/person); In the afternoon, hike along Tudiya Danxia Mural (1.5 hours) → Take a boat from Honghai Scenic Area to Chongqing-Guizhou Boundary Monument (45 yuan/person). On the second day, hike the Love Ladder (6208 steps, about 3 hours) → Zhongshan Ancient Town (Ming and Qing ancient streets, traditional workshops) → Baisha Ancient Town (Yangtze River Wharf Culture) → Return.
Route 2: Bolin Fujia Interchange - Huilongzhuang Scenic Area - North Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Longtanhu - Wangxiangtai - Honghai - Zhenzhuhu - Tudiya - Shuikou Temple.
Route 3: Simian Mountain Interchange - North Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Longtanhu - Wangxiangtai - Honghai - Zhenzhuhu - Tudiya - Shuikou Temple.
Route 4: Siping Interchange - East Gate of Simian Mountain Scenic Area - Honghai - Wangxiangtai - Zhenzhuhu - Tudiya - Shuikou Temple - Longtanhu.
Tour Suggestions
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to spend 2 days or more to fully experience the charm of the scenic area.
- The waterfall area is slippery, so non-slip shoes are required; prepare raincoats in the rainy season, and take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures in summer.
- The hiking route is long, so you can carry a light backpack and a water bottle to replenish water and place items at any time.
- The temperature difference between morning and evening in the mountainous area is large, so even in summer, it is recommended to carry a thin coat.
- The best visiting season is from May to October, when the water volume is abundant, the waterfall landscape is spectacular, and the average temperature is 18-25℃; in winter (December-February), you can enjoy the snow scenery, but some sections may be icy, so please pay attention to safety.
- It is recommended to visit for 1-2 days. A one-day tour can cover the core attractions, and a two-day tour can allow you to deeply experience the lakes and hiking projects.
Matters Needing Attention
- Abide by the rules and regulations of the scenic area, protect the environment, do not litter at will, and waste should be classified and placed.
- When visiting attractions such as waterfalls, pay attention to safety, do not climb railings, and do not approach dangerous areas.
- Some attractions in the scenic area may have restrictions on age, physical conditions, etc. Please find out the relevant information before visiting.
- Respect local customs and habits, especially the Tujia customs, and do not take photos of unauthorized ritual activities at will.
- There are many wild animals in the scenic area. When encountering animals such as monkeys, do not feed or tease them to avoid accidents.
- During the light show of Wangxiangtai Waterfall (19:30-21:30), the lighting on the trail is dim. It is recommended to travel in groups and take good care of personal belongings.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from the main urban area of Chongqing, take the Ring Expressway and Yulu Expressway, transfer to Simian Mountain Expressway at Diaojia Interchange, which leads directly to Simian Mountain Scenic Area. The whole journey takes about 2 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is 5 - 20 yuan per day.
- Public transportation: There are direct buses to Simian Mountain Scenic Area from Chongqing Longtousi/Liberation Monument Bus Station. The one-way fare is 60 yuan, with one departure per day at 7:30. You can also take a high-speed rail to Jiangjin North Station first, then transfer to the bus from Jiangjin Passenger Transport Center to Simian Mountain, which takes about 2.5 hours with a fare of 20 yuan.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 00:00 - 23:59. However, some attractions in the scenic area may have different opening hours. For example, some waterfall attractions may be temporarily closed due to weather and other reasons. It is recommended to consult the scenic area in advance.
Tickets
The ticket price is 90 yuan per person in the peak season (February - October) and 60 yuan per person in the off-season (January, November - December). The sightseeing bus ticket in the scenic area is 40 yuan, the boat ticket for Longtan Lake is 30 yuan, and the boat ticket for Dahonghai is 45 yuan. Elderly people over 65 years old, active-duty soldiers, disabled people, and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge; students and elderly people aged 60 - 64 enjoy half-price discount.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "四面山旅游" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.