Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area is located in the southwest of Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, in the middle section of the Taihang Mountains. It is a national-level scenic spot, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and also one of the famous Taoist sacred places in northern China. The scenic area is characterized by "strange, dangerous, beautiful, and secluded" mountain landscapes, integrating natural and cultural landscapes, and is known as the "Northern Guilin" and "Pearl of Taihang". The total area of the scenic area is 132.5 square kilometers, with the main peak at an altitude of 1270 meters and a relative height difference of over 600 meters. The vegetation coverage rate on the mountain is about 90%, mostly temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests, with distinct scenery in four seasons. The ancient building complex in the scenic area is large in scale. The Taoist buildings centered on Qinglong View are built along the mountain, covering an area of about 25,000 square meters. There are more than 30 existing buildings, with a history of over 400 years. Due to its mountain shape resembling Guilin's landscape and its historical ties with the royal family, it has become an important tourist and religious cultural resort in North China.
History and Culture
The history and culture of Tiangui Mountain are closely linked to the development of Taoism and royal legends. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Lin Qingde, a counselor of Emperor Chongzhen and the eighth-generation descendant of the Longmen School of Taoism, lived in seclusion and practiced here. He presided over the construction of Qinglong View, which was built in the style of the Forbidden City in Beijing, hence known as "Northern Wudang" and "Little Forbidden City". The completion of Qinglong View made Tiangui Mountain an important venue for Taoist activities in northern China, and it still retains complete Taoist rituals and cultural traditions to this day.
In addition, Tiangui Mountain also has a connection with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement. It is said that during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, some Taiping troops stationed here, leaving relevant military relics and legends. The "White-Haired Girl Cave" in the scenic area is well-known because of the prototype story of the opera "The White-Haired Girl". Relics related to the story are still preserved in the cave, making it a red cultural education site. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, Tiangui Mountain holds a traditional Taoist cultural temple fair, attracting many Taoist believers and tourists to pray for blessings. During the temple fair, there are also martial arts performances, folk customs displays and other activities, inheriting and promoting the local traditional culture.
Main Attractions
Qinglong View
Qinglong View is the core attraction of Tiangui Mountain. It was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 12,000 square meters. It consists of archways, mountain gates, Sanqing Hall, Yuhuang Hall, Wenchang Pavilion and other buildings, distributed in a stepped manner along the mountain. The main building, Yuhuang Hall, has five bays in width and three bays in depth, with a height of about 12 meters. It adopts a gable and hip roof architectural style. The hall houses a statue of the Jade Emperor, and the murals on both sides depict Taoist myths and legends, with bright colors and well-preserved. There are towering ancient cypresses and numerous stone inscriptions in the view. Among them, the "Imperial Edict Stele" records the construction background and historical evolution of Qinglong View, which has important historical value.
White-Haired Girl Cave
White-Haired Girl Cave is located halfway up Tiangui Mountain. It is a natural limestone cave with an entrance about 5 meters wide and a depth of about 20 meters. The stalactites in the cave have various shapes. The cave is named because it is said to be the hiding place of Xier in the opera "The White-Haired Girl". There is a statue of "White-Haired Girl" and relevant scene restorations in the cave, reproducing the classic plots of the story. Outside the cave, there is a "White-Haired Girl Memorial Pavilion", and the stone tablet in the pavilion is engraved with a brief introduction to the story, making it an important red tourism attraction that attracts a large number of tourists every year.
Yinhe Cave (Galaxy Cave)
Yinhe Cave is a large cave landscape in Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area, with a total length of about 2000 meters. The highest point in the cave reaches 50 meters, and the widest point is about 30 meters, consisting of 16 halls. The cave is full of karst landscape such as stalactites, stone pillars and stone columns. Among them, the "Galaxy Waterfall" landscape is about 30 meters high, shaped like a waterfall, which is particularly spectacular under the light. Ancient human activity relics have also been found in the cave, and Neolithic pottery fragments have been unearthed, providing important clues for the study of local prehistoric culture.
Wanghai Peak (Sea-Viewing Peak)
Wanghai Peak is one of the main peaks of Tiangui Mountain, with an altitude of 1270 meters. It is named because you can overlook the sea of clouds when you reach the top. There is a Wanghai Pavilion on the top of the peak, about 8 meters high, which is a hexagonal pyramidal roof building where tourists can rest and enjoy the scenery. On a clear morning, when you reach the top, you can see the rolling sea of clouds, and the mountains are surrounded by clouds and mist, like a fairyland; at dusk, the mountains under the setting sun show gorgeous colors, making it an ideal place for photographers. The hiking trail from the foot of the mountain to the peak is about 3 kilometers long, with 4 viewing platforms along the way.
Cuiping Mountain
Cuiping Mountain is located in the west of Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area. It is named because the mountain is always green like a screen. It has an altitude of about 1000 meters, a gentle slope, and a vegetation coverage rate of over 95%. The mountain is mostly secondary forest, mainly pine, cypress and oak trees, and there are many kinds of birds and small mammals living in the forest. There is a natural lake at the mountainside, covering an area of about 5000 square meters. The lake water is clear and can reflect the mountain scenery, forming the "Cuiping Reflecting Lake" landscape. At the foot of the mountain, there are ruins of the Ming Dynasty ancient temple "Cuiping Temple", with several existing stone tablets recording the rise and fall of the temple.
Delicacies
Pingshan Braised Chicken
Pingshan Braised Chicken is a characteristic dish around Tiangui Mountain. It is made from locally raised free-range chickens through multiple processes such as marinating, frying, and stewing. The finished dish is bright red in color, tender and rotten in meat, rich in fragrance, and mellow in taste. Its unique feature is that more than ten kinds of Chinese medicinal materials and spices are added during stewing, which not only tastes delicious but also has certain nourishing effects. It can be tasted in farmhouses and county restaurants around the scenic area, with a price of about 60-80 yuan per chicken.
Guotie Bingzi (Pot-Stuck Cakes)
Guotie Bingzi (Pot-stuck Cakes) is a local traditional pasta and a common staple in farm meals around Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area. It mainly uses corn flour and millet flour as raw materials, with an appropriate amount of water and salt added to knead into dough. The dough is shaped into cakes and stuck to the inner wall of an iron pot. Vegetable soup is boiled at the bottom of the pot, and the cakes are steamed by the steam. The finished product is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a faint fragrance of corn. It tastes even better when paired with farm stews. This delicacy reflects the dietary characteristics of northern mountainous areas. It is affordable, costing about 10-15 yuan per serving.
Stir-Fried Preserved Meat with Vermicelli
Stir-Fried Preserved Meat with Vermicelli is a home-cooked dish in Pingshan area and is very popular among tourists in restaurants around Tiangui Mountain. It is made by slicing locally marinated bacon into thin slices and stir-frying with vermicelli, green peppers, garlic sprouts, etc. The preserved meat is salty and delicious, and the vermicelli absorbs the flavor of the meat, with a smooth taste, making it a delicious dish to go with rice. The preserved meat is made using traditional methods, through processes such as sun-drying, marinating, and smoking, which can be preserved for a long time and has a unique flavor. This dish costs about 30-40 yuan per serving.
Free-Range Egg Custard
Free-Range Egg Custard is made from eggs laid by free-range chickens around Tiangui Mountain, with an appropriate amount of water and salt added and steamed. The finished product is delicate and smooth, rich in egg fragrance, and nutritious, especially suitable for the elderly and children. Local farmers usually add a little chopped green onion or sesame oil to enhance the flavor when making it, maintaining the original taste of the ingredients. In restaurants in the scenic area, a serving of free-range egg custard costs about 15-20 yuan.
Tickets
The ticket price is 39.9 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "天桂山一山一世界" to get the latest updates.
You can search for the official WeChat mini-program "天桂山风景名胜区" to get ticket information or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted according to the season. The peak season is from April 1st to October 31st, with opening hours from 7:30 to 18:00; the off-season is from November 1st to March 31st of the next year, with opening hours from 8:00 to 17:00. Yinhe Cave, as an independent attraction, has the same opening hours as the main scenic area, but in winter (December to February of the next year), the opening hours may be shortened to 16:30 due to the low temperature inside the cave. In case of extreme weather such as heavy rain, snowstorm, or strong wind, the scenic area may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to check real-time information through official channels before traveling.
Tour Routes
Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area recommends two classic tour routes. The first one is the "Taoist Culture Route": enter from the main gate of the scenic area, first visit the Qinglong View architectural complex, including Sanqing Hall and Yuhuang Hall, to learn about Taoist culture, which takes about 1.5 hours; then climb along the trail to Wanghai Peak to enjoy the scenery on the top of the mountain, with a total distance of about 2 kilometers, taking 1 hour on foot; after going down the mountain, go to White-Haired Girl Cave to visit the red cultural attractions, with a total time of about 3 hours, suitable for culture lovers.
The second one is the "Natural Wonders Route": visit Yinhe Cave in the morning to explore the cave landscape, which takes about 1.5 hours inside the cave; in the afternoon, go to Cuiping Mountain to walk in the mountains and enjoy the lake and vegetation landscapes, with climbing and visiting time of about 3 hours; in the evening, you can go to Wanghai Peak to watch the sunset, with a total time of about 6 hours, suitable for natural landscape lovers. If you have enough time, you can arrange a two-day trip to combine the two routes to fully experience the natural and cultural landscapes of the scenic area.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Shijiazhuang, take Xibaipo Expressway to Provincial Highway 301, pass through Wentang Town and Guyue Town of Pingshan County to reach Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area, with a total distance of about 90 kilometers and a driving time of about 2 hours; starting from Baoding City, take Beijing-Kunming Expressway to Xibaipo Expressway, then drive according to the above route, with a total distance of about 180 kilometers and a driving time of about 3 hours.
- Bus: Pingshan County Bus Station in Shijiazhuang City has 3 buses to Tiangui Mountain every day, departing at 7:30, 10:00, and 13:30 respectively, and returning from the scenic area at 11:30, 15:00, and 17:30, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours and a ticket price of 25 yuan per person; Yunheqiao Bus Station in downtown Shijiazhuang has buses to Pingshan County every 30 minutes, and you can transfer to the bus to Tiangui Mountain after arriving.
- Tourist special line: From April to October every year, Shijiazhuang Tourist Distribution Center opens a special tourist line to Tiangui Mountain, departing at 8:00 every day and returning at 17:00, with a round-trip ticket price of 80 yuan per person (including tickets), which can be booked in advance on the official platform.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from Pingshan County to Tiangui Mountain Scenic Area costs about 50-70 yuan, with a driving time of about 40 minutes; chartering a car from downtown Shijiazhuang costs about 300-400 yuan per car for a round trip (can seat 4-5 people).
Must-Visit Attractions
- Qinglong View: A Taoist architectural complex covering 12,000 square meters, modeled after the Forbidden City, with ancient buildings and stone inscriptions with a history of over 400 years, it is the core attraction to understand northern Taoist culture.
- Yinhe Cave: A large cave with a total length of 2000 meters, with unique karst landscapes such as "Galaxy Waterfall", with the highest point of 50 meters in the cave, showing the uncanny workmanship of nature.
- Wanghai Peak: The main peak at an altitude of 1270 meters, you can enjoy the sea of clouds, sunrise and sunset when you reach the top, with a wide view, it is the best place to view the whole scenery in the scenic area.
- White-Haired Girl Cave: A cave landscape related to the classic opera "The White-Haired Girl", with story scene restorations in the cave, combining natural and red cultural connotations.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are April-May and September-October. In April-May, flowers are in full bloom; in September-October, the weather is clear and the mountains are rich in colors; summer can be a summer resort, but you need to pay attention to rain prevention; winter can enjoy snow scenery, but some roads are slippery.
- The hiking trails in the scenic area are long. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes, carry an appropriate amount of drinking water and dry food, and prepare hiking poles according to personal needs.
- If you plan to visit Yinhe Cave, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes. The temperature inside the cave is low (about 18℃ all year round), and you can carry a thin coat even in summer.
- Taoist culture lovers can choose to go during the temple fair on the third day of the third lunar month to experience unique Taoist rituals and folk activities.
- There are many farmhouses around the scenic area that can provide accommodation and catering. It is recommended to try local characteristic foods such as braised chicken and pot-stuck cakes, with moderate prices, and the per capita consumption is about 80-100 yuan per day.
Matters Needing Attention
- The weather in the mountains is changeable. Check the weather forecast before departure and prepare rain gear; do not stay on the top of the mountain or in open places during thunderstorms to avoid lightning strikes.
- Qinglong View is a religious activity site. You must abide by relevant regulations, keep quiet, do not touch statues and cultural relics at will, and turn off the flash when taking photos.
- The roads in Yinhe Cave are slippery, and some areas have dim lights. When visiting, walk carefully, follow the guide or signs, and do not deviate from the visiting route without permission.
- Protect the ecological environment of the scenic area. Do not litter at will, pick wild plants, or disturb the activities of wild animals.
- Some roads in the scenic area are steep. Take good care of the elderly and children and avoid acting alone; mobile phone signals are weak in some mountainous areas, so you can agree on a meeting place with your companions in advance.
- There are many tourists in the peak season. It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours. The parking lot has limited parking spaces, so self-driving tourists can arrive as early as possible; the ticket is valid on the day of purchase, and if you need to enter again, you must register at the exit.