CHINA 5A TRAVEL
The classic route: dawn at the Grand Temple, shuttle or cable to South Heaven Gate, the final hour to Zhurong Peak for sunrise or sunset, and a descent on foot past the temple chain - or the full 20-kilometer pilgrim walk from the town gate if your legs vote yes.
Suggested Itinerary
- Grand Temple first
Enter the 'Southern Forbidden City' at opening - the halls and cypress courtyard before the incense rush. - Up to South Heaven Gate
Shuttle and cable past Halfway Pavilion and Mojingtai; check into a summit-area lodge. - Sunset from Zhurong
The 40-minute walk from Nantianmen to the summit shrine for the evening cloud sea. - Sunrise above the clouds
First light over the Xiang plain from Shangfeng Temple's terrace - the mountain's defining hour. - Descend the temple chain
Walk down past Shangfeng, Zhurong trail, Fuyan and the Martyrs' Shrine - 3-4 hours of downhill pilgrimage.
What to See
Sunrise over the cloud sea
Zhurong Peak's east terrace at first light - arrive 40 minutes early in season.
Grand Temple's nine-axis halls
Buddhist and Taoist halls alternating down one axis - a religious geography lesson in stone.
Mojingtai's meditation cliff
The terrace where Chan master Huairang 'polished a mirror' - valley views and quiet.
Wusong rime forest
Winter's silver frost on the summit trails - best before 09:00.
Martyrs' Shrine axis
The white granite memorial hall and its inscription wall - WWII history in mountain solemnity.
Pilgrim stream at dusk
Red-clad incense-bearers on the stone steps - the mountain's timeless procession.
Photo Gallery
Tips from Real Travelers
Food & Drink
Hengyang fish rice-noodles
The city's spicy breakfast bowl - the pre-climb fuel of locals.
Nanyue vegetarian cuisine
China's first named 'home of vegetarian food' - monastery canteens and town restaurants serve mock-meat banquets along the pilgrim route.
Nanyue tofu & wild greens
Mountain specialties at the Halfway Pavilion tea houses.
Guanyin bamboo shoots
The mountain's spring delicacy - small shoots gathered around Guanyin's birthday, dried and steeped in camellia oil for phoenix-tail slivers with a fragrant crunch; the classic Nanyue gift.
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