Mount Sanqing Hiking Guide: Rainy Day Edition

Located in Jiangxi, while Mount Sanqing may not be as renowned as Mount Wugong—the ultimate pilgrimage site for hikers in East China—it remains a must-visit sacred mountain for trekkers. Here, the bizarre rock formations and ever-changing weather ensure each ascent offers a unique experience. Though hiking Mount Sanqing in drizzling rain comes with some regrets, it also brings delightful surprises. Typically, exploring Mount Sanqing takes two full days. Currently, the West Coast Scenic Area is under renovation, limiting access to the "Monkey King Gazing at the Sea" viewpoint. Attempting to cover the entire mountain in one day would require iron legs and knees, so an overnight stay is essential. This trip was based at **Tianmen Mountain Villa** (near the Waishuangxi Cableway), making it the starting point for the routes. You can reach the villa either by taking the Waishuangxi Cableway or hiking up the nearby trail—a 6-kilometer trek with an elevation gain of about 600 meters. **Day 1:** Tianmen Mountain Villa → Rishang Mountain Villa → Sanqing Blessed Land → Sanqing Palace → Sunshine Coast → Immortal Crossing Bridge → Jiutian Yingyuan Temple → Dragon-Tiger Hall → Fenglei Pagoda → Wang Hu’s Tomb → Inspection Office → Zhan Biyun’s Bamboo Retreat → Sanqing Palace → Flying Immortal Terrace → Monkey King Gazing at the Sea → Sunshine Coast → Rishang Mountain Villa → Tianmen Mountain Villa **Day 2:** Tianmen Mountain Villa → Rishang Mountain Villa → Southern Qingyuan Garden → Dragon Playing with Pine → One-Line Sky → Jade Maiden Blossom → Eastern Goddess → Hatching Chick → Jade Maiden Blossom → Jade Terrace → Yu Huang Summit → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Eastern Goddess → Stone Forest → Down to Longevity Garden (or up to Elephant Trunk Hill) → Tianmen Mountain Villa **Tips:** - The mountain stream along the hiking trail is mesmerizing—pause occasionally, and you might spot sea of clouds from the bridges. - Alpine azaleas are abundant along the plank paths. Stay alert while walking; staring at your phone could lead to an unexpected encounter with a tree trunk. - Rainy fog often reduces scenic spots to silhouettes, but don’t miss the fleeting sea of clouds and mountain vistas when the wind clears the mist. - Prices on the mountain are **5 times higher** than below: e.g., Coke costs ¥10/bottle, and sports drinks ¥20/bottle. - Breakfast at Tianmen Mountain Villa is ¥15/set (steamed bun, egg, pickles, and unlimited congee). Group dinners (for 8+ people) cost ¥40/person (8 dishes + soup). Pack light on food, but bring trail snacks from below. - The one-way cable car fare is ¥55/person. The new cableway to Sanqing Palace is **free for Jiangxi ID holders**.