Sanqing Mountain: The Most Stunning Hiking Route I've Ever Taken! From the Trail to the Surroundings, One Guide Covers It All

Sanqing Mountain: The Most Stunning Hiking Route I've Ever Taken! From the Trail to the Surroundings, One Guide Covers It All If you want to choose a hiking route where every step offers a scenic view and every shot looks like a masterpiece, Sanqing Mountain in Shangrao, Jiangxi definitely ranks among the top! This famous mountain, rated by China National Geography as one of "China's Five Most Beautiful Peak Forests," hides endless strange peaks and rocks, ever-changing sea of clouds and sunrises, and thrilling yet breathtaking high-altitude plank roads. Every step makes you exclaim, "This is truly a fairyland on earth." Whether you are a parent traveling with kids, a young photography enthusiast, or an experienced outdoor lover, you can find a way to enjoy yourself here. This comprehensive guide, from route planning to nearby attractions, helps you easily explore Sanqing Mountain! 🚶‍♂️ Three Hiking Routes, Choose According to Your Needs Without Pitfalls 1. Short Loop (2h, ideal for families with kids or those with average fitness) Route: Jinsha Cableway → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Penguin Offering Peach → Eastern Goddess → Goddess Plank Road → Jinsha Cableway This route condenses the core essence of Sanqing Mountain, taking only 2 hours with low difficulty and a relaxed pace. Families with kids can walk slowly, admire the "Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain," a stone pillar piercing the clouds, the "Eastern Goddess" sitting gracefully among the mountains, and casually snap photos of the peak forest from the gentle Goddess Plank Road. It’s not tiring and perfect for great shots. 2. Medium Loop (3-4h, a must for young people and photographers) Route: Jinsha Cableway → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Penguin Offering Peach → Eastern Goddess → Yutai → Joyful Jade Maiden → One Line Sky → Sunrise Mountain Villa → Fairy Drying Shoes → Yu Emperor Peak → Fox Biting Chicken → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Jinsha Cableway If you want to capture more unique landscapes without walking too long, the medium loop is the right choice! Along the way, you’ll pass the great sunrise spot "Yutai," the narrow and steep "One Line Sky" that requires climbing with hands and feet, and lifelike strange rocks like "Joyful Jade Maiden" and "Fairy Drying Shoes." The 3-4 hour journey lets you enjoy hiking and photograph all the iconic spots of Sanqing Mountain. Photographers can camp here to capture different angles of the peak forest. 3. Long Loop (6-7h, for outdoor experts and deep travelers) Route: Jinsha Cableway → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Penguin Offering Peach → Eastern Goddess → Azalea Valley → Yutai → Joyful Jade Maiden → One Line Sky → Sunrise Mountain Villa → West Coast Plank Road → Pine Forest → Sunshine Coast High-altitude Plank Road → Yu Emperor Peak → Sanqing Palace → Fox Biting Chicken → Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain → Jinsha Cableway If you have strong stamina and want a fully immersive experience of Sanqing Mountain’s beauty, you must challenge the long loop! It takes 6-7 hours and covers the most spectacular "West Coast Plank Road" and "Sunshine Coast High-altitude Plank Road"—with cliffs beneath your feet and endless sea of clouds before your eyes, walking on the plank roads feels like "walking in the air," so stunning it leaves you speechless. You’ll also pass the thousand-year-old Taoist temple "Sanqing Palace," experiencing the fusion of Taoist culture and natural scenery. Completing this route means truly understanding Sanqing Mountain. 🚗 Transportation Guide: The Most Convenient Ways to Get to Sanqing Mountain 1. High-speed Rail If you take the high-speed train, get off at "Shangrao Station" or "Yushan South Station," then transfer to the Sanqing Mountain scenic area shuttle bus. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the scenic area without worrying about directions, perfect for those who don’t want to drive. 2. Self-driving Driving is more flexible. Just navigate to "Sanqing Mountain Jinsha Visitor Center." There is ample parking, and after parking, you can buy cableway tickets and entrance tickets directly. It’s ideal for families or friends traveling together. 3. Cableway Tips - On weekdays: It’s recommended to take the "Gangshou Cableway" up (fewer people, no queues) and the "Jinsha Cableway" down (mostly downhill, saving energy); - On weekends/holidays: It’s better to use the "Gangshou Cableway" both ways. The Jinsha Cableway tends to have long queues during holidays, while the Gangshou Cableway is relatively less crowded, saving you a lot of time. 🌄 Nearby Attractions: Make Your Trip More Worthwhile After Visiting Sanqing Mountain 1. Huangling, Wuyuan (45 minutes by car from Sanqing Mountain) Just a 45-minute drive from Sanqing Mountain, Huangling in Wuyuan is the birthplace of "Autumn Drying." In autumn, you can see every household’s drying racks full of chili peppers, corn, and chrysanthemums, colorful like a painting; in spring, there are terraced flower seas with layers of rapeseed flowers that are super soothing; plus the thrilling and fun Leixin Bridge glass plank road, where you can overlook the entire ancient village of Huangling from the bridge. It’s perfect for a side trip to experience Huizhou culture. 2. Jingdezhen (1.5 hours by car from Sanqing Mountain) For those who love art and handmade crafts, Jingdezhen is a must-visit! Here you’ll find the "China Ceramics Museum" (home to the viral "Speechless Bodhisattva" meme), where you can get up close to a thousand years of ceramic culture. There’s also the lively Taoxichuan Cultural and Creative Park—its night market is full of ceramic crafts and creative accessories, and you can try pottery throwing and painting yourself. After exploring, find a café to relax and enjoy the slow life of the "Porcelain Capital." The beauty of Sanqing Mountain can only be truly felt by walking its trails—the morning sea of clouds flowing over the peak forest, the afternoon sunlight shining on the plank roads, and the evening sunset gilding the strange rocks. No matter which route you choose, you’ll gain unforgettable scenery here. Then, take a side trip to Wuyuan and Jingdezhen for a fulfilling and exciting Jiangxi journey!