Live Your Best Lives
November, Guizhou. This time, the story is of boundless autumn beauty, this time the photos are a bit ethereal, and this time the name is—Fanjing Mountain. Skipping all the formalities, no need for excessive preparation, and no excessive, chaotic chatter, let's just watch a video first.
Above the clouds, at a height only birds can reach, Fanjing Mountain, standing tall for 65 million years, is truly remarkable for its height. Its unique beauty lies in its hundreds of meters-high peak, perched atop an already narrow ridge, a golden dome split in two by a crack carved by weathering. This unique shape captivates everyone's attention, and from every angle it is a veritable city in the sky.
The most convenient way to climb Mount Fanjing is of course to take the cable car. Each cable car can accommodate up to 8 people, and the doors close automatically. The large glass in the front and back and the small windows on both sides can bring a good viewing experience.
The entire cableway is 3,411.32 meters long, with a height difference of 1,193 meters above sea level and a maximum height of 178.78 meters above the ground. I was a little nervous riding it, as the car body would shake a few times every time it passed over the piles, which was a bit irritating. However, there was no need to worry about the safety of the cableway at all.
In autumn, the forests of Fanjing Mountain are all colored, and the view from the cable car is even more vivid. The red, yellow, blue, green and the rolling sea of clouds are beautiful beyond words.
While taking the cable car is convenient, it's only one way to climb the mountain. Mount Fanjing offers another original climbing experience: the 10,000-step Cloud Ladder, which requires only physical strength and perseverance and takes about four hours to climb.
The Wanbu Cloud Ladder starts from the lush jungle of Yu'ao and ends at the majestic Old Golden Summit. It has more than 8,000 steps along the way and a total altitude of about 1,600 meters.
On both sides of the road are the primeval forests of Fanjing Mountain. To complete the climb, you have to cross vegetation types such as evergreen broad-leaved forest, evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, deciduous broad-leaved forest, subalpine rhododendron dwarf forest and subalpine shrub meadow.
There is a road on each side of the cable car that leads up the mountain. Strictly speaking, one of them is the downhill road, which is relatively easier to walk on. It is the road that goes down the Wanbu Cloud Ladder after getting off the cable car.
A few minutes' walk away is a supply store that sells local specialties and handicrafts, as well as some simple fast food such as corn, grilled sausages, eggs, etc. Replenishing energy is very necessary for climbing, and you can also take a break here and drink a cup of local fragrant tea.
The Jingxin Pond is also on this road. The water in the pool is crystal clear and very cool, and is replenished by the natural dripping water from the stone wall behind it.
Next to the Jingxin Pond stands a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Since ancient times, pilgrims who come here to worship Buddha would drink water to wash their faces or roll up their sleeves to wash their hands, eliminate distracting thoughts, and then worship Guanyin to show their piety and purity of mind.
Cheng'en Temple, nestled between the old and new Golden Summits, is the main structure of the Fanjingshan temple complex and one of the Four Imperial Temples. In the early morning, Cheng'en Temple, shrouded in the bustle of crowds, appears particularly solemn and dignified. The weather is exceptionally good, with blue skies, white clouds, and a dazzling morning glow.
The temple is not big. After passing through the Heavenly King Hall, you will reach the main hall. The dragon carving in the middle of the stone steps has beautiful lines and is so vivid that I couldn't help but take a photo as a souvenir.
There is a stone staircase on each side of the Main Hall, hidden behind the hall, and it is unknown where it leads to.
Next to the main hall are steps leading to the Mushroom Rock. This isn't actually a road, but some tourists simply cross it for convenience, creating a well-marked path. After climbing up, I realized that behind it is the temple's Sutra Library, where the abbot's meditation room is also located.
The narrow stone steps can only accommodate one person throughout the entire path. No matter how agile you are, you cannot bypass the tourists in front of you.
Not only is the narrow plank road hanging on the bare cliff, but there is also thick fog all around and the steps are wet. Of course, it would be better when the weather is clear. There are handheld chains and ropes on the fence next to it, otherwise it would be a bit difficult to climb up.
Hongyun Jinding is 2,336 meters above sea level. It is often surrounded by red clouds and auspicious air in the morning. Therefore, it is also called Hongyun Jinding, which is a homonym of "Hongyun Jinding", which means good luck.
The upper part of Hongyunjinding is divided into two isolated peaks by the "Golden Knife Gorge": the southern part houses the Sakyamuni Hall, dedicated to Sakyamuni Buddha, and the northern part houses the Maitreya Hall, dedicated to Maitreya Buddha. A sky bridge in the middle connects them, resembling a flying dragon.
When viewed from different angles, the Red Cloud Golden Summit looks like the two fingers of a Buddha's hand or the totem of life, so it is also known as the "No. 1 Peak in the World".
Opposite the Red Cloud Golden Summit is the Old Golden Summit and the giant naturally formed Mushroom Rock. Climbing the stone steps next to Cheng'en Temple takes about 10 minutes to reach the Mushroom Rock. On a good day, the wide view, with the morning sun shining through the clouds in the distance and filling the valley, is like a dream.
The Mushroom Stone, as its name suggests, is about ten meters high, larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, shaped like a mushroom. It embodies the true meaning of "ordinary mind" in Buddhism and has stood for 1 billion years. Many painters and photographers have used it as a subject to create various artistic masterpieces. The Mushroom Stone has also become the iconic representative image of Fanjing Mountain.
There are many such unusual rocks on Fanjing Mountain. Opposite the Mushroom Rock is a high platform with a huge rock standing on it like an inverted seal, which is called the "Heaven-Flipping Seal". It is said that since ancient times, many people seeking official positions have come here to kowtow and pray for good luck.
The path descending from the Mushroom Rock leads to the Old Golden Summit, the second highest peak in Fanjing Mountain at 2,493 meters. It is also known as "Moon Mirror Mountain" because images of Maitreya Buddha preaching to sentient beings often appear on the cliffs under moonlight. The Dipankara Hall, dedicated to the ancient Buddha Dipankara, is located on the Old Golden Summit.
At the foot of the majestic Fanjing Mountain, there is a beautiful village called Zhaisha. At the source of the surging Jinjiang River, there is a simple ethnic group called the Dong people.
The Sha Dong Village of Fanjing Mountain in Jiangkou County, Guizhou Province, is 27 kilometers from the county seat and 3 kilometers from the main entrance to the Fanjing Mountain Scenic Area. The village is primarily inhabited by Dong people. Typical features of the village include the village gate, square, bell and drum tower, farmhouses, and 64 two-story stilt houses.
Zhaisha is nestled at the foot of the magical Fanjing Mountain. The clear Taiping River flows gently past, with towering ancient trees along the riverbank. The entire village is surrounded by verdant mountains and nestled among lush forests and bamboo groves, creating a picturesque scene.
Entering the scenic gate of the Dong Village, the simple ethnic customs unfold before your eyes. Strolling along the winding bluestone path, after a hundred steps, you'll suddenly find yourself in a circular plaza, like a peacock spreading its feathers. In one corner stands the village's iconic bell and drum tower. Beside the tower stands a precious nanmu tree, centuries old and vigorous.
In front of the square is a unique stage, where the Dong people hold grand gatherings and performances during festivals and when distant guests arrive. Around the square are several farmhouses, all serving local specialties. Each restaurant has a unique style, exemplified by typical Dong architecture, featuring two-story wooden stilt houses.
The village boasts numerous unique guesthouses, each with its own unique decor. Staying here, enjoying traditional Dong cuisine and the warm hospitality of the Dong people, while daytime journeys through the pure land of Brahma and nighttime tranquility of the Dong village are truly unique experiences.
You can fly planes in the scenic area, but you must pay attention to safety.
The signal is intermittent in front of Cheng'en Temple when flying around the Red Cloud Golden Summit. It is recommended to choose a location with a wide view and no obstacles to operate the aircraft.
There are many boulders scattered on the platform of Mushroom Rock, which block the signal. It is not recommended to take off there. There is a narrow V-shaped viewing platform under the Mushroom Rock. It is a good take-off point. On the left and right sides are the New Golden Summit and the Old Golden Summit, with a good view.
All parts of the country can be easily reached by plane, high-speed rail and train.
There are direct shuttle buses to Guiyang, Tongren, Huaihua, Yuping and other transfer points for Fanjing Mountain tourism, or you can transfer to the shuttle bus in Tongren City and Jiangkou County to reach the Fanjing Mountain Scenic Area.
For regular trains, you can check nationwide train schedules to Tongren, Huaihua, and Yuping. The Guiyang-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway is now fully operational, allowing travelers from Guangdong and Guangxi to travel directly to Guiyang. The Shanghai-Kunming High-Speed Railway, also in Shanghai and Guiyang, is now open to traffic, allowing travelers from Hunan, Hubei, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions to travel directly to Tongren.
Tongren Airport currently has flights to: Beijing (daily flights on weekdays: 13-57), Guangzhou (daily flights on weekdays: 257), Changsha (daily flights on weekdays: 24-67), Guiyang (four flights daily), Shenzhen (daily flights on weekdays: 26), Kunming (daily flights on weekdays: 13-57), Hangzhou (daily flights on weekdays: 13-57), Shanghai (daily flights on weekdays: 13-57), Xiamen (daily flights on weekdays: 12-46), Nanjing (daily flights on weekdays: 135), and Fuzhou (daily flights on weekdays: 24-6).
In order to protect the ecological environment of the scenic area, Fanjing Mountain does not provide accommodation for tourists on the mountain. You can stay in the Zhaisha Dong Village B&B at the foot of the mountain or in a hotel in Jiangkou County, which are not far from the entrance of the scenic area.
The temperature on Fanjing Mountain fluctuates greatly, and it's especially cold in the morning and evening. It's recommended to bring a thicker jacket or a windbreaker to keep warm. Don't worry if you encounter heavy fog; be sure to pay attention to safety when climbing Hongyunjinding.
