Step into the real-life "Sky Mirror"!

Day 1: The tranquility of Pingtian Lake and the prelude to the Buddhist realm
Arrive at Chizhou Station in the morning and head straight to a city hotel to check in. The first stop is the Lotus Platform at Pingtian Lake, where a giant lotus sculpture serves as a landmark on the lake, perfect for photos. Ride or stroll along the lakeside road, feeling the breeze on your face and admiring the distant mountains like ink paintings, experiencing the poetic scene of "water like a piece of silk, this place is Pingtian." For lunch, enjoy Chizhou specialties at a lakeside restaurant, such as Dongzhi wheat fish and Qiupu River fish. In the afternoon, visit the Qishan Pingtian Lake Scenic Area and climb Cuiwei Peak to overlook the entire panorama of Pingtian Lake. At dusk, the changing light and shadows by the lake at sunset offer excellent material for photography enthusiasts. After dinner, it is recommended to rest early to save energy for the next day's Jiuhua Mountain itinerary. Accommodation options in Chizhou city center offer great value and a wide variety of dining choices.
Day 2: The Zen and sea of clouds of Jiuhua Mountain
In the early morning, take a tourist shuttle bus from Chizhou Bus Station directly to the Jiuhua Mountain Visitor Center. After purchasing tickets and shuttle bus passes, take the park bus into Jiuhua Street. The first recommended stop is Huacheng Temple, the founding temple of Jiuhua Mountain, rich in history. Then walk along Jiuhua Street to visit Zhantan Forest and the Mummified Body Hall. The Mummified Body Hall is the core of Jiuhua Mountain, bustling with incense and solemn atmosphere. For lunch, try vegetarian dishes on Jiuhua Street; the vegetarian meals at Dongya Hotel or Julong Hotel are well-known. If you have the energy in the afternoon, take the Tiantai Cableway to the top of Tiantai Temple, the highest temple on Jiuhua Mountain, offering broad views and a fairyland-like sea of clouds when they roll in. In the evening, take the shuttle bus down the mountain and return to Chizhou city center to end the trip.
Food and Accommodation Recommendations
Chizhou city offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget hotels to unique guesthouses. On Jiuhua Mountain, lodging mainly consists of temple guesthouses and hotels, providing a unique experience but with relatively simple conditions and higher prices. Jiuhua vegetarian cuisine is a must-try. Chizhou’s small rice cakes are a local specialty breakfast, with various fillings like shredded radish and vermicelli. Anhui southern local dishes such as Yipin Pot and stone ear mushroom stewed chicken are also worth trying. Xishan jujubes are a specialty of Chizhou, sweet and glutinous, perfect as souvenirs.
Practical Information
It is recommended to book Jiuhua Mountain tickets online in advance, as discounts are often available. Tickets include the main entrance and shuttle bus passes; cable car tickets must be purchased separately. The temperature on the mountain is lower than in the city, and the weather can be changeable, so be sure to bring a light jacket. Wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking boots. Jiuhua Mountain is a Buddhist holy site; please respect religious customs by not speaking loudly or touching Buddha statues and ritual objects casually when entering temples. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit. There is a tourist shuttle bus from Chizhou city center to Jiuhua Mountain, making transportation convenient.

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The above content is AI-generated and for reference only.

Post by BenjaminSOUL | Oct 4, 2025