A Nanny-Level Guide to Tiantai Mountain Taking You to Stunning Attractions

🗺️ Two-Day Tour of Tiantai Mountain | Guoqing Temple and Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall・A Guide Suitable for All Groups

Tiantai Mountain, a place full of Zen and natural charm, offers you and your family, friends, or partner a fulfilling and wonderful experience in just two days.

🗓️ Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall → Tongbai Palace → Jigong’s Former Residence → Zhexi Old Street
Day 2: Guoqing Temple → Shiliang Waterfall

🏞️ Day 1: Waterfall Viewing, Exploring History, and Tasting Snacks

- 📍 Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall
- Highlights: Known as the "China’s Highest Waterfall" with a drop of 325 meters, the nine-tiered cascade is magnificent, resembling a pouring Milky Way. It’s spectacular and suitable for both elderly and children to enjoy from designated viewing spots.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; it’s recommended to arrive right at opening for fewer crowds and better chances to capture rainbows.
- Fee: 100 RMB; discounts available for students, seniors, and others with valid ID.
- Photo Spots: In front of the Water Curtain Cave, wear a raincoat for close-up photos with the waterfall; the viewing platform offers panoramic shots.
- Recommendations: Snack stalls outside the scenic area offer cold noodles, grilled sausages, and more, averaging about 30 RMB per person.
- Tips: Wear non-slip sports shoes, bring a raincoat, and those with low stamina can take the electric shuttle within the park.

- 📍 Tongbai Palace
- Highlights: The ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Taoist sect, surrounded by water on three sides, featuring simple and elegant architecture and a tranquil environment that deeply reflects Taoist culture.
- Opening Hours: Open all day.
- Fee: Free.
- Photo Spots: The stone bridge in front of the palace offers beautiful reflections of the ancient buildings on the water.
- Recommendations: After 11:15 AM, you can enjoy free vegetarian meals in the dining hall; please avoid food waste.
- Tips: Keep noise to a minimum inside the palace to respect the religious atmosphere.

- 📍 Jigong’s Former Residence
- Highlights: A great place to learn about the life of Jigong, featuring the Jigong Hall where you can draw fortune sticks, and Longxi Garden showcasing the beauty of Jiangnan gardens. Very engaging and kids will love it.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
- Fee: 30 RMB.
- Photo Spots: The statue of Jigong in the front square has good lighting for photos.
- Recommendations: Nearby restaurants serve local specialties, averaging about 50 RMB per person.
- Tips: Fortune sticks can be drawn for free, and you can listen to stories about Jigong.

- 📍 Zhexi Old Street
- Highlights: A lively old street full of local life, offering various local snacks and specialty shops. Perfect for the whole family to stroll and eat while experiencing the local atmosphere.
- Opening Hours: Open all day.
- Fee: Free.
- Photo Spots: The archway on the ancient street is very photogenic.
- Recommendations: Try the Old Rascal’s Preserved Vegetable Cake for 6 RMB each, Hulatay for 8 RMB per serving, and you can also buy Tiantai black medicine.
- Tips: Keep an eye on your personal belongings.

🏛️ Day 2: Visiting Ancient Temples and Watching Waterfalls

- 📍 Guoqing Temple
- Highlights: A free 5A scenic spot and the ancestral temple of the Japanese Tiantai sect, featuring ancient relics like the thousand-year-old Sui plum tree and Sui pagoda. It holds great historical and cultural value, perfect for the whole family to experience a millennium of Zen.
- Opening Hours: 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM; early morning is less crowded and ideal for capturing temple morning mist.
- Fee: Free, but ID is required for entry.
- Photo Spots: The walkway outside the temple offers unobstructed views of the Sui pagoda; in front of the Yuhua Hall, you can photograph the ancient architecture and monks.
- Recommendations: Try the five-element vegetarian meal inside the temple for an immersive experience.
- Tips: Follow the route “Sui Pagoda → Main Hall → Fenggan Bridge”; 1.5 hours is sufficient.

- 📍 Shiliang Waterfall
- Highlights: A natural stone bridge spans over the waterfall, with the rushing cascade beneath. In autumn, the red maple leaves complement the waterfall beautifully, creating a poetic and picturesque scene. It’s a great spot for hiking and stream tracing.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
- Fee: 60 RMB; discounts for students and seniors.
- Photo Spots: The viewing platform offers spectacular views of the waterfall flowing under the stone bridge.
- Recommendations: At the entrance, the Shiliang Family farmhouse restaurant offers meals averaging 50 RMB per person; steamed creek fish and stir-fried dried bamboo shoots are must-tries.
- Tips: The trail can be slippery due to moss; be careful, and bring water and snacks.

✨ Tiantai Mountain Survival Guide

1️⃣ Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Tiantai Mountain Station. From there, you can scan a shared electric bike or take a bus. Taxi starting fare is affordable and convenient for short trips. For elderly and children, consider hiring a car for about 500-800 RMB per day.
2️⃣ Clothing: In spring, wear light jackets and sweatshirts; summer calls for short sleeves and shorts with sun and mosquito protection; autumn requires long-sleeve shirts, thin long pants, and a light jacket; winter needs thick cotton clothes, down jackets, hats, and scarves.
3️⃣ Taboos: Keep quiet in religious sites like Guoqing Temple and Tongbai Palace, do not touch cultural relics or Buddha statues, and respect religious ceremonies.
4️⃣ Accommodation: Quiet and comfortable guesthouses near Guoqing Temple, such as “Guoqing Temple Guesthouse,” average about 180 RMB per person; guesthouses near Zhexi Old Street, like “Tiantai Family Guesthouse,” offer convenient access and average about 200 RMB per person.

🛍️ Must-Buy Souvenirs

① Tiantai Black Medicine: About 20 RMB per bag, used for medicine and soup.
② Jigong Cake: About 10 RMB per box, made from glutinous rice, sweet but not greasy.
③ Tiantai Wheat Cake: About 15 RMB per bag, available in various flavors and easy to carry.

Closing Interaction

The Zen and beauty of Tiantai Mountain are intoxicating. If you come to Tiantai Mountain, would you rather shout with friends in front of the Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall, or accompany your family to feel the tranquility inside Guoqing Temple?