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Qianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC

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Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC

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Trail stats

Distance
9.99 mi
Elevation gain
2,507 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
2,408 ft
Max elevation
1,850 ft
TrailRank 
64
Min elevation
289 ft
Trail type
One Way
Time
5 hours 33 minutes
Coordinates
1357
Uploaded
November 10, 2016
Recorded
November 2016
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near Miao’ertai, Liaoning (China)

Viewed 3680 times, downloaded 5 times

Trail photos

Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC Photo ofQianshan Taoism-Buddhism Mountain, Liaoning, PRC

Itinerary description

Designated a "Famous Mountain of Taoism", there are also lots of Buddhist heritage locations here. It is a beautiful forest hike with a 500-m climb, through a scenic valley with many historic temples, pavilions, and lakes full of large goldfish. Spectacular views approaching the summit. This track could be extended by doing a ridge trail to the north from the summit, that loops back to the valley bottom at the Money Temple.

Hiked in the beginning of November, 2016, off-season and not crowded at all. the recorded total distance includes several kilometers of bus access from Qianshan Village.

On a broader scale, access is by train, from the G-Train terminal at Anshan City station via taxi is ~55 RMB, and it's less than an hour to Qianshan Village. The Village is located a few kilometers before the park entrance. We found only one hotel readily accepts foreign guests. Having access to a Chinese speaker is probably a good idea.

A #8 shuttle bus frequently goes east from the Village to the Qianshan Park entrance gate (~2 RMB fare).

Waypoints

PictographPhoto Altitude 354 ft
Photo ofBreakfast in Anshan Village Photo ofBreakfast in Anshan Village Photo ofBreakfast in Anshan Village

Breakfast in Anshan Village

The road from the foreign-guest hotel to the main highway and bus stop is lined with small restaurants, and food stalls, some quite basic. There are stores with snacks for an all-day 500-m climb.Street breakfast could be a much more interesting experience than the tourist hotel breakfast room, at a fraction of the price.

PictographBus stop Altitude 364 ft
Photo ofNo 8 Bus stop, to QianShan Photo ofNo 8 Bus stop, to QianShan

No 8 Bus stop, to QianShan

On the main highway, across road from town, take bus heading west to terminal station at the Park gate.

PictographBus stop Altitude 407 ft
Photo ofBus stop at Qianshan Gate Photo ofBus stop at Qianshan Gate

Bus stop at Qianshan Gate

Get down from #8 bus. We saw groups of touring bicyclists arriving, probably from the direction of Anshan. There are wide shoulders on the main road, shared with farm tractors, scooters, etc.

PictographPhoto Altitude 420 ft
Photo ofQianshan Park Entrance Photo ofQianshan Park Entrance Photo ofQianshan Park Entrance

Qianshan Park Entrance

As everywhere there is a fee. Small trail maps are available. The washrooms here are good. There are washrooms at intervals higher up the trail, we found some not always available or open.

Photo ofMap

Map

Map boards, at key points along trails, show the locations of main temples and other attractions.

PictographPhoto Altitude 466 ft
Photo ofLily Rock Photo ofLily Rock

Lily Rock

A prominent huge boulder in the valley bottom, named Lily Rock. Tumbled down from mountain above.

PictographMountain hut Altitude 531 ft
Photo ofMoney Temple Photo ofMoney Temple Photo ofMoney Temple

Money Temple

The first of many temples, some having ancient origin, of Taoist and Buddhist traditions. All can be explored, although for us, getting to the top and back only allowed short rest times at a few of these temples.

PictographMonument Altitude 525 ft
Photo ofLingyan Temple Photo ofLingyan Temple Photo ofLingyan Temple

Lingyan Temple

A large Buddhist temple complex of ancient origin (see description in one of the posted pictures).

PictographBridge Altitude 705 ft
Photo ofAncient Bridge Photo ofAncient Bridge Photo ofAncient Bridge

Ancient Bridge

this Bridge and it's surroundings was used as a set in a Chinese serial based on the classic Red Mansions Novel.

PictographLake Altitude 755 ft
Photo ofLake Photo ofLake Photo ofLake

Lake

Lots of gold fish here.

PictographPhoto Altitude 863 ft
Photo ofArea of Chair-lift base station Photo ofArea of Chair-lift base station Photo ofArea of Chair-lift base station

Area of Chair-lift base station

The Chair-lift was not running in late October. Taking this lift (up-only, or both ways) would make the top temple complex and it's great views accessible for most walkers. If going up and contemplating just walking down, there are lots of stairs on the way back down, almost all with good hand rails.

PictographPhoto Altitude 1,020 ft
Photo ofClimbing Photo ofClimbing Photo ofClimbing

Climbing

Climbing a steep, twisting, narrow paved road. No vehicle traffic seen. There are frequent benches at the edge of the forest. The autumn, after most of the leaves had fallen, was nice with visibility into the forest. Springtime is said to be very popular with Chinese tourists.

PictographPhoto Altitude 1,175 ft
Photo ofStart of the long stairway climb Photo ofStart of the long stairway climb Photo ofStart of the long stairway climb

Start of the long stairway climb

It's a steady, steep climb from here to the upper summit, mostly on wide stairs with hand rails. From the Upper Temple to the peak, the stairs are ancient, narrow, and uneven, eroded in places, carved directly into the granite rock.

PictographPanorama Altitude 1,598 ft
Photo ofDragon Spring (Upper) Temple Photo ofDragon Spring (Upper) Temple Photo ofDragon Spring (Upper) Temple

Dragon Spring (Upper) Temple

See information in one of the pictures attached to this way point. There are spectacular views across the valley, with Taoist temple complexes on the other side. I was able to speak briefly to the young Taoist priest who I met inside when I approached the alter.

PictographPanorama Altitude 1,854 ft
Photo ofFive Buddha Hilltop (Wufu Summit) Photo ofFive Buddha Hilltop (Wufu Summit) Photo ofFive Buddha Hilltop (Wufu Summit)

Five Buddha Hilltop (Wufu Summit)

An ancient, narrow, hand-carved stairway winds up to the Summit. Hand rails are not always in good condition, and the erosion over centuries sometimes makes these stairs rough, more like mountain climbing in a few short intervals.

PictographPhoto Altitude 499 ft
Photo ofAlternate path near base Photo ofAlternate path near base Photo ofAlternate path near base

Alternate path near base

Alternate way back down on the other side of the stream, instead of taking the busy boardwalk along the paved road. Large exotic birds were seen in the late afternoon in this area, apparently they are rare, and attract many bird photographers with long cameras.

PictographBus stop Altitude 410 ft

Bus 8 stop

Catch bus here on way back to Qianshan #8 Village.

PictographPhoto Altitude 364 ft
Photo ofOn bus

On bus

Heading back to hotel for some time in the sauna.

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