Mount Qingcheng

Qingchengshan is where Zhang Daoling founded the Way of the Celestial Masters in the second century, the beginning of organised Daoism, and it has remained one of the religion's principal mountains ever since. It is inscribed by UNESCO together with the Dujiangyan irrigation system nearby. The front mountain carries a chain of temples up wooded slopes, connected by stone paths and timber pavilions, with Tianshi Cave and Shangqing Palace the main halls; the name means green city mountain, from the dense evergreen cover that keeps the paths shaded. The back mountain is longer, wilder and much less visited, with waterfalls and a full day of walking.

What you actually see

• The front mountain temples - Tianshi Cave, Shangqing Palace and the halls between.
• The shaded paths - stone steps under dense evergreen cover.
• The timber pavilions - rustic structures along the route.
• The back mountain - a longer, quieter walk past waterfalls.

When to go

April to June and September to November; Sichuan summers are humid and the mountain often misty, which suits it. Weekends and holidays crowd the front mountain badly.

Honest expectations

The front mountain is busy and partly served by cable car and boat, which shortens the walk but adds cost. Temples are rebuilt after earthquake damage. Mist often limits views.

Nearby

Dujiangyan irrigation system lies northeast; Chengdu is southeast.