Mount Qiyun

Qiyunshan is one of the four sacred Taoist mountains of China, a Danxia landscape of red sandstone cliffs and rounded summits where Taoist temples have stood since the Tang and where the Ming emperors patronised the mountain heavily. Its distinguishing feature is inscription: over five hundred stone carvings and steles cover the cliffs, cut by pilgrims, officials and emperors over a thousand years, including large characters carved directly into the rock faces. A village of a few hundred people lives on the mountain itself, farming and running guesthouses among the temples, which is unusual. A cable car climbs from the valley, and paths link the temples and viewpoints.

Highlights

• The cliff inscriptions - over five hundred carvings and steles on red rock.
• The Danxia cliffs - rounded red sandstone summits and walls.
• The summit village - families living and farming among the temples.
• The Taoist temples - active shrines across the mountain.

When to go

March to May and September to November; mist on the Danxia cliffs is common in spring. Summer is hot, winter cold and sometimes icy on the paths. The mountain is far quieter than Huangshan nearby.

Practical notes

The cable car plus entry is expensive relative to the size of the site. Paths involve steady climbing. English interpretation is absent, and the inscriptions mean little without Chinese. Facilities in the summit village are basic.

Nearby

Tunxi lies east; Huangshan is northeast.

Key facts