Taimu Mountain

Taimushan rises to about nine hundred metres a few kilometres from the coast, a granite massif weathered into stacked boulders, spires and, most distinctively, a network of passages and caves formed where blocks have piled against one another, creating routes that squeeze between and beneath rock for considerable distances. Walking them involves crouching, sidestepping and climbing ladders in near darkness. Above, viewpoints look over the sea and the mountain's tumbled summits, and temples sit among the rocks. The Fuding area is the source of white tea, and terraces of it cover the lower slopes, with Baihao Yinzhen and Shou Mei among the types produced.

What you actually see

• The boulder caves - passages squeezing between and beneath stacked granite.
• The sea views - the East China Sea from summit viewpoints.
• The rock formations - spires and piles named for their shapes.
• The white tea terraces - Fuding's tea gardens on the lower slopes.

When to go

April to June and September to November; the white tea harvest is in spring. Summer is hot and typhoons hit this coast. The cave routes are slippery after rain and can close.

Honest expectations

The cave passages are tight, dark and physically demanding, unsuitable for claustrophobia or limited mobility. Shuttle buses are compulsory within the scenic area. Signage in English is minimal.

Nearby

Xiapu lies south; Wenzhou is north across the provincial border.