Tiantai Mountain, Taizhou

Tiantai Mountain, Taizhou: Where Tang Poetry, Buddhism and Mountain Landscapes Meet
In Tiantai County, eastern Zhejiang, there is a mountain that has inspired some of China’s greatest poets, shaped the history of Chinese Buddhism and Taoism, and even became the starting point of Xu Xiake’s famous travel writings.

This is Tiantai Mountain (天台山), a National 5A Tourist Attraction celebrated for its deep cultural heritage and spectacular landscapes. It is the birthplace of the Tiantai School of Buddhism, the birthplace of the Southern School of Taoism, and the hometown of the legendary monk Jigong. It was also the first destination described in the famous Xu Xiake’s Travels, while the historic Tang Poetry Road through eastern Zhejiang ends here.

For a mountain with such a long history, one phrase seems particularly fitting:

“One Tiantai Mountain, half of the poetry of the Tang Dynasty.”

It may sound poetic, but the mountain has genuinely inspired hundreds of Tang Dynasty poets, scholars and travelers.

Why Did More Than 400 Poets Travel to Tiantai Mountain?

Tiantai Mountain has been a magnet for poets for more than a thousand years.

Among the more than 2,200 poets recorded in the Complete Collection of Tang Poems, over 400 are believed to have visited or lived around Tiantai Mountain. Some followed the river valleys and ancient routes through eastern Zhejiang before eventually reaching the mountain’s main peak, Huading (华顶).

The great poet Li Bai once wrote of his longing to leave the imperial world behind and fly toward Tiantai Mountain. Other celebrated poets, including Du Fu, Wang Wei, Meng Haoran and Bai Juyi, were also drawn to this remote landscape.

But Tiantai Mountain’s connection with Chinese travel culture became even stronger centuries later through Xu Xiake, one of China’s most famous historical travelers.

More than 400 years ago, Xu Xiake visited Tiantai Mountain three times and wrote two travel accounts about it. Most significantly, his “Diary of a Trip to Tiantai Mountain” (游天台山日记) was placed at the very beginning of The Travels of Xu Xiake.

For this reason, Tiantai Mountain is often regarded as a symbolic starting point for China’s modern travel culture and is closely associated with China Tourism Day.

Guoqing Temple: A Sui Dynasty Monastery and a 1,400-Year-Old Plum Tree

If Tiantai Mountain has a spiritual heart, it is Guoqing Temple (国清寺).

Founded during the Sui Dynasty, more than 1,400 years ago, Guoqing Temple is considered the birthplace of the Tiantai School of Buddhism. Its influence also spread to Korea and Japan, making it an important ancestral monastery for Tiantai Buddhist traditions in East Asia.

As you enter through the temple gate, five peaks rise around the monastery while two streams flow through the surrounding valleys. Ancient trees tower over the courtyards, and the buildings follow the natural slope of the mountain.

Unlike many famous tourist attractions, Guoqing Temple retains a remarkably quiet atmosphere. There are no rows of souvenir shops competing for attention. Instead, you hear the occasional bell, see incense rising slowly through the courtyards, and feel the rhythm of a monastery that has stood here for centuries.

One of its most treasured sights is the Sui Dynasty Plum (隋梅).

According to local tradition, the tree was planted by Master Zhang'an, a prominent Buddhist monk of the Sui Dynasty. It is believed to be more than 1,400 years old and is regarded as one of China's five famous ancient plum trees.

In early spring, its weathered branches burst into delicate blossoms. Against the ancient pagoda and temple halls, the combination of old wood, red walls and pale flowers creates one of Guoqing Temple’s most beautiful scenes.

Admission to Guoqing Temple is free.

The temple’s simple vegetarian food is also part of the experience. A bowl of tofu soup or a mushroom-and-vegetable steamed bun can cost only a few yuan, offering a surprisingly memorable taste of traditional temple cuisine.

Shiliang Waterfall: Where Xu Xiake Almost Couldn’t Bear to Leave

Shiliang Waterfall (石梁飞瀑) is one of Tiantai Mountain’s most dramatic natural attractions and one of the places that impressed Xu Xiake most deeply.

Deep among the mountains, a huge natural stone slab stretches between two cliffs like a bridge. Measuring roughly 10 meters long, it forms a spectacular natural crossing above the gorge.

Two streams rush down from the surrounding cliffs before joining at the stone bridge and plunging approximately 40 meters into the valley below.

The result is a scene of extraordinary power: white water exploding over dark rock, mist rising through the gorge, and the narrow stone bridge suspended above it all.

Xu Xiake actually crossed the stone bridge himself. Looking down into the abyss, he described the experience as one that made his hair stand on end.

After exploring the area, he wrote that he stopped at Xianfa Bridge to admire the stone bridge and the waterfall, and was so captivated that he “almost did not want to sleep.”

For a traveler who spent years exploring mountains across China, that is quite an endorsement.

Today, visitors can no longer walk directly across the stone bridge for safety reasons. From the viewing platforms below, however, the combination of the rock bridge, cliffs and waterfall remains spectacular.

Huading: A Sea of Ancient Rhododendrons Above the Clouds

Huading (华顶) is the main peak of Tiantai Mountain and one of the most important destinations along the historic Tang Poetry Road.

More than 300 Tang Dynasty poets are associated with Huading, leaving behind poems inspired by its forests, clouds and mountain scenery.

Today, the most spectacular time to visit is usually from late April to mid-May, when the ancient Yunjin Rhododendrons (云锦杜鹃) burst into bloom.

These are not ordinary garden rhododendrons. Some of the ancient trees have thick, twisted trunks resembling old pines, while their flowers form dense clusters that look almost like peonies.

When the flowers cover the mountainside, the forest becomes a vast natural garden floating above the valleys.

And when clouds move through the flowering forest, the scenery becomes even more atmospheric: rhododendron blossoms, mist and mountain clouds merge into a single landscape.

The period around the May Day holiday is generally one of the best opportunities to see the flowers, although the exact blooming period varies with weather and elevation.

Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall: A 325-Meter Mountain Cascade

The Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall (天台山大瀑布) represents a newer side of Tiantai Mountain.

The waterfall has a total vertical drop of approximately 325 meters and reaches a maximum width of around 100 meters, creating a spectacular series of cascading falls.

Historically known as Tongbai Waterfall, the waterfall temporarily disappeared after the construction of a reservoir in 1960. More than five decades later, the water flow was restored, bringing the waterfall back to life.

Today, visitors can follow a series of viewpoints and paths around the waterfall and enjoy the dramatic changes in elevation.

One particularly unusual feature is the mountain elevator/escalator-style route known as the Tianti (天梯), which allows visitors to gain significant elevation inside the mountain without having to climb the entire route on foot.

For travelers who want spectacular mountain scenery without an exhausting hike, this is one of Tiantai Mountain’s most convenient attractions.
Tiantai Mountain Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

April to October is generally the most convenient period for visiting Tiantai Mountain.

• April–May: Best for Huading’s ancient Yunjin Rhododendrons.
• June–August: Higher water levels make the waterfalls especially impressive, while the mountain climate provides a pleasant escape from summer heat.
• Late autumn: The Nanhuang Ancient Trail (南黄古道) becomes a beautiful destination for viewing autumn foliage.

Opening Hours

The major attractions operate independently, so opening hours vary:

• Guoqing Temple: 7:00–16:00
• Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall: 8:00–15:00 for entry
• Shiliang Waterfall: 8:00–16:00

Opening schedules can change seasonally or during holidays, so check the latest announcement before your visit.

Ticket Information

• Guoqing Temple: Free
• Shiliang Scenic Area: RMB 60
• Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall: RMB 100
• Qiongtai Xiangu: RMB 65
• Huading Scenic Area: RMB 50
• Grand Waterfall + Qiongtai Xiangu: RMB 165 combined ticket

Students and visitors aged 60–69 may receive discounted admission with valid identification.

How to Get to Tiantai Mountain

The easiest option for long-distance travelers is to take a high-speed train to Tiantai Mountain Railway Station.

From the station, Bus Route 7 connects with the Tiantai Mountain Tourist Center, taking around 30 minutes.

Approximate high-speed train travel times include:

• Shanghai → Tiantai: about 2.5 hours
• Hangzhou → Tiantai: about 1 hour

Many local public buses in Tiantai County are free, making it relatively easy to travel around without a private vehicle.

For travelers driving from Shanghai, Hangzhou or elsewhere in the Yangtze River Delta, the journey generally takes around 2–3 hours, depending on the starting point and traffic. Mountain roads contain many bends, so drive slowly and carefully.
Recommended 2-Day Tiantai Mountain Route
For a two-day trip, this route combines the major cultural and natural highlights without too much backtracking.

Day 1: Ancient Temple + Waterfalls + Sunset

Guoqing Temple → Zhexi Old Street → Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall → Qiongtai Xiangu → Chicheng Mountain

Start at Guoqing Temple in the morning and explore the Sui Dynasty pagoda, ancient halls and famous Sui Plum.

Have lunch around Zhexi Old Street, then continue to the Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall.

From there, head to Qiongtai Xiangu (琼台仙谷) for its cliffside paths, mountain pools and dramatic rock formations.

End the day at Chicheng Mountain (赤城山) for sunset and evening views across the surrounding mountains.

Day 2: Rhododendrons + Xu Xiake’s Waterfall

Huading → Shiliang Waterfall → Return

Start early at Huading to enjoy the mountain forests and, in spring, the Yunjin Rhododendrons.

Continue to Shiliang Waterfall, where you can admire the famous stone bridge and waterfall from the viewing platform.

The shallow areas downstream are also popular for cooling your feet in summer.
What to Eat in Tiantai
Tiantai has its own distinctive mountain cuisine, and food is an important part of the trip.

Jiao Bing Tong (饺饼筒)

This is perhaps the most representative local snack.

A thin wrapper is filled with ingredients such as shredded meat, egg, vermicelli and vegetables before being rolled into a long cylinder and pan-fried until slightly crisp.

The result is somewhere between a savory crepe and a stuffed pancake, with layers of texture and flavor in every bite.

Local tradition even associates the dish with the legendary monk Jigong, who was born in Tiantai.

Other Local Specialties

Be sure to look for:

• Hula Tai (糊拉汰) – crispy and fragrant despite its rather sticky-sounding name.
• Meigan Cai Wheat Cake (梅干菜麦饼) – a savory flatbread filled with preserved vegetables.
• Egg-White Mutton-Tail Pastry (蛋清羊尾) – a traditional local sweet.
• Wufan Mazi (乌饭麻糍) – chewy glutinous rice cake made with black rice.
• Shiliang Creek Fish (石梁溪鱼) – fresh mountain-stream fish.
• Braised Pork with Dried Bamboo Shoots (笋干烧肉) – a classic combination of mountain ingredients.
• High-Mountain Wild Vegetables (高山野菜) – simple, seasonal and fresh.

Where to Stay
For first-time visitors, staying around Tiantai County town or Zhexi Old Street is convenient, with plenty of restaurants and easy transportation.

If you prefer a quieter experience, consider a guesthouse near Guoqing Temple. Staying nearby allows you to visit the temple early in the morning, when the courtyards are at their most peaceful.
Best Photography Spots
Tiantai Mountain offers plenty of opportunities for landscape and cultural photography.

Guoqing Temple:
Photograph the Sui Dynasty Pagoda from the area around the Seven-Buddha Pagodas, or use the temple’s red walls and side gates as a backdrop for portraits.

Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall:
The Jiulong Lake Arch Bridge offers an excellent composition for photographing the waterfall. On sunny days, the period around 10:00–14:00 can be especially good for catching rainbows in the spray.

Shiliang Waterfall:
The viewing platform across the gorge provides the classic composition of the stone bridge suspended above the waterfall.

Huading:
Cloudy or misty weather is ideal when the rhododendrons are in bloom, allowing you to capture flowers and a sea of clouds in the same frame.

For cultural photography, simple colors, modern Chinese clothing or Hanfu work particularly well against the ancient temples and mountain scenery.
Places to Visit Around Tiantai Mountain
Tiantai Mountain is conveniently located within the broader Taizhou and eastern Zhejiang region, making it easy to combine with other destinations.

Taizhou Ancient City (临海台州府城) is about an hour away and combines the historic Jiangnan Great Wall with the atmospheric streets of Ziyang Old Street.

Shenxianju (神仙居) is another excellent choice for travelers interested in dramatic cliffs, peaks and otherworldly mountain landscapes. Tiantai Mountain and Shenxianju can work particularly well as part of a short Zhejiang mountain itinerary.

If you have additional time, consider the Nanhuang Ancient Trail for autumn foliage, or visit Gaoming Temple (高明讲寺) and Zhizhe Pagoda Courtyard (智者塔院) for a quieter side of Tiantai’s Buddhist heritage.
Why Visit Tiantai Mountain?
Tiantai Mountain is not simply another scenic mountain in Zhejiang.

Its story stretches from the Sui Dynasty, when Buddhist traditions took root here, through the Tang Dynasty, when hundreds of poets traveled into its mountains, to the era of Xu Xiake, whose first travel diary began here.

It is a place where religious history, classical Chinese poetry and dramatic mountain scenery exist side by side.

You can stand beneath a 1,400-year-old plum tree at Guoqing Temple in the morning, watch a 40-meter waterfall crash through a mountain gorge in the afternoon, and walk through clouds and ancient rhododendron forests at Huading the next day.

Perhaps that is why the old saying remains so fitting:

One Tiantai Mountain, half of the poetry of the Tang Dynasty.

Here, the temple is from the Sui Dynasty. The waterfall was admired by Xu Xiake. The mountain inspired Li Bai.

And today, you can follow their footsteps—not through a museum, but along the very same mountain roads, valleys and ancient paths that have inspired travelers for more than a thousand years.