Legend has it that during the Yuan Dynasty, a fisherman dove into the river and retrieved three bronze statues. Word spread like wildfire, and from then on, the place was named "Bronze People" (Tongren), later renamed, giving rise to today's "Tongren".

For a long time, this small city in northeastern Guizhou was often overlooked by tourists, with only savvy locals aware of its hidden wonders. The fame of "Huang (Guo Tree), Xiao (Seven Arches), Xi (Jiang Thousand Households Miao Village)" was too overwhelming, forcing Tongren to bide its time, waiting for its moment to stun the world.

In 2018, Tongren's Mount Fanjing was successfully inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Since then, Tongren, home to the "Pure Land of Brahma," could no longer hide its brilliance...

Start from Fanjingshan, get to know Tongren

Mount Fanjing is the most renowned scenic spot in Tongren. Many people's first impression of this extraordinary mountain comes from the peculiar "Sky City" featured on short video platforms.

But this is merely a glimpse of Fanjingshan's charm. Its miraculous geological wonders offer geography enthusiasts a feast for the senses at every turn. Rare flora and fauna provide visitors with a spectacle unlike any other. Moreover alongside Mount Wutai Mount Emei Mount Jiuhua and Mount Putuo it is revered as one of China's "Five Great Buddhist Mountains" where devout pilgrims can find the shores of their faith.

What to see in Fanjingshan?

· The Guizhou golden monkey, rarer than the giant panda

In the Fanjingshan region, there live fewer than 700 Guizhou golden monkeys, the rarest in the world—even scarcer than giant pandas. Thus, they are hailed as "Earth's only child." And Fanjingshan is their isolated island of survival.

· A 1.4-billion-year-old "Mushroom-shaped Rock"

The Mushroom Stone is one of the iconic landmarks of Mount Fanjing. Over 1.4 billion years ago this area was once a turbulent sea. As the sea gradually receded and sediments settled the rocks emerged above the water. After enduring centuries of wind and sun they have taken on their miraculous present form: a square stone pillar supporting a massive cube-shaped boulder with the rock perched precariously on one corner of the pillar as if on the verge of toppling. Yet surprisingly it has maintained this "disguise" for thousands of years.

· Viral online "Castle in the Sky"

Many people have been captivated by Mount Fanjing，largely due to the viral "Sky City" clips circulating on short-video platforms. A towering peak，rising like a colossal pillar from its 2100-meter elevation，pierces through the clouds. The summit appears split in two，as if cleaved by a golden blade; on each of the two pinnacles stands an ancient temple，connected by a stone arch bridge. Mist drifts through the mountains，creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

Mount Fanjing Tour Route

Step 1: First, choose the mountain gate

The Fanjingshan Scenic Area has two entrance gates.

One is located closer to the direction of Tongren City at the Heiwanhe Gate (also known as the East Gate/South Gate) in Jiangkou County.

The other is situated in the opposite direction at the Huguo Temple Gate (also known as the West Gate) in Yinjiang County.

What are the differences between the two mountain gates?

1. Most visitors choose to ascend from the Heiwanhe Mountain Gate which is closer to Tongren City. Only this gate provides access to the cable car and its supporting facilities are more developed.

2. Both gates allow hiking to the summit. The Huguo Temple Mountain Gate is highly recommended—though its facilities are less developed the terrain is gentler and the scenery is exceptional. If you start from the Heiwanhe side (with the cable car) you’ll face 8000 steep steps which can be exhausting enough to make your vision blur.

Step 2: Choose the hiking method

Both slopes of Fanjingshan Mountain are accessible for hiking，but only the Heiwanhe (East Gate) entrance offers a cable car ride.

【Most Recommended Route】
Hike up from the Huguo Temple gate for 2.5 hours，then take the cable car down and exit at the Heiwanhe gate. This way，you can experience most of the stunning scenery.

【Other Recommended Options】

1. Round trip from the Huguo Temple gate: hike up for 2.5 hours and down for 1 hour. Less strenuous.

2. Hike up from the Heiwanhe gate (about 4 hours more strenuous) and take the cable car down.

Step 3: Explore the Core Scenic Area

The core attractions primarily include Mushroom Stone Chengen Temple and Red Clouds Golden Summit.

Mushroom Stone and Red Clouds Golden Summit have been described earlier and will not be reiterated here.

Chengen Temple commonly known as the "Upper Tea Hall" is located to the left of the Golden Summit. It is an ancient temple initially built during the early Ming Dynasty.

Photography Tips

1. Mushroom Stone When photographing the Mushroom Stone try not to stare rigidly at the camera. Sometimes a side profile or a back view can create a unique aesthetic. In the morning casting your shadow onto the Mushroom Stone adds a touch of mystery and romance.

2. Red Clouds Golden Summit After rain the "Buddha's Halo" often appears at the Red Clouds Golden Summit—one of the four celestial phenomena of Mount Fanjing. The summit also has a high chance of being enveloped in a sea of clouds creating an ethereal fairy-tale-like scene. Both the Buddha's Halo and the sea of clouds are most likely to appear in the morning.

3. Chengen Temple The temple's wall colors are perfect for portrait photography but photographing the Buddha statues inside is strictly prohibited.

Precautions for Mount Fanjing

· Be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip. The scenery of Fanjingshan is highly weather-dependent—on cloudy or rainy days you’ll likely see nothing at all.

· At the foot of Fanjingshan，there are other attractions like Yamu Valley and Zhai Sha Dong Village，but due to space constraints，they won’t be detailed here. They will be covered extensively in a later standalone guide，Classic Tongren Travel Guide.

· Fanjingshan boasts pristine natural ecology, but snakes and insects may appear during the rainy season. Please stay within the designated tourist routes and avoid venturing off-trail.

· Fanjingshan has been extremely popular recently, so tickets are hard to come by during peak seasons. Be sure to book your tickets at least one day in advance, as on-site purchases are unavailable.

Mount Fanjing Travel Tips

1. Ticket Information
   Tickets for Mount Fanjing must be reserved and purchased at least one day in advance. There are two separate entrance tickets for the East and West Mountain Gates, which are not interchangeable. Please enter through the designated gate.

   • Opening Hours: 07:00–15:00
   • Ticket + Round-trip Shuttle Bus: ¥120
   • Cable Car (One-way): ¥70
   • Cable Car (Round-trip): ¥140

2. Transportation
   High-Speed Rail:
   There are two high-speed rail stations near Mount Fanjing: Tongren Station and Tongren South Station.

   • Tongren Station: Located in downtown Tongren. Walk to Tongren Tourist Bus Station, where direct buses to Mount Fanjing (Heiwan River Gate) are available for ¥32, taking about 1.5 hours.
   • Tongren South Station: Relatively remote, about 2 hours from the scenic area. It also has a long-distance bus station with direct buses to Jiangkou County and Mount Fanjing. For details, contact Jiangkou County Bus Center in advance (Inquiry: 0856-6620031).

   Flight:
   Arrive at Tongren Fenghuang Airport, which is about a 3-hour drive from the scenic area. Private taxis to Mount Fanjing are available outside the airport.

   Self-Driving:
   Both mountain gates have nearby accommodations and dining options. You can choose based on your preferences and route.

Mount Fanjing Travel Tips

1. Ticket Information Tickets for Mount Fanjing must be reserved and purchased at least one day in advance. There are two separate entrance tickets for the East and West Mountain Gates which are not interchangeable. Please enter through the designated gate.

• Opening Hours: 07:00–15:00

• Ticket + Round-trip Shuttle Bus: ¥120

• Cable Car (One-way): ¥70

• Cable Car (Round-trip): ¥140

2. Transportation High-Speed Rail: There are two high-speed rail stations near Mount Fanjing: Tongren Station and Tongren South Station.

• Tongren Station: Located in downtown Tongren. Walk to Tongren Tourist Bus Station where direct buses to Mount Fanjing (Heiwan River Gate) are available for ¥32 taking about 1.5 hours.

• Tongren South Station: Relatively remote about 2 hours from the scenic area. It also has a long-distance bus station with direct buses to Jiangkou County and Mount Fanjing. For details contact Jiangkou County Bus Center in advance (Inquiry: 0856-6620031).

3. Flight: Arrive at Tongren Fenghuang Airport which is about a 3-hour drive from the scenic area. Private taxis to Mount Fanjing are available outside the airport.

4. Self-Driving: Both mountain gates have nearby accommodations and dining options. You can choose d on your preferences and route.

Beyond Mount Fanjing, Tongren has even more to offer.

Many people treat Tongren city merely as a transit point on their way to Fenghuang in Hunan or Fanjingshan, but in fact, this small town along the vital route between Hunan and Guizhou has plenty of its own attractions worth exploring.

Tongren Ancient Town · The Western Hunan Scenery of a Frontier Town

The ancient town of Tongren (open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, free admission), surrounded by water on its eastern, southern, and western sides, boasts a distinct style unlike other ancient towns in the heart of Guizhou. Visitors here will quickly notice its striking resemblance to the ancient town of Fenghuang in western Hunan, even down to the local dialect, which closely resembles the speech of Hunan and Chongqing. Conveniently located in the city center of Tongren, the town is easily accessible.

"Tongren Ancient Town" is the abbreviated name of Zhongnanmen Ancient Town in Tongren the only remaining original historical district that fully reflects the city's ancient character.

Nestled between mountains and rivers most of the residential buildings in the ancient town are said to date back two to three hundred years with many originating from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The town has preserved its original appearance remarkably well blending ethnic residential architecture religious structures and commercial buildings in a harmonious layout. Here the cultures of eastern Guizhou the Central Plains and Huizhou merchants converge creating a unique charm.

The town remains largely uncommercialized mostly inhabited by locals with few tourists. With its scenic beauty and sparse crowds it's an ideal spot for taking photos in Hanfu attire! Best of all—it's free!

The night view of Tongren Ancient Town is breathtaking. As night falls and the lights come on a boat ride along the Jinjiang River is also a wonderful choice.

The Cinnabar Ancient Town, where the fervor of an era lies preserved.

This might just be the most audacious ancient town in the country. While you'd need to transfer multiple times by shuttle bus to reach other ancient villages, the high-speed rail has already pulled straight into this one. True to its name, this ancient town was once the largest mercury mining site in New China. In those years, young people from all over the country flocked here, dedicating their sweat and blood to mercury production. Back then, much like the Koktokay mine, it helped China repay substantial debts to the Soviet Union, earning it the premier's praise as "Patriotic Mercury."

Plan your trip

How many days is suitable for playing?

Mount Fanjing requires a full day to explore, or you can stay overnight at the summit to watch the sunrise the next morning before descending.

Zhusha Ancient Town also takes a full day to fully experience.

Tongren Ancient City requires half a day to visit.