Tianma Mountain in Shanghai

Tianma Mountain in Shanghai

• Quieter than Sheshan, it offers great views of the surrounding landscape and features the famous leaning pagoda from the Northern Song Dynasty.

Attraction Introduction

Tianma Mountain is located about seven kilometers southwest of Sheshan and near Chenshan Botanical Garden. With an elevation of 99.8 meters, it is the highest natural peak on Shanghai’s land. The mountain is covered in lush vegetation and offers a tranquil environment. It is home to the famous leaning pagoda — the Hu Bao Zhu Guang Pagoda from the Song Dynasty. From the summit, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the Sheshan area. Compared to the well-known Sheshan, Tianma Mountain sees far fewer visitors, making it the perfect spot for a peaceful trip to the suburbs of Shanghai to hike and explore history.

Tianma Mountain has two main entrances, east and west, both accessible. Stone steps lead up to the summit with a relatively gentle slope. The hiking paths are lined with dense trees, and the western side features a shaded bamboo forest. However, mosquitoes can be a nuisance in the summer, so bring insect repellent. The entire mountain area is compact, and a full visit won’t take more than three hours. There are no food stalls on the mountain, so it’s recommended to bring some snacks and water.

The Hu Bao Zhu Guang Pagoda is a highlight of Tianma Mountain. This ancient pagoda, built during the Northern Song Dynasty, once housed Buddhist relics and was not originally tilted. However, people later chiseled away parts of the bricks in search of Song Dynasty coins hidden in the gaps, removing nearly a quarter of the base’s structure, which led to the gradual tilting of the pagoda. Despite this, the ancient tower remains standing despite its lean — in fact, its incline even exceeds that of Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa. Today, you can see a large hole in the northwest corner of the base, but the wooden staircase inside the pagoda was destroyed in a fire and is no longer accessible.

In addition, there were many historical relics scattered across the mountain in the past, though few remain well-preserved today. Just 20 meters from the leaning pagoda stands an ancient ginkgo tree over 700 years old. Although its main trunk is nearly dead, one branch still thrives. On the southern slope of the pagoda lies the Zhuo Yue Spring, praised as the “Fourth Best Spring Under Heaven” by Lu Yu, the “Sage of Tea.” Unfortunately, the spring’s source has nearly dried up, and water only flows through the rocks during heavy rain. In the southeastern part of the mountain lies the “Tomb of the Three Gentlemen,” the burial site of three renowned Yuan Dynasty scholars: Yang Weizhen, Qian Weishan, and Lu Juren.

Address: No. 460, Liujia Village, Sheshan Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai

Type: Mountain

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–3 hours

Phone: 021-57668324

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:00

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 10.0 RMB