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Maoshan Scenic Area

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Maoshan is both a sacred Taoist site and a revolutionary landmark, as well as a provincial scenic area and a moral education base. The provincial Maoshan Scenic Area is located 26 kilometers southeast of Jurong City in Jiangsu Province, approximately 40 kilometers from Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Nanjing. The Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway and Railway, the Nanjing-Hangzhou National Highway, and the Changli Highway all run close to Maoshan. Changzhou Airport is 56 kilometers away, and Nanjing Lukou Airport is about 50 kilometers away, making transportation extremely convenient. In 1986, the Maoshan Scenic Area was designated as a provincial forest park by the provincial government, and in 1995, it was approved as a Class A provincial scenic area. Maoshan lies at the border of Jurong and Jintan counties and was anciently known as Qusu Mountain. During the Western Han Dynasty, three brothers surnamed Mao from Shaanxi came to the mountain to gather herbs and refine elixirs to save the people. As a result, later generations renamed it Sanmao Mountain, or simply Maoshan. It is not only a sacred Taoist site but also an anti-Japanese base. Its natural landscape, cultural heritage, forest scenery, and revolutionary history blend seamlessly, resembling a heavenly paradise. The total planned area is 32 square kilometers, with the towering Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace at its summit, while the Ermao Peak and Sanmao Peak wind down, complementing the main peak with their undulating heights. Maoshan’s natural landscape is uniquely beautiful. The mountain boasts numerous scenic spots, including nine peaks, nineteen springs, twenty-six caves, and twenty-eight pools. The famous Damao Peak stands 372.5 meters above sea level, steep and majestic, with overlapping ridges, misty clouds, and a pleasant climate. The mountain is densely dotted with peculiar rocks and large, winding caves, scattered with spiritual springs and sacred pools, crisscrossed by winding streams, and covered with lush green trees and bamboo, making it a place of abundant natural beauty. A short walk east from Maoshan Town leads to the mountain’s base. Looking up, you’ll see the grand Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace (commonly called the Summit Palace) perched atop the mountain, its magnificent ochre-colored structure seemingly floating in the ethereal mist. Following the ancient stone path on the right, you’ll pass through nine winding turns and climb 999 and a half stone steps to reach the summit. In front of the Summit Palace is a stone-paved plaza, flanked by two archway-style mountain gates, with stone railings built along the cliff edge, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks. The first hall of the Summit Palace is the Lingguan Hall, with the inscription “Imperially Bestowed Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace” above its entrance. The second hall is the Scripture Depository, behind which lies the Treasure Vault on the east side, used for burning incense papers. The third hall is the Taiyuanbao Hall, also known as the Ancestral Master Hall, the main hall of the palace, where the Three True Lords of Maoshan—Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong—are enshrined. Behind the hall is the Ascension Platform and the Three Heavens Gate, where legend says Mao Ying ascended to heaven on a crane. There is also a pool in the western part of the palace called the Dragon-Rearing Pool, which never dries up even in severe droughts, and where a small black dragon is said to swim, believed to be the “abode of the divine dragon.” The Summit Palace also houses the “Four Treasures of Maoshan”: the Jade Seal, Jade Talisman, Jade Gui, and the Exhaling Inkstone. After visiting the Summit Palace, take the road northeast of the plaza to descend the mountain. Along the way, you can admire the magnificent sight of the “Nine Dragons Coiling the Jade Seal.” About 3 kilometers down, you’ll reach the “Yuanfu Wanning Palace” (commonly called the Seal Palace) at the northern foot. The grand archway-style gate in front of the palace is called the Duxing Gate, where Taoists observe the stars and qi. On either side of the gate are stone walls inscribed with “First Blessed Land, Eighth Grotto Heaven.” The halls inside the palace are divided into two levels following the mountain’s contour, connected by stone steps. The first level is the Lingguan Hall, where the Taoist guardian deity Wang Lingguan is enshrined in the center, flanked by the Southern Dipper Star Lord and the Northern Dipper Star Lord. The second level is the Taiyuanbao Hall, housing statues of the Three True Lords of Maoshan. The Three Heavens Gate and the Longevity Platform in the palace retain their ancient, unadorned charm. Nearby is the famous Huayang Cave, where legend says the Three Lords of Maoshan attained enlightenment, and where Tao Hongjing once lived in seclusion. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty inscribed the words “Huayang Dongtian” (Huayang Grotto Heaven) during his southern tour. The powerful characters “Huayang Cave,” written by the Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo, each cover about one square meter, with over 20 other stone inscriptions by notable figures on the cave walls. Huayang Cave has five entrances: east, south, west, north, and another. The Yuye Spring is a high-quality famous spring on Maoshan. According to the *Maoshan Annals* from the Yuan Dynasty, “drinking from it can cure various abdominal ailments.” On the left side of the downhill road is the Xike Spring, where water suddenly boils and splashes when visitors approach, resembling pearls boiling and jade spouting, as if the spring itself rejoices at the visitors’ presence. From the 24th day of the 12th lunar month to the 18th day of the third lunar month each year, Maoshan experiences its peak pilgrimage season, with flourishing incense offerings. Taoism has long been renowned here, celebrated worldwide as the birthplace of the Shangqing Sect. Its emergence played a significant role in advancing China’s development in thought, culture, art, metallurgy, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, health preservation, and more. The currently open “Two Palaces and One Temple” attract constant streams of worshippers and visitors all year round. Maoshan is rich in historical sites. From the Spring and Autumn Period, there’s the Tomb of King Yi; from the Warring States Period, the Chu King Ravine; from the Qin Shi Huang era, the burial of white jade at Liangchang Mountain; from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong refining elixirs and writing books here; and from the Southern Dynasties Qi and Liang periods, the renowned philosopher, Taoist master, and physician Tao Hongjing, who refused an official invitation from Emperor Wu of Liang and lived in seclusion on the mountain, founding the Maoshan Sect of Taoism, earning him the title “Prime Minister of the Mountains.” Hence, Maoshan has long been known as “the Immortal Mansion of the Qin and Han Dynasties, and the Prime Ministers’ Home of the Liang and Tang Dynasties.” Over the centuries, it has attracted countless scholars and celebrities, leaving behind thousands of poems and over a hundred calligraphic works. Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty, grateful to Maoshan Taoists for curing his mother’s illness, personally bestowed eight treasures, including the Jade Seal, Jade Gui, Jade Talisman, and the Exhaling Inkstone. Maoshan is also a famous anti-Japanese base in southern Jiangsu. Today, the New Fourth Army Exhibition Hall, the Southern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese Victory Monument, and the majestic characters “Dongjin Forest” (each character covering 33 mu) written by Marshal Chen Yi and formed by a pine and cypress formation on the western foothills of Damao Peak have become one of the province’s top ten moral education bases, serving as an ideal place for youth education, revolutionary tradition education, and cultivating sentiment. Maoshan combines natural scenery, cultural heritage, forest landscapes, revolutionary history, and Taoist culture, integrating leisure, tourism, spiritual cultivation, and pilgrimage. It offers the joy of nature’s craftsmanship, insight into Taoist philosophy, a stage for career development, and a sacred land for attracting talent and treasure. The newly built 33-meter-tall outdoor statue of Laozi, cable cars, slide tracks, wellness parks, and the development of Xianren Cave, Huayang Cave, and agricultural tourism projects make it a rare and outstanding tourist scenic spot along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor.

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Maoshan Scenic Area

Maoshan Scenic Area is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Maoshan is both a sacred Taoist site and a revolutionary landmark, as well as a provincial scenic area and a moral education base. The provincial Maoshan Scenic Area is located 26 kilometers southeast of Jurong City in Jiangsu Province, approximately 40 kilometers from Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Nanjing. The Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway and Railway, the Nanjing-Hangzhou National Highway, and the Changli Highway all run close to Maoshan. Changzhou Airport is 56 kilometers away, and Nanjing Lukou Airport is about 50 kilometers away, making transportation extremely convenient. In 1986, the Maoshan Scenic Area was designated as a provincial forest park by the provincial government, and in 1995, it was approved as a Class A provincial scenic area. Maoshan lies at the border of Jurong and Jintan counties and was anciently known as Qusu Mountain. During the Western Han Dynasty, three brothers surnamed Mao from Shaanxi came to the mountain to gather herbs and refine elixirs to save the people. As a result, later generations renamed it Sanmao Mountain, or simply Maoshan. It is not only a sacred Taoist site but also an anti-Japanese base. Its natural landscape, cultural heritage, forest scenery, and revolutionary history blend seamlessly, resembling a heavenly paradise. The total planned area is 32 square kilometers, with the towering Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace at its summit, while the Ermao Peak and Sanmao Peak wind down, complementing the main peak with their undulating heights. Maoshan’s natural landscape is uniquely beautiful. The mountain boasts numerous scenic spots, including nine peaks, nineteen springs, twenty-six caves, and twenty-eight pools. The famous Damao Peak stands 372.5 meters above sea level, steep and majestic, with overlapping ridges, misty clouds, and a pleasant climate. The mountain is densely dotted with peculiar rocks and large, winding caves, scattered with spiritual springs and sacred pools, crisscrossed by winding streams, and covered with lush green trees and bamboo, making it a place of abundant natural beauty. A short walk east from Maoshan Town leads to the mountain’s base. Looking up, you’ll see the grand Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace (commonly called the Summit Palace) perched atop the mountain, its magnificent ochre-colored structure seemingly floating in the ethereal mist. Following the ancient stone path on the right, you’ll pass through nine winding turns and climb 999 and a half stone steps to reach the summit. In front of the Summit Palace is a stone-paved plaza, flanked by two archway-style mountain gates, with stone railings built along the cliff edge, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks. The first hall of the Summit Palace is the Lingguan Hall, with the inscription “Imperially Bestowed Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace” above its entrance. The second hall is the Scripture Depository, behind which lies the Treasure Vault on the east side, used for burning incense papers. The third hall is the Taiyuanbao Hall, also known as the Ancestral Master Hall, the main hall of the palace, where the Three True Lords of Maoshan—Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong—are enshrined. Behind the hall is the Ascension Platform and the Three Heavens Gate, where legend says Mao Ying ascended to heaven on a crane. There is also a pool in the western part of the palace called the Dragon-Rearing Pool, which never dries up even in severe droughts, and where a small black dragon is said to swim, believed to be the “abode of the divine dragon.” The Summit Palace also houses the “Four Treasures of Maoshan”: the Jade Seal, Jade Talisman, Jade Gui, and the Exhaling Inkstone. After visiting the Summit Palace, take the road northeast of the plaza to descend the mountain. Along the way, you can admire the magnificent sight of the “Nine Dragons Coiling the Jade Seal.” About 3 kilometers down, you’ll reach the “Yuanfu Wanning Palace” (commonly called the Seal Palace) at the northern foot. The grand archway-style gate in front of the palace is called the Duxing Gate, where Taoists observe the stars and qi. On either side of the gate are stone walls inscribed with “First Blessed Land, Eighth Grotto Heaven.” The halls inside the palace are divided into two levels following the mountain’s contour, connected by stone steps. The first level is the Lingguan Hall, where the Taoist guardian deity Wang Lingguan is enshrined in the center, flanked by the Southern Dipper Star Lord and the Northern Dipper Star Lord. The second level is the Taiyuanbao Hall, housing statues of the Three True Lords of Maoshan. The Three Heavens Gate and the Longevity Platform in the palace retain their ancient, unadorned charm. Nearby is the famous Huayang Cave, where legend says the Three Lords of Maoshan attained enlightenment, and where Tao Hongjing once lived in seclusion. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty inscribed the words “Huayang Dongtian” (Huayang Grotto Heaven) during his southern tour. The powerful characters “Huayang Cave,” written by the Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo, each cover about one square meter, with over 20 other stone inscriptions by notable figures on the cave walls. Huayang Cave has five entrances: east, south, west, north, and another. The Yuye Spring is a high-quality famous spring on Maoshan. According to the *Maoshan Annals* from the Yuan Dynasty, “drinking from it can cure various abdominal ailments.” On the left side of the downhill road is the Xike Spring, where water suddenly boils and splashes when visitors approach, resembling pearls boiling and jade spouting, as if the spring itself rejoices at the visitors’ presence. From the 24th day of the 12th lunar month to the 18th day of the third lunar month each year, Maoshan experiences its peak pilgrimage season, with flourishing incense offerings. Taoism has long been renowned here, celebrated worldwide as the birthplace of the Shangqing Sect. Its emergence played a significant role in advancing China’s development in thought, culture, art, metallurgy, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, health preservation, and more. The currently open “Two Palaces and One Temple” attract constant streams of worshippers and visitors all year round. Maoshan is rich in historical sites. From the Spring and Autumn Period, there’s the Tomb of King Yi; from the Warring States Period, the Chu King Ravine; from the Qin Shi Huang era, the burial of white jade at Liangchang Mountain; from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong refining elixirs and writing books here; and from the Southern Dynasties Qi and Liang periods, the renowned philosopher, Taoist master, and physician Tao Hongjing, who refused an official invitation from Emperor Wu of Liang and lived in seclusion on the mountain, founding the Maoshan Sect of Taoism, earning him the title “Prime Minister of the Mountains.” Hence, Maoshan has long been known as “the Immortal Mansion of the Qin and Han Dynasties, and the Prime Ministers’ Home of the Liang and Tang Dynasties.” Over the centuries, it has attracted countless scholars and celebrities, leaving behind thousands of poems and over a hundred calligraphic works. Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty, grateful to Maoshan Taoists for curing his mother’s illness, personally bestowed eight treasures, including the Jade Seal, Jade Gui, Jade Talisman, and the Exhaling Inkstone. Maoshan is also a famous anti-Japanese base in southern Jiangsu. Today, the New Fourth Army Exhibition Hall, the Southern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese Victory Monument, and the majestic characters “Dongjin Forest” (each character covering 33 mu) written by Marshal Chen Yi and formed by a pine and cypress formation on the western foothills of Damao Peak have become one of the province’s top ten moral education bases, serving as an ideal place for youth education, revolutionary tradition education, and cultivating sentiment. Maoshan combines natural scenery, cultural heritage, forest landscapes, revolutionary history, and Taoist culture, integrating leisure, tourism, spiritual cultivation, and pilgrimage. It offers the joy of nature’s craftsmanship, insight into Taoist philosophy, a stage for career development, and a sacred land for attracting talent and treasure. The newly built 33-meter-tall outdoor statue of Laozi, cable cars, slide tracks, wellness parks, and the development of Xianren Cave, Huayang Cave, and agricultural tourism projects make it a rare and outstanding tourist scenic spot along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor.

Address: Maoshan Town, Jurong City, Zhenjiang

Type: Mountain Taoist Temple

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 day

Phone: 0511-87827158; 4001089996

Official Website: http://www.maoshanchina.com.cn/

Opening Hours:

March–November: 7:00–17:30; December–February: 8:00–17:00

Ticket Information:

Peak Season (February–June, October): 120 RMB; Off-Peak Season (July–September, November–January): 90 RMB.