Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs at Longquan Mountain in Lishui

Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs at Longquan Mountain in Lishui

Longquan, a county-level city under Lishui in Zhejiang Province, is famous for its celadon pottery and Longquan swords.

Longquan Mountain in Zhejiang is the highest peak in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region.

The main peak of Longquan Mountain is called "Huangmaojian," with an elevation of 1,929 meters. The temperature in the mountain area is much lower than that at the foot of the mountain, with an average annual temperature of only 12 degrees, similar to that of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Locals also refer to Longquan Mountain as "Fengyang Mountain," a name likely derived from the Fengyang Temple located on the mountain, which enshrines the ancestor of shiitake mushrooms. Legend has it that he was the first person in China to cultivate shiitake mushrooms artificially. In the past, the livelihoods of many mountain residents depended on cultivating edible fungi such as shiitake mushrooms. The Longquan Mountain scenic area is vast, and currently, six major attractions are open to visitors: the Grand Canyon, Wilderness Manor, Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs, Seven Star Pools, Huangmaojian, and Oujiang Source. Though each spot has its own charm, Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs is a must-see when visiting Longquan Mountain.

Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs is a spectacular sight of pine trees and rocks on a steep cliff. On what appears to be a cliff face sliced by a blade, lush pine trees thrive, each with a unique shape—some like hospitable hosts, others like crouching servants; some grow in clusters, while others stand alone against the wind. These remarkable pines, growing on the rocky cliffs, remain vigorous despite centuries of exposure, proudly standing tall among the rugged stones—an awe-inspiring sight. Later generations have even given names to the pines based on their natural shapes, such as Welcoming Pine, Three Friends Pine, Five Scholars Pine, and Ten Thousand Pines Screen. When Xi Jinping served as Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province, he visited this area and took a photo in front of Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs, attesting to its strong appeal.

The Breathtaking Pines on Cliffs scenic area is adjacent to Wilderness Manor. Along the way, visitors can admire towering cliffs and thousands of verdant pines. The entire journey is filled with wonder and thrills. It’s an ideal spot for viewing sea of clouds and rime ice. Major attractions include Cliff Cloud Ladder, Immortals Gathering Rock, Buddha Viewing Platform, Ten Thousand Pines Screen, Three Friends Pine, and Longevity Cliff. There is now a 1.6-kilometer circular walking trail, and the full tour takes approximately two hours.