Jiushan Mountain

Jiushan Mountain

Jiushan Mountain is located 37 kilometers southwest of Tiantai County, on the southeast side of Mingyan. Here, the mountains are uniquely shaped, the waters meander mysteriously, and ancient trees, bridges, caves, and paths abound. Nestled deep in the mountains with limited outside contact, the area retains a simple and sincere local culture, earning it the nickname “Tiantai’s Wulingyuan.”

The name “Jiushan Mountain” comes from the nearly 5-kilometer stretch of mountain-lined path along the creek from Zhanshan Pass to Dongjiang Village, where nine peaks stand in succession, creating nine successive barriers.

Each “barrier” features a uniquely shaped cliff. From the First Barrier to the Ninth Barrier, they are successively named: “Azure Dragon Showing Its Tongue,” “Carp Turning Into a Dragon,” “Lion Hanging on the Cliff,” “Rising Crescent Moon,” “Two Eagles Dancing with Wings,” “Lone Dragon Playing on the Shoal,” “Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain,” “Turtle and Snake Playing Together,” and “Yellow Dragon Carrying an Official Seal.”

Within the mountain lies the Yafu Temple, situated in the central part of Jiushan Mountain, locally known as the Xianhuang Hall, which holds an annual temple fair. The temple enshrines a statue of Fan Zeng. At Jiushan Mountain’s Tianzhu Peak, the surrounding peaks are uniquely shaped—some resembling roaring lions, others like dragons soaring into the sky, and some like swords and halberds piercing the heavens. Beneath these peaks lie crisscrossing fields, murmuring streams, winding ancient paths, and graceful bamboo groves, presenting a picturesque rural scene.

Jiushan Mountain Farm Stays: There are now farm stay options at the foot of the mountain, well-suited for independent travelers and small groups of friends looking to reconnect. It’s a great destination for leisure and vacation.

At the farm stays, you can enjoy home-style meals, sleep in farmhouse accommodations, and take part in rural activities. Highlights include grinding soybeans to make tofu, pounding sticky rice cakes, making black glutinous rice wine, fishing, picking wild fruits, catching small fish, digging for stone crabs, and more—all incredibly fun. You can also savor local dishes such as black glutinous rice pancakes, sweet potato vines, taro stems, dried bamboo shoots, spicy soup, and Jiushan chestnuts.