Heavenly Capital Peak

Heavenly Capital Peak

Heavenly Capital Peak is located southeast of Huangshan, facing Lotus Peak to the west and connecting to Bowl Lid Peak to the east. Along with Bright Summit Peak and Lotus Peak, it is one of the three main peaks of Huangshan and one of the Thirty-Six Major Peaks, with an elevation of 1,810 meters. It was anciently called "the gathering place of immortals," implying a heavenly capital, hence the name "Heavenly Capital Peak." The summit is flat as a palm, featuring the carved inscription "Reaching the Ultimate," and contains a natural stone chamber that can accommodate a hundred people. Outside the chamber, there is a rock resembling a drunken man lying on his side, named "Immortal Guarding the Cave Entrance."

The distinctive features of this peak are its rugged, towering presence, standing prominently above the ground, steep, majestic, and grand in scale. Among all the peaks of Huangshan, it is the most magnificent and spectacular. According to historical records, during the Tang Dynasty, Monk Dao Yun braved countless dangers, climbing from the eastern side along the cliffs, to finally reach the summit. He is the first recorded person to have ascended Heavenly Capital Peak. At that time, climbing the peak was described as "having no path beyond the rocky walls." Ming Dynasty geographer Luo Hongxian, when visiting Huangshan during the Jiajing era, sighed in admiration at the peak: "In what year shall I ride a crane or phoenix under the daylight, treading upon the clouds of Heavenly Capital Peak?" The level of difficulty is beyond imagination and may not be inferior even when compared with explorers throughout history. He left behind a poem titled "Climbing Heavenly Capital Peak" on the sheer cliff: "Soaring a myriad feet through the void, perilous as ascending a vermilion ladder; entering into Heavenly Capital, looking back, the bird paths seem low. Other mountains dot the landscape in green, distant waters appear pale and desolate; wishing to descend before the peaks darken, I lodge among rock crevices with pheasants." Later generations carved out a path in the rocks, installing stone pillars and iron chain handrails, allowing visitors today to safely reach the summit. From the peak, one can gaze into the distance where clouds meet mountains, and look down upon a multitude of peaks competing in beauty. An ancient poem praises: "Let those who have returned from the Five Great Mountains come—upon seeing Heavenly Capital, they too will exclaim in wonder."

Geographic Features

　Although not as high as Huangshan’s main peak, Lotus Peak, its steepness is unmatched by Lotus Peak, with a near-vertical "Hundred-Zhang Cloud Ladder." Heavenly Capital Peak offers the ideal vantage point to overlook the magnificent panoramic view of Huangshan. Therefore, it is said that without climbing Heavenly Capital Peak, your trip is incomplete. In ancient times, there was no path to climb Heavenly Capital Peak, and very few were able to ascend it. Tang Dynasty monk Shi Dao Yun, drawn by the legendary feats of the Eastern monk who tossed a begging bowl, came to Huangshan and became the first recorded person to climb Heavenly Capital Peak. He left behind the poem "Climbing Heavenly Capital Peak" on the sheer cliff: "Soaring a myriad zhang through the air, perilous as ascending a boat ladder; entering into Heavenly Capital, looking back, the bird paths seem low. Other mountains dot the landscape in green, distant waters appear pale and desolate; wishing to descend before the peaks darken, I lodge among rock crevices with pheasants."

Climbing Heavenly Capital Peak

Along the way up Heavenly Capital Peak, there is a section known as the "Carp’s Back," over 10 meters long and only about 1 meter wide, with sheer cliffs hundreds of zhang high on both sides, deep and unfathomable. Its shape resembles the back of a fish emerging from and submerging into waves, hence the name. The slope is as steep as 85 degrees from top to bottom. When the wind blows and clouds surge, it feels as if the mountain is shaking and the rocks are moving. Visitors here cannot help but feel trepidation, often lamenting, "The path to Heavenly Capital is hard to traverse." In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), a stairway to the peak was built, stretching 3 li, with 1,564 steps, 194 stone railings, and 600 meters of iron cables to ensure the safety of visitors climbing to the summit. In 1984, a new route was opened from the mountainside of the peak to the summit. Standing atop the peak and looking into the distance, clouds meet mountains and rivers appear as a single line. Looking down, the numerous peaks compete in splendor, offering incomparably magnificent scenery. An ancient poem praises: "Let those who have returned from the Five Great Mountains come—upon seeing Heavenly Capital, they too will exclaim in wonder." A folk saying goes: "If you don’t climb Heavenly Capital Peak, you’ve come for nothing." This means that this peak is a must-visit when traveling to Huangshan.

The summit of Heavenly Capital Peak is flat as a palm, featuring the carved inscription "Reaching the Ultimate," and includes a natural stone chamber that can hold dozens of people. Outside the chamber, there is a rock shaped like a tipsy immortal lying on his side, named "Immortal Guarding the Cave Entrance." There is also a rock resembling a peach, called "Heavenly Capital Immortal Peach." The summit has carvings such as "Reaching the Ultimate." Gazing into the distance, clouds meet mountains; looking down, the numerous peaks compete in beauty. An ancient poem reads: "No matter who returns from the Five Great Mountains, upon seeing Heavenly Capital, they too will exclaim in wonder." In May 1965, [a leader] inscribed: "The wonder and peril of Heavenly Capital are renowned; even viewed from afar, it is a fated sight; none can rival its grandeur, none surpass its majestic antiquity." A current folk saying goes: "If you don’t climb Heavenly Capital Peak, you’ve come for nothing." This means that visiting Huangshan without ascending Heavenly Capital is to miss the essence of the trip. In 1983, a new path was opened from above Halfway Temple, ascending from the mountainside of Heavenly Capital Peak to its summit, adding new scenic spots. The peak features attractions such as Immortal Guarding the Cave Entrance, Carp’s Back, Heavenly Bridge, Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder, Squirrel Leaping to Heavenly Capital, Heavenly Jade Screen, Child Worshiping Guanyin, Golden Rooster Crowing at Heaven’s Gate, and Two Monks Paying Homage to the Buddha.

Opening Hours

Heavenly Capital Peak Closed

To allow the ecological environment of Huangshan Scenic Area to rest and recover effectively and naturally, in pursuit of sustainable development, during the winter and spring seasons (December 1 to the end of March of the following year), the West Sea Grand Canyon, Lotus Peak, and Heavenly Capital Peak enter maintenance periods. Among them, Lotus Peak and Heavenly Capital Peak are open alternately on a five-year rotation cycle. In the winter of 2009, Heavenly Capital Peak was closed for rest, so in recent years only Lotus Peak has been open. Heavenly Capital Peak will reopen in 2015.

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