Great King Peak

Great King Peak

Also known as Shaomao Rock and Tianzhu Peak, Great King Peak earned its name due to its resemblance to the official headdress worn by ancient court ministers, exuding a majestic and regal aura. Located west of Wannian Palace and straddling the mouth of the Nine Bend Stream, it is the first peak encountered when entering Wuyi Mountain. Standing 530 meters above sea level, the peak is broad at the top and tapers at the base, presenting a majestic presence. From afar, it resembles a towering pillar reaching the heavens. Among the Thirty-Six Peaks of Wuyi, it has long been known as the “King of Immortal Gorges.”

Legend has it that during the Warring States period, Prince Qian of the Wei Kingdom built Wei King City at the southern foot of the peak and practiced alchemy at its summit, hence the name Wei King Peak. The peak is tall, solitary, and steep, resembling a pillar piercing the clouds, thus also referred to as Tianzhu Peak. Dominating the southeast, it seems as if surrounding peaks pay homage to it, earning it the title “King of Immortal Gorges.” During the Song Dynasty, the love story between the Great King and the Jade Maiden became widely known among the people, and this peak came to symbolize the Great King—leading to its current name.

The summit is covered with ancient trees and features attractions such as Tianjian Pool, the Dragon-Tossing Cave, the Crane Rock, and the ruins of Shengzhen Temple. The southern cliff is sheer, with only a narrow passage along the cliff face allowing access to the peak. This is a straight-up, straight-down crevice just over a foot wide, with stone steps carved into it, enabling visitors to ascend in a spiraling fashion. As the crevice rises, it becomes narrower—with some sections so tight that climbers must sidle through sideways, drawing in their stomachs and using both hands and feet.

Midway up the peak lies Zhangxian Rock, believed to be where the Han dynasty figure Zhang Gai entered nirvana. There is also Tianjian Pool, whose water is crystal clear and never dries up even in drought. The stream flowing over the pool is called “Cold Emerald Spring.” Beside the pool is the site where the Song dynasty Taoist Lin Wen’Neng built his hermitage. A short climb further leads to the former site of Shengzhen Temple. Ascending steps from the left side of the temple brings you to Tongtian Platform. After climbing several dozen more steps, you reach the summit of Great King Peak. The Ming dynasty traveler Xu Xiake listed it as one of the three most treacherous paths in Wuyi.

At the summit stands “Yunping Mountain House,” built in the Gengzi year of the Qing dynasty (1900) by the Pan family from Nanmen, Chongan. This Pan family’s Yunping Mountain House once published the representative work of Song dynasty scholar Liu Zihui, “Complete Works of Pingshan.” Three generations of the Pan family were devoted to local education, composing historical texts and publishing numerous books on the mountaintop. It could be described as a small-scale publishing house.

The summit of Great King Peak is flat and open, covered with ancient trees and thick layers of fallen leaves. On the eastern cliff face, there is Shengzhen Cave, inside which a rainbow bridge board stretches across and boat coffins are suspended overhead. These have remained unspoiled for millennia and are impossible for anyone to retrieve. There is also an unfathomably deep rock crevice on the summit, about a meter wide. Peering down into its darkness and tossing in a stone produces a thunderous echo that takes a while to fade.

Legend says this was the spot where envoys were repeatedly sent during the Song dynasty to deliver “Golden Dragons and Jade Slips”—hence the name “Dragon-Tossing Cave.” Great King Peak stands there to this day, gazing toward the nearby Jade Maiden, yet forever unable to meet her. It can only yearn from afar, watching countless visitors come and go each day—perhaps someone may help fulfill its dream through the media. Climbing Great King Peak isn’t extremely exhausting, but it does involve a bit of danger. From the summit, you can gaze at the beautiful Nine Bend Stream and overlook the green peaks and waters of Wuyi, a landscape as magnificent as a painting, leaving one refreshed and uplifted.

Address: Inside Wuyishan National Tourist Resort Area, Wuyishan City, Nanping (to the right of Wannian Palace).

Type: Cave, Geological Landform, Mountain

Recommended Visit Duration: 4 hours

Phone: 0599-5131890

Official Website: http://www.whwy.org/

Opening Hours:

Wuyishan Scenic Area Opening Hours: 8:00–18:00.

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Wuyishan Scenic Area ticket (One-day pass: 140 RMB, Two-day pass: 150 RMB, Three-day pass: 160 RMB; Sightseeing bus: One-day pass: 70 RMB, Two-day pass: 85 RMB, Three-day pass: 95 RMB).

Transportation

Scenic Area Sightseeing Bus:

Within Wuyishan Scenic Area, four tourist bus routes traverse selected scenic spots. Routes 1 and 2 are eco-friendly sightseeing buses, running between Chishi Main Entrance and Shangpu Secondary Entrance, shuttling to and from Xincun Secondary Entrance. Routes 3 and 4 are branch lines operated by minibuses, running one-way between Chishi Main Entrance and Xincun Secondary Entrance as well as the New Parking Lot.

Wuyishan Scenic Area

China Wuyi Tea Expo Park

Dahongpao Scenic Area

Da’an Yuan Ecotourism Area

Nine Bend Stream

Qinglong Grand Waterfall

Wuyi Royal Purple Self-Drive Theme Park

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

One-Line Sky in Wuyi Mountain

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock

Cloud Nest

Wuyi Mountain Jade Valley

Site of the Imperial Tea Garden

Jade Dragon Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall

Wuyi Mountain Baiyun Rock