Tongtianzhai

Tongtianzhai

Tongtianzhai is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Shicheng Tongtianzhai is located in Dashe Village, 7 kilometers from Shicheng County Town. It features typical Danxia landform, with scenic spots primarily consisting of various rock formations resembling humans or objects. There are two ways to explore Tongtianzhai: one is to climb up via the South Gate—the uphill path is quite challenging but makes the return trip easier; the other is to descend via the North Gate stairway, which is relatively easy, though the return requires finding an alternative route.

Tongtianzhai isn’t very large, and its attractions are relatively concentrated. Within the core area of about 2 square kilometers, you’ll find Dashe Lotus Sightseeing Garden, the ancient residence Nanwu, Tongtianzhai Eco Park, Tongtianyan, Yuyu Temple, Jingtu Rock, Sword-Testing Stone, Stone Bamboo Shoot Piercing the Sky, Bell and Drum Rocks, and more. The entire tour takes about two to three hours, and there are well-developed walking trails and signage. Highlights on the mountain include the "Gate of Life," a unique Danxia landform spectacle featuring a yin-yang formation, the naturally formed Thousand Buddha Danxia, and the relatively rare cracked-rock surface landform. There’s also a glass viewing platform where you can stand on transparent glass to take in the scenery and photos, experiencing a thrilling sensation of hovering above the ground.

If you visit Tongtianzhai in July or August, the lotuses at the foot of the mountain will be in full bloom. Using the lotus pond as a foreground to photograph the panoramic view of Tongtianzhai’s Danxia mountains offers the most stunning scenery.

Tongtianzhai is a long-renowned Danxia landform scenic area, located in Dashe Village, 7 kilometers from Shicheng County Town. It earned its name because the main rock on the hill resembles two fingers pinching together on the outside and two palms half-closed on the inside, as if reaching toward the sky. The hill is covered with oddly shaped rocks that stand like Danxia formations jutting from the earth; its cracked stone slabs are poetically called “Immortals Plowing Fields”; clear springs flow year-round through the area, surrounded by lush bamboo and forests; and the lower part is encircled by emerald waters with rolling green hills all around. The extraordinary landscape and picturesque scenery create a breathtaking earthly paradise.

Before the road was built, the route to Tongtianzhai was an ancient Hakka post road known as the “Fujian-Guangdong Corridor.” Walking along the smooth pebble-paved ancient path is like reliving the hardships endured by the Hakka ancestors who built this thoroughfare to Fujian and Guangdong. At the foot of Tongtianzhai lies a shimmering small river, atop which stands a stone arch bridge constructed by Hakka ancestors during the Song Dynasty, later referred to as “General’s Bridge.” Legend has it that during the late Yuan and early Ming periods, Chen Youliang retreated to Tongtianzhai with his troops and heavily guarded this bridge. When Zhu Yuanzhang led his army in pursuit and fought over control of the bridge, intense combat ensued—blades flashing, smoke filling the air, and rivers of blood flowing—until several generals from both sides perished on the bridge. Afterward, when the bridge was restored, it became known as General’s Bridge.

Not far beyond General’s Bridge lies an ancient Hakka village built against the mountains. Constructed during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era by the Huang family, this settlement is called Nanluwu and is a classic example of Hakka “courtyard-style” residential architecture. It features five interconnected courtyards with a total of ninety-nine and a half rooms. Inside, it truly feels like a maze—you could walk through all ninety-nine rooms without seeing sunlight, showcasing the exceptional architectural ingenuity of the Hakka ancestors. Some descendants of the Huang family still live here.

Standing at the entrance of the Huang family village, you can see two towering and majestic stone bamboo shoots, dozens of meters high, thrusting into the sky from Tongtianzhai, named “Stone Bamboo Shoots Piercing the Sky.” Legend says that in ancient times, a male and female immortal traveled the world in search of a place to cultivate themselves. One day, they unexpectedly met here and both fell in love with this auspicious piece of land, neither willing to yield. When the stalemate persisted, the local earth god mediated, suggesting they each demonstrate their magical powers—the one with superior abilities would claim the land. They agreed to a competition: whoever could build a ladder to heaven first would win. Transforming instantly, they became two stone pillars shooting wildly toward the sky. Obsessed with winning, the fierce upward thrust caused earthquakes, flying sand, and turmoil, harming all life nearby. The Heavenly Emperor, enraged, ordered the Thunder God to strike down the rampaging pillars. With thunder and lightning, the Thunder God split the pillars, leaving behind one tall and one short stone bamboo shoot.

The path to climb Tongtianzhai winds beneath a nearly 100-meter-high cliff. Looking up at the towering cliffs, their myriad shapes are a feast for the eyes. Some rocks resemble a mighty lion, others a soaring eagle, some an eagle peering down at chicks, others Guanyin or a monk in meditation… a grand collection of the world’s most spectacular rock formations. Not far up the trail stands a mountain gate built during the Song Dynasty. The bold yet elegant stone-carved characters “Shimen” (Stone Gate) stir the imagination. Looking down from the gate, you’ll truly sense the “one man can hold the pass against ten thousand” aura—no wonder this place has been a strategic military stronghold throughout history.

Near the mountaintop lies the Yuyu Temple, built during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era. It is one of the province’s fourteen key open temples. Devotees come here to pray incessantly, while visitors can also enjoy a cup of the renowned Tongtian Tea. This tea has remained popular for centuries and was once an imperial tribute, celebrated far and wide. Brewed with spring water from the hill, the tea is emerald green and fragrant.

The main scenic spots on the hill include “Two Stone Bamboo Shoots Piercing the Sky, Tongtianyan, Jingtu Rock, Sword-Testing Stone, Mass Grave, Ship’s Hull Cliff, Immortals Plowing Fields, Wasps Hanging in the Bushes, Seven Immortals Gazing at the Sea, Bell Looking Up, and Stone Drum,” among others… each more beautiful and wondrous than the last, drawing endless streams of visitors.

The hill also served as an ancient battlefield. Since the Song Dynasty, it has been a crucial strategic stronghold and a contested military site. Remnants of battle—crumbled walls and ruins—are everywhere. Sites like Monkey City, Mass Grave, Zhubu Fort, and Changgeng Gate still bear traces of past conflicts.

The scenic area houses numerous ancient stone carvings and steles. Throughout the dynasties, literati and poets visited to admire the views, sip tea, and compose poetry, leaving behind many timeless masterpieces.

Address: Qianjiang Village, Qinqjiang Town, Shicheng County, Ganzhou City

Type: Mountain

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Tel: 0797-5733177

Official website: http://www.scttz.com/

Opening hours:

8:00–17:00 in spring and winter (October–next May); 6:30–19:00 in summer (June–September).