Yujing Peak

Yujing Peak

The Yujing Peak Scenic Area is home to the highest peak of Mount Sanqing, standing at an elevation of 1,819.9 meters. The area spans from Jiutian Yingyuan Fu and Red Camellia Stone, through Yusong Ridge, Cross-Crane Bridge, Dengzhen Platform, Yuhua Peak, and Yuxu Peak, extending to the Penglai Three Peaks region. In addition to the three main peaks—Yujing, Yuxu, and Yuhua—that tower into the clouds, the area also includes the Penglai Three Peaks, the thousand-meter-deep Feixian Valley, the abyssal Wangmu Valley, as well as spectacular meteorological phenomena such as sea of clouds, mist waves, sunrises, and Buddha’s light. One cannot truly appreciate the wonders of Mount Sanqing without ascending Yujing Peak.

Guide:

Yujing Peak connects to the north with the Three Pure Ones Temple and to the south with South Qingyuan. It is the highest and most central scenic area of Mount Sanqing, with an elevation of 1,816.9 meters. The journey from South Qingyuan through Chongxiao Valley to Yujing Peak is lined with challenging slopes, where shaded trails wind through valleys, steep and quiet, offering fewer attractions but a more pristine experience in the heart of Mount Sanqing—perfect for those seeking a tough hike.

Highlights:

As the saying goes, “When the land ends, the sky becomes the boundary; when you reach the summit, you become the peak.” Viewing the mountains without reaching their highest point always leaves something missing. Only when standing atop Yujing Peak and looking down upon the vast expanse of peaks and valleys can the grandeur of Mount Sanqing be fully appreciated.

Introduction:

The scenic area ranges from Jiutian Yingyuan Fu and Red Camellia Stone, through Yusong Ridge, Cross-Crane Bridge, Dengzhen Platform, Yuhua Peak, and Yuxu Peak, to the Penglai Three Peaks. Yujing Peak Scenic Area has the greatest elevation variation on Mount Sanqing. In addition to the three towering main peaks—Yujing, Yuxu, and Yuhua—the area also features the Penglai Three Peaks, the thousand-meter-deep Feixian Valley, the abyssal Wangmu Valley, and breathtaking meteorological phenomena such as sea of clouds, mist waves, sunrises, and Buddha’s light. One cannot truly appreciate the wonders of Mount Sanqing without ascending Yujing Peak. Yujing Peak is also an ideal spot to watch the sunrise and sunset.

Yujing Peak Scenic Area is the highest and most central part of Mount Sanqing, with an elevation of 1,819.9 meters. Commonly known as Guangpingjian, it is also called Kongmingjian. The area extends from Jiutian Yingyuan Fu and Red Camellia Stone, through Yusong Ridge, Cross-Crane Bridge, Dengzhen Platform, Yuhua Peak, and Yuxu Peak, to the Penglai Three Peaks. It has the greatest elevation variation on the mountain and features the three main peaks towering into the clouds, as well as the Feixian Valley and Wangmu Valley, plus meteorological wonders like sea of clouds, mist waves, sunrises, and Buddha’s light.

The main peak of Mount Sanqing, Yujing Peak, serves as a natural “viewing platform.” Its steep cliffs make you feel as if you’re entering the heavens and walking among the clouds, making it an ideal place to watch the sunrise, sunset, and sea of clouds. From the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Sanqing, and when sea of clouds shroud the peaks, they look like little islands in a sea—an absolutely stunning scene.

To the east of Yujing Peak are attractions such as Lotus Stone, Cattle Herding Mountain, and Chessboard Gorge, while to the west are Magistrate Stone and Twin Sword Peaks. Mid-slope sites include Drunken Arhat, Sky-Watching Spot, Immortal Bridge, Heavenly Ladder Stone, and Dragon Bone Mountain—all exceptional views on Mount Sanqing. Additionally, the summit features a highlight: Flag Stone, over 50 meters long with a round hole, believed to be the remnant of an ancient flag planted for signaling during times of turmoil. There is also a stone chessboard atop the peak, known as “Immortals Playing Chess,” based on the legend that immortals once played here.

One cannot truly appreciate the wonders of Mount Sanqing without ascending Yujing Peak. Also located in this scenic area are two of the famed “Ten Wonders of Mount Sanqing”—“Wooden Fish Subduing Turtle” and “Monkey King Offering Treasure”—making Yujing Peak the essence of the entire mountain.

Attractions in this scenic area include: Hehe Peak, Jiutian Yingyuan Fu, Gucheng Bridge, Cross-Crane Bridge, Shenmao Peak, Jade Rabbit Peak, Monkey King Watching Treasure, Jiutian Screen, Jade Sprout Peak, Yuhua Guanyin, Yusong Ridge, Dengzhen Platform, Golden Rooster vs. Shenmao, Wooden Fish Subduing Turtle, Immortal’s Footprints, Yuhua Peak, Danxia Well, Bottomless Cave, Shangshu Enlightenment Platform, Immortal Bridge, Feixian Valley, Yuxu Peak, Huangyang Valley, Wangmu Valley, Lock Dragon Pillar, Twin Lion Stone, Mother and Child Worshiping Guanyin, Immortals Playing Chess Stone, Ascension Stone, Yujing Peak, Penglai Peak, Immortal Cave, Square Peak, Celestial Pine, Yingzhou Peak, Sea of Clouds and Sunrise, and Sanqing’s Sacred Light.

Mount Sanqing “got its name because three peaks stand side by side, resembling the three highest deities of Taoism seated atop, hence the name.” Since the Jin Dynasty, Mount Sanqing has been a sacred Taoist mountain. Its highest main peak is named “Yujing,” after the heavenly palace of the Primordial Celestial Venerable and the Queen Mother of the West—a fitting and well-deserved name.

At the summit are two prominent cliffs. The eastern cliff is called “Yujing Peak,” with the three large regular-script characters “Yujing Peak” carved horizontally from right to left on the cliff face facing the stone stairway to the northwest. These were inscribed during the Ming Dynasty. Near the end of the last century, calligrapher Shen Peng added the inscription “Virtue Matches Heaven and Earth” beneath it; Liu Bingsen wrote “Famous Mountain Under Heaven”; Huang Yongyong inscribed “Fairyland”; and Wang Zhong wrote “Sanqing Blessed Land” in clerical script. The southeast side of the cliff resembles the head of Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), hence called “Pigsy Peeking at Immortals Stone.” The flat summit, about 40 square meters, features a raised square stone in the middle with a Chinese chessboard carved on it, said to be where the Supreme Old Lord played chess with other immortals—hence called “Chessboard Stone.” At the northeast end of the summit stands an iron survey marker erected in 1963 by the Surveying and Mapping Bureau of the PLA General Staff, marking the highest point of Yujing Peak.

The western cliff is called “Ascension Stone.” The area around the Ascension Stone is open and spacious, with two massive connected rocks standing proudly. The rock face bears the inscription “Ascension Stone.” The stone rises 3.08 meters above the ground and marks the highest point of Mount Sanqing. Folklore says, “This place is eighteen zhang from the heavens,” believed to be where immortals travel and Taoists ascend to heaven.

Southeast of the Ascension Stone, a stone-built “Divine Tiger Hall” was erected in 1994, about 4 meters high and 1.5 meters wide, housing a blue granite statue of the Divine Tiger General donated by Ms. Lin Yixuan, a Taiwanese Taoist believer from Changhua, in 2002.

Yujing Peak is majestic, towering into the sky, with steep cliffs on its eastern, southern, and western sides. To the northwest below the peak lies the unfathomable Feixian Valley. To the north is Dengji Ridge, with winding stone steps leading all the way to the summit. Standing at the top feels like being in the heavens, with sheer cliffs thousands of feet high that seem ready to collapse. The surrounding peaks intertwine, and deep valleys crisscross, dizzying to behold. From the summit, one can gaze into the endless sea of rolling mountains, where heaven and earth seem within reach. “On a clear day, the scenery of Mount Lu and Poyang Lake can be faintly made out.” To the south of Yujing Peak stand the Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou Peaks, separated by valleys, steep, beautiful, lush, and enchantingly picturesque. Southwest of Yujing Peak is a natural viewing platform surrounded on three sides, anciently called Yao Terrace. Separated from the Penglai Three Peaks by just one valley, it offers the best view—and photo op—of those peaks, though it cannot be climbed.

Watching the sunrise from Yujing Peak is a spectacular sight—the rising sun like a golden plate on brocade, truly magnificent. When shrouded in mist and clouds, the view transforms into something else entirely: sometimes vast as the ocean, sometimes wispy as gauze, making visitors feel as if walking through clouds, able to almost touch them, like being in a fairyland on earth.

Time Needed

2–3 hours

Transportation

1. From South Qingyuan through Chongxiao Valley to Yujing Peak

2. From Three Pure Ones Temple via Jiutian Yingyuan Fu up to Yujing Peak—this route is relatively gentler and is the path chosen by more visitors

Ticket

Included in the Mount Sanqing Scenic Area ticket

Opening Hours

Peak season (Feb 1 – Dec 31): Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 7:30–17:30; Off-season (Jan 1–Jan 31): 8:30–16:30

Attraction Location

Yujing Peak Scenic Area, Sanqing Mountain, Yushan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province

Sanqing Mountain

Sanqing Palace

Sanqing Blessed Land

Guanyin Listening to Music on Sanqing Mountain

Jade Maiden Opening Her Heart

Golden Sand Cableway

Sunshine Coast Scenic Area

Three Cave Entrances of Sanqing Mountain

Tiyun Ridge

Nanqingyuan

Yuling Temple on Sanqing Mountain

Shigu Ridge

Xihuatai on Sanqing Mountain

West Coast

Old Taoist Worshiping the Moon on Sanqing Mountain

Longevity Park Scenic Area

Goddess of Spring

Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain