Tianmen Mountain Eco-Cultural Scenic Area

Tianmen Mountain Eco-Cultural Scenic Area of Ziyuan

The Tianmen Mountain Eco-Cultural Scenic Area of Ziyuan is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a national forest park, a national geopark, and a regional-level scenic spot. It is located in the northern part of Ziyuan County, Guilin City, Guangxi. Provincial Highway 20181 runs through the area, which is 110 kilometers from downtown Guilin. It features Danxia landform and is an ecological nature scenic area. Tourism development began here in 1997 with investment attracted and was opened to the public.

The Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area is named after Tianmen Mountain, which stands majestically over the Zijiang River and resembles a gateway to the heavens. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers, it consists of four parts: the Eastern Route (Baihui Valley), the Western Route (One-Line Sky), Shenxianzhai, and Peach Blossom Island. With its steep and graceful peaks and competing rock formations, it is a typical Danxia landform, which began developing 30 million years ago during the Mesoproterozoic orogeny and was formed through prolonged geological processes.

The scenic area highlights two major themes: natural and cultural landscapes. It features 38 rock formations, 19 streams, 2 pools, 6 springs, and 8 unique stones. Baiyao Valley gathers medicinal herbs from around the world, with over 360 species of wild Chinese herbal plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs such as Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Arisaema, Alangium Chinense, Artemisia Annua, Swertia Mileensis, Gelsemium Elegans, Haematitis Discolor, and Coptis Chinensis. There are also statues of ancient medical sages such as Bian Que, Sun Simiao, Hua Tuo, Li Shizhen, and Zhang Zhongjing. The area includes the Shenlong Mountain Villa, tea houses, book pavilions, winding corridors, pavilions, and carved sculptures.

The scenic area features numerous pale red stone pillars standing at 90-degree angles. The solitary peak of Shenxianzhai, at an elevation of 630 meters, is surrounded by steep cliffs. A stone staircase of 1,098 steps carved into the cliffs leads to the summit, where 56 acres of pristine forest—rare in China—cover the mountaintop. The main peak, “Three Mothers Stone,” stands like a pillar holding up the sky. The area also boasts over 20 scenic spots, including Tianji (Heaven’s Ridge), Heavenly Mouse Descending to Earth, Forget-Worry Spring, Silver Beach, Mid-Mountain Pavilion, and Herbalist Hall.

Address:

Chetianwan Village, Zhongfeng Township, Ziyuan County, Guilin City

Opening Hours:

8:30–16:00. Zijiang Scenic Area: 8:30–16:00. Ziyuan Danxia Hot Springs: 8:00–22:30.

Ticket:

Entrance ticket: 60 RMB; round-trip cable car ticket: 120 RMB