Suichang Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area

　　Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, located in Shilian Town, Suichang County, 30 kilometers from the county seat with convenient transportation. According to the Suichang County Annals (Qing Guangxu Edition), the mountain features bizarre rocks that resemble a thousand Buddha statues, hence the name “Qianfo Mountain” (Thousand Buddha Mountain). The scenic area boasts serene valleys, dense forests, and crystal-clear mountain springs that weave through the landscape, creating enchanting water features such as waterfalls, pools, lakes, ponds, and streams. With its pristine forests, peculiar peaks, and stunning scenery, it is hailed as the “Little Jiuzhaigou of the South.” Ming Dynasty’s Suichang County Magistrate Tang Xianzu once praised Qianfo Mountain with the poetic lines: “Morning sun and evening rolls, rosy clouds over emerald pavilions, strands of rain and flakes of wind, misty waves and painted boats.”

　　The Future Temple in Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area covers an area of about one square kilometer. Within the temple stands a miraculous natural mountain-formed Maitreya Buddha, reaching a height of a hundred zhang, facing west while seated eastward. Cloaked in a natural “kasaya” (Buddhist robe) and with arms outstretched in compassion, it is a breathtaking gift and marvel of nature. The Buddha is the mountain, and the mountain is the Buddha. Since the discovery of this colossal Buddha, numerous incredible karmic events and unusual celestial phenomena have occurred before it.

　　The Yan’en Hall is a Buddhist shrine within the Future Temple, built facing the natural Maitreya Buddha across a stream and carved into the mountain. The hall enshrines the Tathagata Buddha and his two disciples, with the main deity being Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by disciples Kasyapa and Ananda as attendants—all adorned in pure gold, exuding serene and solemn grace. The Buddha gazes compassionately toward the natural Maitreya, symbolizing Shakyamuni’s prediction of Maitreya’s future enlightenment. Behind them, eight peaks resemble the Eight Divisions of Celestial Guardians, safeguarding the Dharma day and night.

　　Historical records indicate that Suichang County has had deep Buddhist connections. A renowned Tang Dynasty monk-painter once secluded himself for 14 years at Qianfo Mountain’s Cuifeng Temple, where he completed the “Eighteen Arhats” painting. ZHU Huang, a celebrated anti-British general of the Qing Dynasty and magistrate of Suichang from 1828 to 1835 (the eighth to fifteenth year of the Daoguang reign), wrote: “The stone Buddha towers atop the towering mountain, where the blooming lotus illuminates the stream bend; though its forms may appear in the void, they exist only between the non-void and the non-form”—vividly capturing the landscape and ambiance of Qianfo Mountain.

　　May the Buddha bless the present life and fulfill the future. Qianfo Mountain lets you personally experience the protection of the Buddha.

　　Official Sina Weibo: Suichang Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area

　　Official Tencent Weibo: Blessings for the Present—Fulfillment for the Future

　　The Qianfo Mountain Hotel, situated within the scenic area, is built to a three-star standard, featuring 76 guest rooms, 4 meeting rooms, 1 banquet hall, and 5 private dining rooms. Facilities include chess and cards, barbecue, bonfire parties, karaoke, and more. With a quiet, elegant, and comfortable environment, it is an ideal destination for sightseeing and Buddhist worship, spiritual cultivation, business meetings, and leisure vacations.

　　The Qianfo Mountain Hotel offers an elegant and cozy dining environment, highlighting three specialties: local rustic dishes, premium vegetarian cuisine, and organic health dishes. The spacious dining space allows you to enjoy both gourmet flavors and scenic beauty, savoring delicious dishes that are appealing in color, aroma, and taste.

　　Specialty Dishes

　　Local Rustic Dishes: Homemade Hakka tofu, Farmer’s Delight (pig blood, tofu, radish, stir-fried meat), pig tail with soybeans

　　Premium Vegetarian Dishes: Arhat noodles, vegetarian buns, tender water chestnut with shrimp chips, vegetarian fish slices, fish bone, thousand-mushroom tofu, ancient-style meat

　　Organic Health Dishes: Nourishing native Muscovy duck, braised grouper, organic fish hotpot, tiger fish hotpot, gastrodia elata stewed with matsutake

　　Local Specialties

　　Longgu Beauty Tea, Sanjing Mao Feng Tea, Shilian Chrysanthemum Rice, Huangshayao Sweet Potato Chips, Suichang bamboo charcoal products, dried bamboo shoots, as well as Buddhist handicrafts and souvenirs.

　　From Shanghai and Southern Jiangsu: Take the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, transfer to the Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway via Hangzhou, then switch to the Longyou-Lishui Expressway and exit at Suichang. Alternatively, take the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, transfer to the Hangzhou-Xinjing Expressway via Hangzhou, exit at Xin’anjiang, then take the national road to Longyou, and finally reach Suichang via the Longyou-Lishui Expressway.

　　From Ningbo: Take the Yongjin Expressway, transfer to the Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway via Jinhua, then switch to the Longyou-Lishui Expressway and exit at Suichang.

　　From Wenzhou: Take the Jinhua-Lishui-Wenzhou Expressway, transfer to the Longyou-Lishui Expressway via Lishui, and exit at Suichang.

　　From Taizhou: Take the Taizhou-Jinyun Expressway, transfer to the Jinyun-Lishui-Wenzhou Expressway via Jinyun, then switch to the Jinyun-Lishui-Wenzhou Expressway via Lishui, and exit at Suichang via the Longyou-Lishui Expressway.

　　After arriving in Suichang from any of the above directions, transfer to Provincial Highway S051 to reach the scenic area, or take the Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area shuttle bus from the county bus passenger station (departing every 30 minutes).

　　Ticket Information

　　Adult ticket: 80 RMB; children under 1.2 meters enter free; children between 1.2–1.5 meters, students with valid ID, people with disabilities, seniors with discount certificates, and active-duty military personnel receive a half-price ticket—valid ID such as ID card or student card must be presented when purchasing tickets.

　　Opening Hours

　　Spring & Summer: 7:30–18:00; Autumn & Winter: 8:00–17:00

　　Address: Huangpi Village, Shilian Town, Suichang County, Lishui City

　　Type: Canyon, mountain, river, temple

　　Rating: AAAA

　　Recommended visit duration: 4–6 hours

　　Phone: 0578-8522999

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

　　Opening hours:

　　08:00–17:00.

　　Transportation

　　By public transport:

　　From Lishui West Bus Station, buses to Suichang County run approximately every 40 minutes to 1 hour between 06:30 and 18:40. After arriving in Suichang, transfer to another bus to the scenic area. Alternatively, take the Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area shuttle bus (one per 60 minutes) from the county bus passenger station.

　　By car:

　　From Shanghai or southern Jiangsu direction: Take the Shanghai–Hangzhou Expressway, then transfer to the Hangzhou–Jinhua–Quzhou Expressway in Hangzhou, and then the Longyou–Lishui Expressway in Longyou, exiting at Suichang. Then take S051 Provincial Road to reach the scenic area. Or, take the Shanghai–Hangzhou Expressway, then transfer to the Hangzhou–Xinjing Expressway in Hangzhou, exit at Xin’anjiang, take the national highway to Longyou, then the Longyou–Lishui Expressway to exit at Suichang, and finally take S051 Provincial Road to the scenic area.

　　From Ningbo direction: Take the Yongjin Expressway, transfer to the Hangzhou–Jinhua–Quzhou Expressway in Jinhua, then the Longyou–Lishui Expressway in Longyou, exiting at Suichang. Then take S051 Provincial Road to reach the scenic area.

　　From Wenzhou direction: Take the Jinhua–Lishui–Wenzhou Expressway, transfer to the Longyou–Lishui Expressway in Lishui, exiting at Suichang. Then take S051 Provincial Road to reach the scenic area.

　　From Taizhou direction: Take the Taizhou–Jinyun Expressway, transfer to the Jinyun–Jinhua–Wenzhou Expressway in Jinyun, then the Jinhua–Lishui–Wenzhou Expressway in Lishui, transfer to the Longyou–Lishui Expressway in Lishui, exiting at Suichang. Then take S051 Provincial Road to reach the scenic area.

　　Information source: Jinhua Portal Website